Keeping a car in the family, like what these people have done with their Chevy El Camino, can be a priority to many. However, this ride has sat for years and years in a literal barn, making it not just a barn find in name or condition but also in every respect. A team of professional car detailers were hired to bring back the former glory of this vehicle and the results bring the family to literal tears.
Check out the barn find Jaguar E-Type with a V8 engine under the hood.
A lot of people have fond feelings for the El Camino. It’s a bit of an oddball, considering the thing is half car and half truck. While some people try claiming modern rides like the Ford Maverick or Honda Ridgeline are the spiritual successors of this and the Ranchero, the truth is this isn’t some unibody thing with an independent rear. Plus, it has a bigger bed and leaf springs, like a proper truck.
They don’t make them like this anymore, not by a longshot. It’s understandable why people hold onto theirs, because these are in fact special vehicles. This Chevy has been passed down to the third generation of the family, with plans to hand it over to the fourth generation eventually.
The detailers, who are younger guys, don’t seem horribly familiar with the El Camino. After all, one seems shocked it has a 350ci V8 engine. However, looking it over they’re smitten almost immediately. There’s a lot to love about these classics.
With a thorough washing including plenty of suds, the exterior cleans up nicely. But the interior is a bit of a different equation. It overall has been well kept, just like the body. However, the headliner is drooping, a common problem with classics that haven’t been refurbished. Plus, there are a lot of rodent droppings and urine inside, making it filthy and smelly.
It’s in the storage compartment where the spare tire is kept the find the rats nest and some snake skin. This is what happens with real barn find cars. But some quality cleaning products and elbow grease gets everything looking as well as smelling great.
They even bring in some mechanics to get the Chevy El Camino running again before presenting the car to the family. Seeing it all cleaned up brought the original owner’s widow to literal tears and it’s easy to see why. Check out the video to watch the process and see the transformation take place.
Image via WD Detailing/YouTube