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El Camino Facts;
The El Camino is often thought of as being light in the rear end. This is not necessarily true. The El Camino has a front/rear weight
distribution similar to other V8 front-engine, rear-wheel-drive coupes of the era. For 1964-1967, the El Camino has a slightly heavier forward
bias than a comparably equipped Chevelle coupe. However, for 1968-1972, the El Camino actually has a better weight distribution than a
comparably equipped Chevelle coupe!
For example, Chevrolet's published vehicle weights for a 1968 V8 Malibu 2-door coupe (with no options) are 1810 lbs front and 1395 lbs rear
(3205 total). That equates to 56.5% of the vehicle's weight resting on the front tires. A comparably equipped 1968 V8 Custom El Camino is
listed at 1800 lbs front and 1410 rear (3210 total). That equates to 56.1% of the vehicle's weight up front.
The 396 were first offered in the El Camino in 1966, two years before the first SS El Camino was built.
1968 was the first year for an SS El Camino. Exactly 5,190 1968 SS El Caminos were built.
1968 and 1978-1987 were the only years that the El Camino SS was a separate model. From 1969-1977, the El Camino SS was a Custom
model, with an SS option package. The 1969-1971 SS El Caminos can be especially difficult to authenticate. No production totals are known for
the 1969-1971 SS El Caminos.
Unlike the Chevelle, the 1970-1972 SS El Caminos did not have "SS" emblems on the door panels. This was because the El Camino had vent
window cranks where the SS emblems were placed in the Chevelle.
There were 57,147 El Caminos built in 1972
Decoding List 1972 Chevelle / El Camino
RPO Code Description
Rare options 1972 models Chevelle / El Camino
RPO Code Description - Number Produced
1972 Chevelle Exterior Color Codes
The El Camino is often thought of as being light in the rear end. This is not necessarily true. The El Camino has a front/rear weight
distribution similar to other V8 front-engine, rear-wheel-drive coupes of the era. For 1964-1967, the El Camino has a slightly heavier forward
bias than a comparably equipped Chevelle coupe. However, for 1968-1972, the El Camino actually has a better weight distribution than a
comparably equipped Chevelle coupe!
For example, Chevrolet's published vehicle weights for a 1968 V8 Malibu 2-door coupe (with no options) are 1810 lbs front and 1395 lbs rear
(3205 total). That equates to 56.5% of the vehicle's weight resting on the front tires. A comparably equipped 1968 V8 Custom El Camino is
listed at 1800 lbs front and 1410 rear (3210 total). That equates to 56.1% of the vehicle's weight up front.
The 396 were first offered in the El Camino in 1966, two years before the first SS El Camino was built.
1968 was the first year for an SS El Camino. Exactly 5,190 1968 SS El Caminos were built.
1968 and 1978-1987 were the only years that the El Camino SS was a separate model. From 1969-1977, the El Camino SS was a Custom
model, with an SS option package. The 1969-1971 SS El Caminos can be especially difficult to authenticate. No production totals are known for
the 1969-1971 SS El Caminos.
Unlike the Chevelle, the 1970-1972 SS El Caminos did not have "SS" emblems on the door panels. This was because the El Camino had vent
window cranks where the SS emblems were placed in the Chevelle.
There were 57,147 El Caminos built in 1972
Decoding List 1972 Chevelle / El Camino
RPO Code Description
- AK1 Custom Deluxe Seat Belts
- AU3 Power Door Locks
- A01 Soft Ray Tinted Glass, all windows
- A02 Tinted Glass, windshield only
- A31 Power Windows
- A33 Power Tailgate Window
- A39 Custom Deluxe front and rear Seat Belts
- A41 Power Front Seat, 4-way
- A46 Power Drivers Bucket Seat
- A51 Front Bucket Seats Astro type*
- A52 Front Bench Seat
- A85 Deluxe Shoulder Harness
- A90 Electric Trunk Opener
- B37 Colored floor mats
- B84 Body Side Molding*
- B85 Beltline Reveal Molding
- B90 Door Window frame moldings
- B93 Door edge guards
- C05 Convertible Top, Manual
- C06 Convertible Top, Power
- C08 Vinyl Roof, full*
- C24 Special Windshield Wipers
- C50 Rear window defogger
- C51 Rear window air deflector
- C60 Air Conditioning*
- D33 Remote Control mirror
- D34 Vanity visor mirror
- D55 Console*
- D88 Sport Stripe
- D99 Two Tone Paint Moldings*
- F40 Sport suspension
- F41 Sport Front and Rear Suspension
- G67 Controller for Air Shocks
- G80 Positraction rear
