Real Wheels: El Camino is his ‘eye candy’

News Top Stories Facebook X Pinterest WhatsApp WESTMINSTER — Is the El Camino a car or a truck? That question has dogged Chevrolet for 67 years, dating back to 1959 to 1960 when it first came out, to 1964 to 1987. Kim Pittenger, 70, of rural Westminster, has owned his 1972 El Camino SS for three years. He will tell you it is basically a Chevrolet Chevelle with a truck bed. It’s built on the same frame as the Chevelle and uses most of the same parts. He’ll also tell you the El Camino is a whole different animal behind the wheel. It has some serious muscle under the hood with its 402 big-block V8 engine. Pittenger says the car was clean when he bought it. “All I’ve done is put on a vinyl roof, a bed cover and Mag wheels,” he said. The value of a 1972 El Camino SS typically averages between $25,000 and $36,000, according to Hagerty Valuation Tools, which sets the industry standard for determining classic car values. Pittenger came across his ‘72 El Camino while looking at classic cars online. He knew it was meant for him. He called it “eye candy.” What he enjoys the most about his El Camino is the reaction of his 2-year-old grandson, Jaxx. “When I drive up, Smuth (Jaxx) gets so excited. He loves to get behind the wheel of my El Camino,” Pittenger said. “You won’t see him doing that with a Ford. He’s a smart boy.” GET YOUR CAR FEATURED The Lima News publishes photographs of vintage cars, 20 years or older, free of charge in Real Wheels. It is easy to get your car featured: • Mail: Real Wheels, Newsroom, The Lima News; 205 W. Market St., Suite #100B; Lima, OH 45801. • Email: [email protected] • Include: Photograph of your car; year of car, make and model; how many years you have owned the vehicle; car’s history; best memory of car; your name, address and telephone number (the phone number will not be published). If you have further questions, contact The Lima News newsroom at 419-222-6397 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. weekdays. ONLY ON LIMAOHIO.COM Check out cars we’ve featured and discuss your memories on the Real Wheels page at LimaOhio.com/tag/realwheels . Featured Local Savings