- About MY SWT 79
-
- I remember driving around in my rejuvinated
1941 Chevy in the summer of 1959 just after finishing my Freshman
year at San Diego State College. Rounding a corner down by Mission
Beach in San Diego, I spotted the most interesting vehicle I
had ever seen. Sort of a truck - sort of a car. Red, it was,
with a cargo bed and butterfly wings. A more savvy friend told
me it was called an El Camino. I watched it grow and change over
the next nearly-30 years and vowed that one day I'd have one.
Well, finally in 2002 - at the age of 61 - my boyhood wish came
true!
-
- I consulted with several friends, including
Russ, my long-time neighbor, who encouraged me to bide my time.
He reminded me it wasn't necessary to buy a "fixer-upper",
that somewhere out there was an Elky that was someone's elses's
pride and joy - one that had been babied. Thus, the search began.
-
- Amazing the stuff you run across that
owners feel is a great buy, but's more suitable for spare parts,
eh? Finally, one day I drove what was to become MY SWT 79. The
awkward shell on the back refused to distract me from the smooth,
quiet engine, the gliding transmission and straight body. Apparently,
the guy he bought it from had already started the mechanical
restoration. I hadn't gone three blocks and offered him what
he wanted: $3,600. I found out later the 135,000 miles was actual
and the engine and transmission had been rebuilt within the last
5,000 miles. As an added bonus, the air conditioning system had
already been converted!
-
- First thing to go was the camper shell.
I stopped by Shell
City in El Cajon and discussed solid hinged lids for El Camino beds.
They sold them so I ordered one and asked if I had to wait until
it came in before they'd take the old one off. The owner gave
me a knowing smile and promptly removed the shell.
-
- The rejuvination began at The Golden Hammer
in El Cajon, California. Nick and Greg had years of experience
restoring classic cars and building street rods. I figured they
were the guys I wanted, even though they considered my car to
be "pretty new." After I located the parts I needed
at several wrecking yards, The
El Camino Store and The Original Parts Group,
Greg began the interior. Weeks
went by before Greg finally called and said it was ready (that's
after I-don't-know-how-many pestering phone calls from me. Frankly,
I couldn't wait!)
-
- When I picked up the car, I was so
impressed with the attention to detail I asked them to do the
body and paint as well. That lead to the next problem: what color?
It was the standard "General Motors white." I liked
white, but wanted something more - well - interesting. Then I
accompanied my wife to the local Lexus dealer and there, on a
2002 RX300, was my color: Crystal White. It was bright and clean
but it also had the translucence
I really wanted.
-
- I drove MY SWT 79 for several weeks
and finally realized it was a little too plain. After some more
screening, I found my pinstriper in Ken Fisk. I drove the
car in and told him I wanted it "distinctive but understated."
After a few chuckles Ken understood what I meant and gave me
the pinstriping I was looking
for.
-
- Next came some upgrades to the interior,
including Q-Forms to house mid-range
speakers and tweeters. Missing the low frequency response, I
added a bazooka subwoofer and four-channel amplifier. A trip
to the Speedo Shop resulted in a rebuilt speedometer, replacement
of an oil guage and repair of the dashboard clock. Result: everything
in the interior works and is in like-new condition.
-
- At this time (August 2002) I would
say it's 99% finished. It is certified 100% mechanically perfect,
all the trim is new or reconditioned except for the rain channels
above the door windows. That's next!
-
- Like most owners, I'm in love with
my Elky! Yes - my wife bought that Lexus ES300 she went to see,
but many times we still like to leave the Lexus in the garage
and take MY SWT 79.
-
-
- Dick Robinette
- rwrobinette@hotmail.com
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