With sedans making a bit of a comeback these days and wagons accounting for less than 2% of the US market, the two body styles look trouble-free… if we compare them to utility coupes. These once-cool, car-based pickup trucks have been off the US market for decades—people love compact trucks nowadays, so they won’t return. And their more recent Australian demise means it’s up to us enthusiasts to keep the flag up. Well, what better way to keep UTEs (this is the Aussie name) under the spotlights if not talking about Mullet, a 1986 Chevrolet El Camino that YouTuber Cleetus McFarland has turned into a drag racer that can deliver up to 5,000 hp.
Mullet started out in life as a 1986 El Camino, having been built just two years before the model got retired. And while this is the Chevy credited with popularizing the entire segment thanks to its muscle, the fifth generation we have here was stripped of its predecessors’ serious power in the dreaded Malaise Era. But enough with the history, as we’ve got fresh details to cover!
Mullet the El Camino has been stunning YouTube for three years now
Three years ago, YouTuber Cleetus McFarland (Lawrence Garrett Mitchel), started making videos about Mullet. And while his serious drag racing intentions for the El Camino were clear from the get-go, it wasn’t until one year ago that the Chevy delivered its first 6s quarter-mile pass.
The journey has been quite unlike the machine’s quick, straight passes, as the vehicle went through multiple engines—here it was featuring a 1,500 hp-capable 427 ci (7.0L) Texas Speed Dart block (twin-turbo) for the 2022 Sick Week. However, the proper change didn’t come before the 2023 Sick Week back in February, which saw Mullet blowing that engine—no, really, there’s a silver lining here.
The new 2023 spec for Mullet
That’s when Cleetus decided to give his El Camino a V8 that’s famous in the drag racing world. As such, the new 2023 Mullet spec features a twin-turbo 572 ci (9.3L) SMX Big Block that can deliver up to 5,000 hp.
This used to be the heart of engine builder Steve Morris’ Chevrolet Caprice Boostmaster Wagon. After we featured the family-unfriendly station wagon last February, this blew all 8 rods and Steve had to fully rebuild the engine before selling it to Cleetus.
And, following yet another fix from the engine builder, who has been in the business for 30 years, the V8 is now running perfectly, which means Cleetus could take the thing to the drag strip with full confidence.
Of course, this level of muscle means the chassis is extremely far from that of a stock El Camino, there’s drag suspension, a roll cage, bucket seats, and all the other good stuff you’d expect to see on such a prepped surface animal. Interestingly, though, while Cleetus and his team mention the Pro Mod spec of the engine, it seems Mullet can still be driven on the road—check out the license plate on the back!
The bed cover features carbon fiber panels and while we’re talking aero, we should also mention the vehicle has been taken to the wind tunnel—Cleetus wanted to test his redneck engineering.
Mullet has yet to visit the dyno, at least not for the camera. Nevertheless, the YouTuber recently took his El Camino to the Bradenton Motorsport Park in Florida.
Mullet’s drag strip numbers
Mullet managed to deliver some impressive figures: 1.14s 60-foot, 2.95s 330-foot, 4.37s 1/8-mile at 173 mph, and 6.59s 1/4-mile at 221 mph. Keep in mind that, for now, the massive Precision turbos feeding that Big Block deliver 44 PSI, with the limit having been set at 70 PSI. So yes, there’s quite a way to go before the full 5k output is thrown at the drag strip.
We’ll update this story as Mullet the El Camino evolves, so feel free to jump aboard for one of the wackiest builds on YouTube.
