• While the modern automotive press is quick to treat anything out of the ordinary as "new" and "revolutionary," the fact is that Detroit's big three automakers came up with the "crossover" more than 40 years ago. The El Camino (Spanish for "the road") was originally based on Chevrolet's successful Bel Air platform, but GM saw some pickup potential in their new-for-1966 Chevelle; from the back of the doors to the front bumper, the second-generation El Camino was essentially identical to its Chevelle coupe counterpart.
  
  

Dimensions

• The second-generation El Camino had a 115-inch wheelbase and was 199.9 inches bumper to bumper--about 3 inches longer than the Chevelle. This additional length was due solely to the Camino's 53-inch rear overhang, as opposed to the Chevelle's 50 inches. It had a 58-inch front and rear track width and was 73.8 inches and 74.5 inches wide at the front and rear fenders, respectively. The Camino's roof line was a 2.6 inches higher than the Chevelle's at 56.7 inches, owing to its taller ride height and tires.
  
  

Weight Distribution

• Vehicle curb weights and weight distribution varied by engine option. Inline six-cylinder cars came in at 3,075 lbs., with 1,640 lbs. over the front tires and 1,435 lbs. over the rear for a front/rear weight distribution of 53.3/46.7. Eight-cylinder cars weighed in at about 3,255 lbs., with 1,770 lbs. over the front tires and 1,485 lbs. over the rear for a front/rear weight distribution of 54.3/45.7.
  
  

Engines and Transmission

• The El Camino came with one of two inline 6-cylinder engines: a 120-horsepower, 194-cubic-inch and a 140-horsepower, 230-cubic-inch. It came with three different small-block V8s: a 195-horsepower 283 (two-barrel carburetor), a 220-horsepower 283 (four-barrel carburetor) and a 274-horsepower 327. The second-generation El Camino came with three different 396 big blocks, rated at 325, 360 and 375 horsepower. Inline six-cylinder models came with a three-speed manual or TH350 three-speed manual transmission. The small-block engines came with a TH350, and the M20 or M21 standard and close-range (respectively) four-speed manuals. Big-block cars came with a two-speed Powerglide automatic, TH400 three-speed automatic and either the M20 or M21 four-speed manuals.
  
  

Performance

• The small-block 283 and 327 both ran an oddly identical 9.4 seconds 0 to 60 mph and 16.8 seconds in the quarter-mile, but the larger and more powerful 327 clocked in at 85.2 mph at the tail end of the strip (compared to the 283's 82 mph). This might indicate that the shared transmission's gearing was better suited to the 283, but the 327's power advantage helped it catch up farther down the track. The 325-horsepower 396 was good for a 7.4-second sprint to 60 mph and 15.7 seconds through the quarter-mile, the 350-horsepower 396 ran 6.8 seconds to 60 and 14.8 seconds through the quarter-mile, and the 375-horsepower version ran nearly identical times, with a slightly higher speed at the top end of the track. This would indicate severe wheel spin when using the powerful 375-horsepower engine in the nose-heavy El Camino.