In my best Descartes voice, I say that I am capable of seeing things and determining what I like. This is especially true of colors, though color is among the most subjective of elements when looking at a vehicle. What’s fascinating about colors is how some transcend time, while others may age out or mature. Perhaps our Pick of the Day is one of the latter. This 1970 Chevrolet El Camino Custom is listed for sale on ClassicCars.com by a private seller in Los Angeles.
Chevrolet restyled its A-body for 1970, arguably improving the cast that had been set for 1968. The sharper edges of its nose and tail were softened, and the fenders featured subtle wheel bulges. Though the styling was more revolutionary than evolutionary, all you had to do was glance at the facelifted full-size cars to note the resemblance.
For the El Camino, the styling looked familiar, but there were detail differences. Those fender bulges on the Chevelle? They weren’t there. The El Camino’s unique fenders were shared with Chevelle station wagons, plus the Monte Carlo front bumper with round parking lights was used, so the look was subtly different from regular Chevelle passenger cars.
Note the fender differences with the El Camino to the left.
As before, two El Camino models were offered: standard El Camino and El Camino Custom, both available with a 250ci six or a host of V-8s. The Custom added silver lower body trim and chrome, deeply textured vinyl bench seat, woodgrain trim on the instrument panel, thick pile carpeting, padded dashboard, low-profile steering wheel, and glove box light.
If the base 200-horsepower 307 was not satisfactory, one could always opt for a 250- or 350-horse 350, or 330-horse 400 (actually 402ci). There also were two Super Sport packages. Z25 SS 396 included a 350-horsepower big-block (again, 402), but a L78 375-horse version was available until it was cancelled several months into the model year. Around the same time, the Z15 SS 454 was introduced and included a 360-horse 454, with the 450-horse LS6 available as an option.
Now, back to color. Take a look at this photogenic 1970 Chevrolet El Camino Custom. The color is called Misty Turquoise and, dare I say, it’s a looker. But the interesting thing about this color is that it was one of the rarest hues for the Chevrolet A-body. ChevelleStuff.com has information obtained from the GM Heritage Center that shows production through March 1970, with 12,180 built among all A-bodies (including the Monte Carlo); compare that with Green Mist at 44,631! Only three colors were rarer than Misty Turquoise, so it gives perspective that perhaps it’s an attractive color to contemporary eyes, but Chevrolet customers were not going for it in 1970. Other features on this “Elkie” are 350 V-8, Edelbrock four-barrel carburetor and air cleaner, NOS black vinyl top, factory AM/FM radio (non-operating) with an assist from an Alpine Bluetooth stereo with new speakers, air conditioning, and Rallye wheels. Adds the seller, “New upper and lower control arms, bushings, disc brake kit … new oil pan and valve cover gasket kit, new rear main seal [and] exhaust, as well as new belts, hoses, fluids, oil, etc.”
Sure, to contemporary eyes, Misty Turquoise may appear pretty, but not everyone felt that way 56 years ago. However, the evolution of time has a way of making sensibilities malleable. How will the color be viewed in the future? If you wish to spend $33,000 (OBO), please give us a report in several decades and tell us what onlookers may think.
Click here to view this Pick of the Day on ClassicCars.com
