Why I am who I am: 1974 Camaro, 1978 El Camino

[texan_idiot25]

I've been asked quite a few times on forums and in person why I'm so **** into cars. I have told the stories of my childhood for years on XMW and here. Whether or not those were believed, or taken with a grain a salt mattered not. These two vehicles are the reasons I grew up in the garage, and what brought me into the automotive world. Fresh from the Hospital, I rode home in the El Camino, and from the time I left the baby-seat, was joy riding in the Camaro with my dad behind the wheel.

I can recall the ride. Night time of '94, and I was just barely able to see over the dash of the car. Mattered not, because when this Big Block Chevy bumped to life, your soul was rattling with the 8 cylinders. We back out, and drive out to a long, straight road not far from my house. It's late, it's trafficless. The air is cool, and the Camaro is just warmed up. And there we go. On street tires, the built and bored Chevelle SS 396 big block made very quick work of turning rear tires into pure white smoke. That noise, that feeling, the vibrations, the sounds of tires screaming in pain for traction as an unholy roar of a V8 pushing ahead put me into a fit of laughter. My dad quickly back off, hearing me make noises... Only to look down to see I'm all teeth and ready for more.

He built up through highschool, and college. Did all the work himself and with friends, paint, body, engine, everything.

Sadly, very sadly, it was sold in '99-'00. Emissions laws and it's rare usage became it's down fall. It was a total cop magnet, a 3 speed auto and high rear gear don't make for a quiet driving car at all. The car was sold to a friend where the engine and drivetrain were dropped into a drag-strip ready Chevelle. Never saw what happened to the body. The last night we had it, my dad's friend brought a set of slicks and it was pumped up with racing gas. Off the line it launched so hard that, my dad who with out thinking was slightly slouched in the seat, had to push down on the wheel to keep the pedal to the metal. If I recall right, on that night it ran a high 9/low 10 on the 1/4 mile. All throttle, no bottle. It was a very consistent bracket racer, winning a few trophies in it's day. It would drive up to an event, embarrass the trailer queens, and then drive home. And by-God I loved that big beast to death. Whether it was sitting in the drivers seat while it was parked in the garage, or while listening to that massive V8 sing.

















I'll write up about the El Camino later... I need to go lie down for a bit and cry...

[HUMMER H4]

LOL Aww texan its ok.........(NOT BEING ***!!!)

[BulletsRain]

I can imagine that car....its ashame it had to be sold. I bet you would of loved to have it... I know I would of.
That car is sick.

[suicide_star]

i'm not sure what i like more, the car or your mom...but the car is nice, snorkels FTW

[GearHeadV8]

that looks like it was a beuiful car. ill never forget the car i first rode it a corvette im not sure of the year tho. this was my dads

if you dont mind could i post a pic of it or no.

[texan_idiot25]

Originally Posted by suicide_star

i'm not sure what i like more, the car or your mom...but the car is nice, snorkels FTW

Don't'chu'talk'bout'my'momma

[GearHeadV8]

have you ever thought about tracking it down and finding it

[imstock]

He said they striped the drive train. There's nothing to hunt down.

Nice car though, something to be proud of.

[texan_idiot25]

Originally Posted by imstock

He said they striped the drive train. There's nothing to hunt down.

Nice car though, something to be proud of.

The body and rolling chassis could be found... Given things go through so many engine swaps in their life times. Example: The engine/trans in my CST10, came out of a mid 70s C10, was dropped into a 69 Camaro, then 30 years later, that guy pulled and sold it to me, and now it's in my truck.

I have thought about it, but didn't have pics. May hunt down some camaro forums and see.

[viggy92]

thts messed up tlkin bout his mom but tht car is sick bro

[xmodkidd33]

yah tht car is sck dude i wnt it

The amount of dedication is amazing, I can see where you get it from now.

[Tmaxxn3]

not to **** you off tex but you mom is pretty hott. But any way you should be like a writer or sumptin your pretty good and writting storys on here im impressed by both that and the car i know how you feel when you say you loved that beast not to sound like a little girl but i cried for like 3 days when we sold my cutlass i workd my *** off for a year and a half and ****ed off many gilrs working on that car i know exactly how you feel they get to you....but its lovely.

[texan_idiot25]

Originally Posted by Tmaxxn3

not to **** you off tex but you mom is pretty hott. But any way you should be like a writer or sumptin your pretty good and writting storys on here im impressed by both that and the car i know how you feel when you say you loved that beast not to sound like a little girl but i cried for like 3 days when we sold my cutlass i workd my *** off for a year and a half and ****ed off many gilrs working on that car i know exactly how you feel they get to you....but its lovely.

Thanks!

I was young, and had tears when it and the El Camino left. Big parts of my little life at the time. And man, if someone forced me to sell the CST10 I'd be just as ****ed..

[GearHeadV8]

when are[] you gonna talk about the el camino im really interested

[firebird999]

Originally Posted by texan_idiot25

And man, if someone forced me to sell the CST10 I'd be just as ****ed..

*logs on to craigslist* *holds gun to texan's head* "POST AWAY!"


anyways, back on topic, nice car, too bad it's gone... you should really consider modding your firebird to look/drive like that.

[Tmaxxn3]

yeah it sucked it was more of a we needed the money kinda thing and it hellped out the family alot and if i didnt sell it i wouldnt have my scottsdale so it all worked out seeing that my truck is much weaker and only does 1 wheel peels but 2 if im lucky but its ok i still love it..

[xmodzracer]

you are an inspiration...

[texan_idiot25]

Originally Posted by firebird999

*logs on to craigslist* *holds gun to texan's head* "POST AWAY!"


anyways, back on topic, nice car, too bad it's gone... you should really consider modding your firebird to look/drive like that.

Because that costs money, which I don't have much of. The craptastic 3.1V6 does get decent fuel economy though... But, as I'll tell later about the El Camino, we do sorta have every thing needed to convert the Firebird to a 400hp firebreathing beast, given I could convince him to let me have the stuff...

Originally Posted by crazyxmoder

when are[] you gonna talk about the el camino im really interested

When I have time, busy with school...

[GearHeadV8]

Originally Posted by texan_idiot25

Because that costs money, which I don't have much of. The craptastic 3.1V6 does get decent fuel economy though... But, as I'll tell later about the El Camino, we do sorta have every thing needed to convert the Firebird to a 400hp firebreathing beast, given I could convince him to let me have the stuff...



When I have time, busy with school...

sorry dont want to seem pushy but i always want to hear about peoples lives and there old car stories

[spitfire]

Originally Posted by Tmaxxn3

not to **** you off tex but you mom is pretty hott. But any way you should be like a writer or sumptin your pretty good and writting storys on here im impressed by both that and the car i know how you feel when you say you loved that beast not to sound like a little girl but i cried for like 3 days when we sold my cutlass i workd my *** off for a year and a half and ****ed off many gilrs working on that car i know exactly how you feel they get to you....but its lovely.

what year cutlass was it? i have a cutlass calais right now, but its only a 1991
but in mint condistion and only has 37,000 miles. but i wont like a late 60's.
but that camaro is bad ***.