- J50 Power brakes*
- JL2 Front Disc Brakes*
- K05 Engine Block Heater
- K30 Cruise Control
- K79 42 amp alternator
- K85 63 amp alternator*
- LS3 402-240hp*
- LS5 454-270hp
- L22 250-150 HP six cyl
- L48 350-300 Hp
- L65 350-250hp
- MC1 Heavy Duty 3 spd Transmission*
- M11 Floor Shift Transmission*
- M20 4 spd standard transmission
- M21 4 spd close ratio
- M22 4 spd, Heavy Duty
- M35 Powerglide automatic
- M38 Turbo 350 automatic transmission
- M40 Turbo 400 automatic transmission*
- NA9 Evaporative Emission Controls
- NK2 Custom Steering Wheel
- NK4 Sport Steering Wheel
- N33 Tilt steering*
- N40 Power Steering*
- N95 Wire Wheel covers
- N96 Simulated Magn. Hubcaps
- PA3 Deluxe Wheel covers
- PK2 G78-14 w/w tires
- PL3 E78-14 White Stripe tires
- PM6 G78-14 White Stripe tires
- PM7 F60-15 White letters
- PU8 G78-15 White Stripe tires
- PX6 F78-14 w/w tires
- P01 Wheel Trim Cover
- P02 Simulated Wire Wheels
- PO6 Wheel Trim Rings*
- P90 G70-15 White Stripe tires
- T58 Rear wheel skirts
- T60 Heavy Duty Battery
- UM1 AM radio with tape
- UM2 AM/FM with tape
- U14 Instrumentation package
- U16 Tachometer
- U25 Trunk Light
- U26 Underhood Light
- U27 Glove box Light*
- U28 Ash Tray Light*
- U29 Instrument Panel Courtesy Lighting
- U35 Clock*
- U46 Lamp Monitoring Equipment
- U57 8 Track Tape Player
- U63 AM push button radio
- U69 AM/FM radio with buttons*
- U79 Stereo Equipment
- U80 Rear Speaker
- VO1 Heavy Duty Radiator
- V30 Front Bumper & Rear Bumper Guards
- V55 Roof Rack
- YD1 Trailoring Axle
- YF3 The Heavy Chevy Package
- YF5 Calif Assy Line Emission Tested
- ZJ7 Rally Wheels*
- ZJ9 Auxiliary Lighting Group
- ZL2 Special Hood, Cowl Induction
- ZO9 Performance Rear Axle
- Z15 SS equipment
Rare options 1972 models Chevelle / El Camino
RPO Code Description - Number Produced
- AU3 Electric door locks 10683
- A31 Electric windows 17449
- A41 Front seat elec. control, 4-way 3317
- A46 Drivers bucket elec. control, 4-way 1831
- K30 Cruise control 11510
- LS5 454 cid, 250hp 5333
- MC1 HD 3-speed trans 272
- M20 4-speed trans, wide ratio 10201
- M22 HD 4-speed trans, close ratio 1523
- UM2 AM/FM PB stereo w/tape 7403
- YF3 Heavy Chevy package 9508
- ZL2 Cowl induction 3659
- Z15 SS equipment 24946
1972 Chevelle Exterior Color Codes
- 11 Antique White
- 14 Pewter Silver
- 24 Ascot Blue
- 26 Mulsanne Blue
- 36 Spring Green
- 43 Gulf Green
- 48 Sequoia Green
- 50 Covert Tan
- 53 Placer Gold
- 56 Cream Yellow*
- 57 Golden Brown
- 63 Mohave Gold
- 65 Orange Flame
- 68 Midnight Bronze
- 75 Cranberry Red
- Interior Trim Codes
- Cloth:
- 703 Black
- 730 Light Covert
Our El Camino is in great shape except for needing a Engine, Transmission, Front End, Paint & body work, and a rusted bed floor, rotten
interior and floor pans. It will however, need a complete wiring harness to replace the rotted factory one in the truck now to make it work in the
end and some tires maybe a set of bushings, springs, shocks, and other minor stuff. This will be a Frame Off! It can be no other way for this
Truck its just in too bad of shape to just try to slap in an engine and transmission. I'll do this one like I did the 80 however this will be more
geared towards not as much show and more go. I like that it had a Big Block in it to start with so, BBC is going back in. I am thinking
Standard Transmission right now. Who knows what I'll end up with in the end. I don't! I know I'll like it and it will be fast the fastest of the
three or should I qualify that by saying the most powerful of my trio! "Too Much!" Will be the theme with this little beauty.
interior and floor pans. It will however, need a complete wiring harness to replace the rotted factory one in the truck now to make it work in the
end and some tires maybe a set of bushings, springs, shocks, and other minor stuff. This will be a Frame Off! It can be no other way for this
Truck its just in too bad of shape to just try to slap in an engine and transmission. I'll do this one like I did the 80 however this will be more
geared towards not as much show and more go. I like that it had a Big Block in it to start with so, BBC is going back in. I am thinking
Standard Transmission right now. Who knows what I'll end up with in the end. I don't! I know I'll like it and it will be fast the fastest of the
three or should I qualify that by saying the most powerful of my trio! "Too Much!" Will be the theme with this little beauty.
