Shop Truck Makeover

The Origins of the Shop Truck

The truck was originally purchased in the late ’60s by Bob’s father, Rupert, and it was used as a shop truck. Young Bob was put to work running parts in the El Camino. He explains that when he was in high school, after some enthusiastic acceleration, the transmission suddenly seized. The Chevy was naturally placed on blocks for repair, but it sat for years on those blocks. It wasn’t until his dad offered him a trade for the title that the project began its rather long evolution into what you see here.

Years of Dents and Delays

Had the younger Nation foreseen the hundreds of hours that would be required to remove all the dents caused by all those parts hauled around in the truck bed, perhaps he would have taken the corners a little slower all those years earlier. Entered in the “Unfinished” class at car shows more times than he cares to count, the flamed ’66 finally came together in 2003, winning First Place in the Custom Truck category at the Boise Roadster Show. Dressed with undercarriage mirrors in a 10×20-foot display, the El Camino was a real showstopper.

Harley Inspiration and Aggressive Stance

Inspired by Softails and Sportsters from his job at Snake Harley Davidson, Bob kept the custom ideas flowing. The truck was lowered 3 inches and with the addition of the 17-inch Ultra wheels, results in a very aggressive stance. The El Camino holds the road with the help of BFGoodrich Euro/TA’s up front and Drag Radials on the rear. Stopping the El Camino are 13-inch drilled and slotted Baer disc brakes, with the stock drums out back.

Detail-Oriented Craftsmanship

Upon close inspection, the craftsmanship of the build is easy to spot, as is Bob’s influence as a mechanic. Nice details like rerouting hoses and creatively running the wiring in the engine bay to create a show-quality appearance are tasks that require attention to detail, as well as a basic understanding of how things work. The power brake booster, for example, reveals a chrome Harley throttle cap to cover an often-overlooked area.

Flames, Fasteners, and Finish

What makes this custom standout is its attention to detail, how the flames wrap into the seam between the front fender and well, and how they are precisely edged with blue pinstriping. The tasteful accents, such as every body bolt replaced with smooth, polished Harley fasteners, enhance the finish of this custom.

Interior Accents and Performance Power

Inside the cab, the blue nitrous bottle bolted to the floor adds to the outlaw look and delivers a hefty shot of horsepower when called upon. You will also find a wood-rimmed Grant GT steering wheel and giant tach in the interior. Ruben’s Upholstery in Twin Falls transformed the stock bench seat from a rusted frame into a comfortable flamed motif that becomes the first eye-grabber when looking inside.

Big Block Beast Under the Hood

Jutting through the hood, the healthy 396ci Chevy is topped with two four-barrel carburetors and an Edelbrock tunnel ram. Bob rebuilt the big block, which boasts a 427 steel crank and stock rods with high-compression 12.5:1 forged TRW pistons. The cam is a Comp roller and the high-performance heads are ported and polished. Hooking up all this power is an 11-inch Centerforce clutch and Muncie four-speed delivered through a 12-bolt posi rearend with 3:73 gears.

Flaming Finish and Show Paint

To lay on the finishing touches, Bob enlisted his friend Carl Shirley at Latham Motors to lay down the paint. With coaxing from Rupert, the decision was made to flame the El Camino. Amero’s Pinstripe & Paint stretched the sculpted flames down the door and across the cowl-induction hood. Tipped in blue to accent the yellow against the brilliant red body color, it takes on an appropriate bad-boy feel.

More Than a Sweet Ride

But the real excitement of this El Camino comes alive when Bob fires the polished rat motor, drops the clutch and smokes the tires, bouncing the passenger’s head off the rear glass. That’s when you realize he built more than a sweet ride … Bob created his own perfect nation.