Inventory Listing

Locally owned 1970 El Camino from our dear friend Bob who is no longer with us. Bob purchased this car around 2004 and did a full restoration with new paint, interior, and ordered a brand new Ram Jet 502 V8 big-block and a Bowtie 700R4 automatic transmission.  Every receipt since his ownership including the engine/trans install, and much more are included. While the El Camino currently wears SS badges that Bob installed and came with a cowl induction hood when he purchased it, we have no original Protect-O-Plate, build sheet, or original engine to verify it as a factory SS. Therefore we are not advertising or selling it as a true SS.

Other upgrades include front and rear disc brakes, Hotchkis sway bars and suspension, Eaton 3.73 positraction, transmission cooler, BECOOL aluminum radiator, quick ratio steering rack, and much more. A solid El Camino that fires right up from the fuel injected V8. No need to pump the gas pedal or wait for the car to warm up. Turn the key and she’s ready to go.  Finished in deep maroon/Black Cherry with black vinyl bench-seat interior.

The paint is not show-car perfect. There are a couple of splits in the paint on the driver-side rear cab behind the door, and the passenger-side door panel near the mirror shows areas where color sanding and buffing left some visible texture. It is a solid, usable driver that runs and drives well.

VIN Decode
VIN 136800L140820 decodes as follows:

• 1 — Chevrolet Division
• 36 — Custom El Camino, V8 series
• 80 — 2-door sedan pickup body style
• 0 — 1970 model year
• L — Final assembly at Los Angeles (Van Nuys), California
• 140820 — Sequential production number

This confirms a 1970 Custom-series V8 El Camino built at the Van Nuys plant. For 1970 the SS packages (Z25/Z15) were options available on the Custom series and are not encoded in the VIN. Factory paperwork or a matching original engine stamp would be required to confirm original SS equipment.

Essentials

• 1970 Custom-series El Camino (Van Nuys plant, VIN 136800L140820)
• GM Performance Ram Jet 502 crate engine (PN 12499121)
• 502 hp / ~564–565 lb-ft, fuel-injected with high-rise Ram Jet intake
• Bowtie 700R4 4-speed overdrive automatic (Level 3)
• Eaton Positraction 3.73 rear
• Baer disc brakes
• Be Cool aluminum radiator
• Hotchkiss suspension / ARG quick-ratio steering
• Auto Meter gauges, Doug’s headers, March pulley system
• Large stack of receipts from Bob’s ownership (circa 2008–present); 9,537 miles showing; good driver with noted paint imperfections

Body Tag Decode
The Fisher Body Number Plate (cowl tag) reads in part:
ST 70-13680 BL 04801 BDY
TR 755 78 78 PNT

Decoded:

• ST 70-13680 — 1970 style, Malibu/Custom series El Camino.
• BL — Los Angeles (Van Nuys) assembly plant.
• TR 755 — Black coated fabric bench seat trim.
• 78 78 — Lower and upper body paint code 78 (Black Cherry family).
  Remaining numbers are internal plant data-processing codes. The tag confirms a 1970 Custom-series El Camino built at Van Nuys with black bench-seat trim and dark red paint. It does not prove or disprove the original SS option.

Generation & Production

The second-generation El Camino (1968–1972) shared the Chevelle A-body platform. 1970 introduced both the SS396 and SS454 options on the Custom series. This example was assembled at the Van Nuys, California plant.

Powertrain & Restoration

Under the hood is a Chevrolet Performance Ram Jet 502 (PN 12499121)—a 502-cubic-inch big-block with forged internals, aluminum oval-port heads, hydraulic roller cam, and the distinctive high-rise Ram Jet fuel-injection intake. Rated 502 horsepower and approximately 564–565 lb-ft of torque. It is paired with a Bowtie 700R4 four-speed overdrive automatic. Cooling is handled by a Be Cool aluminum radiator; exhaust runs through Doug’s headers. Rear axle is an Eaton Positraction with 3.73 gears. Bob’s receipts document the engine, transmission, and drivetrain work performed during his ownership.

Chassis, Brakes & Interior

Hotchkiss suspension components, ARG quick-ratio steering, and Baer disc brakes update the chassis. The black vinyl bench-seat interior was restored under Bob’s ownership. Auto Meter gauges are fitted. The large receipt stack covers paint, interior, and mechanical work from roughly 2004 onward. The exterior paint has the noted imperfections described above; it is presented as a solid driver rather than a show car.

What the Experts Said

Period reviews of the 1970 El Camino emphasized its dual-purpose character—car-like handling with pickup utility. The 1970 SS packages were noted for strong acceleration with big-block power. Modern coverage of Ram Jet 502 restomods highlights the engine’s torque curve and fuel-injection drivability versus carbureted 454/502 combinations of the era.

This is a turn-key, fuel-injected big-block El Camino with a documented crate engine, overdrive transmission, supporting upgrades, and a substantial receipt file from a long-term owner who performed a full restoration. It is a good driver with honest paint condition. Serious inquiries only.