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A Project plan:
The LS-5 (454 Big Block) (Vin # W) came with an anemic 270 HP. I plan on putting in a 454 and reinforcing that with either a 400 THD or a
Richmond 5/6 speed Standard. This rear end is a 12 bolt and I imagine I will install some new rear end gears about 3:73 is what I'll start off
planning to put in. This will be Pro-Street Elky. I'll be making modifications by tubing the rear end, I am thinking about using Aluminum
Diamond plate about 1/16th for a new bed floor and Smuggler's Box Lid. The new lid will be a storage box. I'll relocate the battery and other
essentials there. I'll use a piano hinge to allow it to open and close and use a lock or Desus fastener for holding it closed.
The new Rat Motor will produce about 600 HP before we install either a Turbo Charger and NOS, a Blower and NOS with dual 4s or
Sequential Tuned Port Injection W/Turbo and NOS. She'll be sporting a new BC/CC bright yellow w / black Vinyl Roof and black/yellow
interior. I plan on using Fiberglass & Aluminum parts where available and this will be another frame off restification. I'll try to keep her
original look to her while stripping all the weight out if it as possible. I envision low 10s high 9s in the 1/4, if I get there then I'll be satisfied.
Some of this is subject to change and get modified as we start on the project and make out way to the final finish line. Stop by and check her
progress. No date set yet!
The LS-5 (454 Big Block) (Vin # W) came with an anemic 270 HP. I plan on putting in a 454 and reinforcing that with either a 400 THD or a
Richmond 5/6 speed Standard. This rear end is a 12 bolt and I imagine I will install some new rear end gears about 3:73 is what I'll start off
planning to put in. This will be Pro-Street Elky. I'll be making modifications by tubing the rear end, I am thinking about using Aluminum
Diamond plate about 1/16th for a new bed floor and Smuggler's Box Lid. The new lid will be a storage box. I'll relocate the battery and other
essentials there. I'll use a piano hinge to allow it to open and close and use a lock or Desus fastener for holding it closed.
The new Rat Motor will produce about 600 HP before we install either a Turbo Charger and NOS, a Blower and NOS with dual 4s or
Sequential Tuned Port Injection W/Turbo and NOS. She'll be sporting a new BC/CC bright yellow w / black Vinyl Roof and black/yellow
interior. I plan on using Fiberglass & Aluminum parts where available and this will be another frame off restification. I'll try to keep her
original look to her while stripping all the weight out if it as possible. I envision low 10s high 9s in the 1/4, if I get there then I'll be satisfied.
Some of this is subject to change and get modified as we start on the project and make out way to the final finish line. Stop by and check her
progress. No date set yet!
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| Last Revised: Monday June 18th, 2007 5:50 PM CST Copyright © 1998-2007, V. R. Engstrom, elcaminoplace.com is a Registered Trademark All Rights Reserved |
This one came to us "another", in the month of December. We got the 1980 SS in December also. This El Camino didn't cost
a thing more than the work it will take to restore it. This is a 1972 El Camino Custom 400, 402 BB, Factory Bucket Seats,
Console and THM 400 Transmission.
a thing more than the work it will take to restore it. This is a 1972 El Camino Custom 400, 402 BB, Factory Bucket Seats,
Console and THM 400 Transmission.
The VIN #1D80U2L517979
This is how it works out:
The Paint & Body Codes:
72-13680 L 02615 BDY
704 A51 56 B PNT
LOB 209581 140591
Engine Availability Chevelle / El Camino 1972
This is how it works out:
- 1 = Chevrolet
- D = El Camino Custom
- 80 = 2dr sedan pickup
- U = 402cu 240hp
- 2 = 1972
- L = Los Angeles/Van Nuys, Ca.
- 517979 = Sequential Production number.
The Paint & Body Codes:
72-13680 L 02615 BDY
704 A51 56 B PNT
LOB 209581 140591
Engine Availability Chevelle / El Camino 1972
- CID RPO HP
- 250 L6 110
- 307 V8 130
- 350 V8 L65 165
- 350 V8 L48 175
- 402("400") V8 LS3 240 big block*
- 454 V8 LS5 270 SS only, n/a in California
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