{"id":3527,"date":"2020-09-10T21:31:47","date_gmt":"2020-09-10T21:31:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/elcohaulicssanonymous.com\/ELCO\/?p=3527"},"modified":"2026-04-26T21:43:32","modified_gmt":"2026-04-27T01:43:32","slug":"choo-choo-customs-el-caminos","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/elcohaulicssanonymous.com\/ELCO\/choo-choo-customs-el-caminos\/","title":{"rendered":"Choo-Choo Customs El Caminos"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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“Choo Choo Customs El Caminos” – The “El Camino SS”:<\/strong><\/h4>

GM offered a special package-version of an \u201cSS\u201d that was dubbed the \u201cDesigner Series\u201d, which was introduced around the middle of 1983.<\/p>

Starting in 1984, they essentially ended what was the traditional \u201cSuper Sport\u201d package by renaming it as the \u201cSS Sport D\u00e9cor Package\u201d (RPO Z15). They then added the option to the lineup what is commonly referred to as the “Choo Choo” conversion as the new \u201cEl Camino SS\u201d. There were basically two “SS” versions available from that point on until the El Camino was discontinued in 1987.<\/p>

The introduction of this appearance package design essentially coincided with the introduction of the aerodynamic Super Sport Nose styling that was present on the Monte Carlo SS and was introduced for use on the NASCAR racing circuit about the same timeframe.<\/p>

The nose assemblies appear to be almost identical and are often times referred to as the “Monte SS Nose”, but are actually rather different in construction, and are not interchangeable between the models.\u00a0<\/p>

These vehicles were either shipped directly from the manufacturing plants to Chattanooga for conversion as they were ordered, GM sent batches, or \u201cpools\u201d of them to be converted and sold from, or they were sent for conversion from a selling dealer\u2019s inventory prior to sale.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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The custom pieces for the “El Camino SS” package primarily consisted of the urethane nose, a Choo Choo Train emblem on the dash, “Designer Series” door handle inserts, and unique “El Camino SS” nose, door, and tailgate decals.<\/p>

The first couple of years had special, machine-turned aluminum side moldings but were phased out during, or after the ’85 model year, and were typically replaced with the Conquista-type (RPO BX8) moldings as an option if side moldings were desired.<\/p>

There were additional options that could be added to the package such as a bolt-on hood scoop, side skirts with “faux” exhaust tips, and on the later years, aluminum mag-type wheels (Western Bullet 15″x7″) a flip-up moon roof, and steering wheel. The “Roof Air Foil” appears to only have been offered initially on the ’83 versions.<\/p>

The conversion items were manufactured for, and installed by a van conversion company in Chattanooga, Tennessee called Choo Choo Customs.\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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The Urethane Nose for the El Camino is slightly physically different due to the interface with the Fenders. It\u2019s a bit more shallow across the top above the Grille, overall shorter, and the mounting flanges to the Fenders are angled as opposed to the MC\u2019s which are straight vertical.<\/p>

A Monte SS nose and fenders on an El Camino does not a Choo Choo make!<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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They do however use common lighting hardware parts. The Headlight Bucket Carrier Brackets are Monte Carlo SS but the outboard ends have been trimmed to fit the curvature of the nose, and they use the same Turn Signal\/Marker Lamp Housings as the MCSS.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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One rather interesting, and often overlooked piece of information appeared while looking all of this stuff up. It seems that most of the Choo-Choo Customs special \u201cDesigner Series SS\u201d models, are NOT <\/u><\/em><\/strong>ACTUALLY<\/u><\/em> Super Sports\u2026at least technically-speaking. Not as defined by the Regular Production Option Codes used by Chevrolet to designate the Super Sport models. According to their documentation, they essentially only converted \u201cStandard\u201d El Camino models.<\/p>

(Reference the separate article on the \u201cSuper Sport\u201d Package, RPO Z15<\/a><\/strong> for more information).<\/em><\/p>

The Package information provided by Choo-Choo Customs in 1983 clearly, and specifically states: \u201cNOT AVAILABLE<\/em><\/strong> with D91 – Conquista, Z15 \u2013 SUPER SPORT<\/strong>, Z16 \u2013 ROYAL KNIGHT, or 5.7L Diesel<\/em>\u201d.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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Certainly, this looks to have changed with later years as this was stated during, or shortly after their introduction as shown here. This limitation requirements statement was removed on the 1985 version of the document. But, just technically-speaking, it eliminates the majority of them from being actual \u201ctrue\u201d SS\u2019s. There are indeed a handful of Z15\u2019s Choo-Choo\u2019s reported to be out there, but it seems to be limited mainly to the last couple of years of conversions ’86 & ’87.<\/p>

Being that the Choo-Choo SS was not subject to the few restrictions that went along with equipping the Z15 RPO Code \u201cSS\u201d package, that helps explain some of the variations seen on the streets:<\/p>