Twenty Years Later

I have a varied automotive history, but I've never had what I always wanted ... a hot rod. I've dreamed of owning one for at least 20 years, but it has never happened for one reason or another. Honestly it has probably been for the best, because I am finally at an age and situation where I can afford what I want and won't get into trouble with it. 

Back when I was young and living in Chandler, Arizona my parents owned an old Monte Carlo (I think) that had a diesel in it. It had all kinds of issues, and they bought a used 1984 GMC Jimmy - one of the big ones. They drove it until the early 90s, when the transmission went out on it. Rather than junk it or try to sell it, I made a deal with my father to pay for half of the costs of the transmission rebuild if I could have it when I turned 16. (I think this deal was made when I was ~14). I loved that truck. I tinkered with that thing SO much, and added quite a bit to it in order for it to be my own. I modified the intake and exhaust, experimented with speaker enclosures and audio, learned the best paths through mud holes to keep from getting stuck, and also learned how much of a hassle it is when you get yourself stuck in the mud in the middle of nowhere. 

I drove that truck midway through college, then swapped it for a used Chevrolet Lumina which had MUCH better gas mileage and was more dependable. Shortly thereafter Bekki and I got married and moved to Austin, TX, where we bought my uncle's Chevrolet S10 as a second vehicle to get me back and forth from grad school. The A/C went out on the S10, and I swapped it for a used Chevrolet Silverado midway through school. That truck started to feel like it was having transmission issues, so we swapped it for a used Mercedes C320, then moved to Salt Lake City, Utah. 

Once arriving in SLC we donated the Lumina to charity and I bought an old Jeep Grand Wagoneer for myself. Once it became clear that the Wagoneer was a dangerous rust bucket, I donated it and bought Bekki a Jeep Grand Cherokee. I really enjoyed driving the Mercedes for the rest of our time in SLC. What a car. 

Work moved Bekki and me to Denver and I wanted to live within walking distance to work, so we sold the Mercedes to a friend and dropped to one vehicle. Midway through our time in Denver we realized that Bekki's furniture refurbishing needs required something with a bit more room, and sold the Grand Cherokee and bought a used Honda Element. 

Wow, I've really owned eight vehicles in the past 20 years?

So this brings us to the present: Denver, with one wonderfully utilitarian vehicle that is a total bore to drive. Then we found out we were going to be moving to Houston, TX - the single most expansive town I think I have ever encountered. Given that the weather it mostly awful, I couldn't really walk to work unless I wanted to live - literally - right across the street. (I don't). We ended up finding a great condo ~2 miles from my work, so this left me with the task of finding a vehicle for my five minute commute on the days where biking is out of the question.

What to do? Treat myself with another Mercedes that will lose 75% of its sticker price on the resale? Maybe buy a simple Japanese whatever that will lose a bit less on the resale, but still lose money? The latter option was where I was really leaning until one day it occurred to me that I could buy a restored hot rod. Bekki and I looked through Craigslist postings in the Denver and Houston area for several weeks before narrowing things down to two choices - a 1970 Monte Carlo SS (454 c.i. monster) and a 1964 El Camino. After discussions with both sellers and some seriously bad vibes from the Monte Carlo seller, I went with the El Camino.

What follows in this blog is the story of my El Camino - where it came from, its restoration and what I will do to it in the future.

Picture from the previous owner's listing of the vehicle