Al has mad fab skills and set his sights on transforming the G-body into a badass performer with a host of custom fabrication parts throughout. Moving into the cabin, Verschave finished the 15/8-inch chromoly ’cage that was started in the ’90s and got it up to current NHRA-legal specs then built a trans tunnel designed to fit the Lenco ST-1206 five-speed transmission and shift levers. Verschave gave the interior a brilliant and detailed treatment of custom AVS one-off bits, including a custom aluminum dash that hosts a custom insert fed with a plethora of Auto Meter informants to keep Rich on top of the engine’s vitals. An Auto Meter tach and shift light sit eye level and a Flaming River steering wheel rests on top of an ididit steering column.

Mark Luhr (Mark Luhr’s Custom Upholstery) installed the black loop carpet and factory-style door panels, then covered the stock seats in black leather to retain some of the car’s original character and that good, old ’70s Malibu vibe.

A 557ci Donovan big-block Chevy from Shaver Racing Engines not only brings the heat with 860 hp at the ready but the powerful mill is the perfect backdrop for Verschave to showcase the artistic and stunning assemblage of custom intake tubes coming off the Kinsler cross-ram intake manifold. Verschave then fabbed up a set of one-off headers that conform with the limited space then flow to a custom 4-inch exhaust slightly suppressed by a pair of Spintech mufflers. The smoothed firewall, hand-fabricated valve covers, and custom inner fenders add to the alluring scene. “The engine is a work of art,” Rich says. “It’s absolutely amazing and like nothing I’ve ever seen before.”

Out back a Chris Alston’s Chassisworks Fab9 rearend plays home to 3.25:1 gears, Lenco Billet Detroit Locker, and Strange 35-spline axles suspend by a Chassisworks’ four-link. QA1 coilover shocks and springs dampen the ride, and a Rick Jones antiroll bar denies the G-body excessive chassis twist at launch time. Global West upper and lower control arms take the place of the stock offerings with a QA1 coilover shock conversion kit up front.

A set of Wilwood binders reside on all four corners and peek behind a set of polished 15-inch Billet Specialties Pro Comp wheels dressed in Hoosier rubber. A Wilwood master cylinder and hydro-boost system ensure an efficient braking ensemble to scrub speed quick-like. Rich upgraded the stock steering box with a Lee’s 12:1 power steering unit.

AVS widened the lower section of the rear wheel openings to accommodate the bulbous rear Hoosier drag radials–a fitting Pro Street accoutrement. Post-surgery, El Cajun Collision took over for some minor body prep and a good dousing of PPG Onyx Black. Danny Alvarado finished up with some appropriate lettering and graphics to break up the sea of black pigment. With only about 12,000 miles on the ticker, the well-preserved G-body carries mostly stock bits beyond a fiberglass hood, and the deleted inner headlights, which supply additional atmosphere to the filter elements and the engine bay.

We asked Rich what he’d do different if he had to do it all over again. His half-joking response … “Not use a G-body. It’s a unique car that required a lot of one-off parts to get it to look and perform the way I want. I’m still working out the bugs and have yet to make a full pass down the dragstrip, but that will happen soon.”

In the meantime, Rich tells us the most memorable time he’s had with the car thus far was using it to tow his boat to Bass Lake and Lake Havasu.

Wait! What? We’ve never heard of a Pro Streeter tripling down as a drag car, daily driver, and a boat tow vehicle. That’s next-level functionality and proof this El Camino does it all, furthering our take that this is the coolest “Malibu pickup” on the planet.