Listen To Your Mother

Wax on, Wax off and drive, drive, drive

Mike HarringtonWriter

Gone are the days of the hay-hauling, tire-mauling, flog-it-till-it's-dead shop trucks. If you're going to make a statement with your company vehicle, make sure you are heard loud and seen big! After all, Oscar Mayer has the Weiner mobile, Batman has the Batmobile, and Mother waxes and polishes has the coolest El Camino rolling down the streets of Southern California.

Do too many cooks really spoil the soup? Well, maybe in your kitchen they do, but in Mothers' kitchen it's a different tale to tell. It was only through the collaborative efforts of the Mothers' crew that the El Camino took shape from idea to reality. These gents are more than just chemists with Bunsen burners and boiling beakers. All of Mothers' children are real life, down-to-earth, gear-grinding speed junkies. These guys understand that a car can look pretty and polished just sitting there. But there is nothing quite so beautiful as one that's going fast. The need for speed drove the gearheads at Mothers to choose a monster-sized 572 Chevy crate engine. Gulp! And don't think that they are afraid to punch the ponies under the hood and work that powerplant.

There is nothing small about this '67 Elky; from its high-horse Rat to the monster-sized 36-gallon fuel cell, steamroller Billet Specialties wheels (20s in front and 22s out back), and popular auto designer Chip Foose throwing his skills into the pot. Yes, the interior and exterior didn't come about by accident, as Chip was consulted and threw some super slick ideas onto the drawing board. The colors and the way they flow from inside to out were all part of the Foose vision for this El Camino. Carlos, of Stitch Craft in Huntington Beach, turned the interior concepts into a reality, and laid it all out in the finest red and black leather that ever came from a cow.

This extreme Elky is just as beautiful on the underside as it is topside. Take a crawl under the California-raked Elky and the first thing that grabs the eye is the sexy-looking rear end. A Speedway Engineering Quick change and axle just begs for attention. Along with the custom driveshaft, Hotchkiss control arms and swaybars, QA1 coilover shocks and some giant-sized Baer Brake 13-inch rotors. Mothers will be pounding the pavement with the El Camino this summer on the Hot Rod Power tour. Take a gander as she drives by; you won't be disappointed. Better yet, take a look as it makes it's maiden voyage down the 1/4-mile track.

Tech Specs

Engine:A monster-sized GM 572 crate engine with 9.5:1 compression. Engine output is 620 hp and 650 lb-ft of torque.Engine Accessories:Be Cool Radiator, Stewart water pump, Spal Electric Fans and an Optima 2 Battery.

Transmission:4l80 E stall speed @ 2500Rear End:Speedway Engineering Quick change Axles also by Speedway Engineering.

Exhaust:Custom Headers by: Performance Fabrications Paul Gonzalez, tube diameter: Stepped 1.875, 2.00, 2.125, Exhaust system is a 3-inch tube Magnaflow.

Suspension:QA-1 Coilover Springs and shocks, Hotchkis Upper and Lower Control arms.Rear Suspension:Street Wise bolt in replacement. Featuring Speedway Engineering Quick Change. Billet lower and upper control arms, upper mount system.

Brakes:Baer Brake 13-inch rotors. Hydra Tech antilock brake systemWheels:front wheels are Billet Specialties 20X8.5 and 22X10 rear.Interior: Original Dash, with Dakota Digital gauges, the interior is designed by Chip Foose and all upholstery work is done by Stitchcraft. Katzkin Leather, red and black was used throughout the cab.

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