Don’t be fooled by the SS badges on this car because you’re not looking at a Super Sport-equipped 1970 Chevrolet El Camino. As the headline implies, this Elky is a charming restomod that packs a serious punch.
When it was brand-spanking new, the A-body pickup could be optioned with anything from a straight-six snoozefest to a big-block V8 rated at 450 horsepower and 500 pound-feet (678 Nm) of torque. The Chevrolet Performance LS3 crate engine twists a respectable 495 horsepower despite its venerable age. Lest we forget, the small-block V8 lump dates back to the 2008 model year Corvette, which was officially rated at 430 horsepower.
Spruced up with a color-keyed air intake, rectangular-port L92 heads, powdered connecting rods, a nodular crankshaft, and hypereutectic pistons, the 6.2-liter motor further boasts a hydraulic roller cam to maximize intake efficiency. Hooker manifolds, an H-shaped crossover, and dual-chamber mufflers help the LS3 exhale while an aluminum radiator keeps it cool.
A Tremec manual transmission channels the fury hiding under the hood to a 12-bolt rear axle complemented by modernized suspension and power-assisted brakes. As it’s often the case with American muscle cars from this era, BFGoodrich Radial T/A rubber wraps Chevrolet Rally wheels beautified with chrome caps. Augmented with factory-style power steering, this badass truck shows only 67.5 miles (108.6 kilometers) on the odometer.
Finished in Cranberry Red and Tuxedo Black over a leather interior customized in all the right ways, the Elky is ornated with Dakota Digital VHX telemetry and color-keyed floor mats. A wood-rimmed steering wheel and a tilting column also need to be mentioned, together with Vintage Air climate control, power-operated bucket seats, and a very classy Hurst shift knob.
Like any restomod of this caliber, this fellow isn’t cheap. Listed by RK Motors Charlotte for $78,900, the coupé utility in the following clip is roughly the same price as a brand-new Corvette Stingray in 2LT Z51 specification.
After a 1:43 scale model of a Ferrari 250 GTO sparked Mircea's interest for cars when he was a kid, an early internship at Top Gear sealed his career path. He's most interested in muscle cars and American trucks, but he takes a passing interest in quirky kei cars as well. Full profile
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