For the most part this is an unmolested, garden-variety 1980 El Camino with the Conquista appearance package (two-tone paint and trim). It does have AC (which worked the last time I drove it), and tilt steering. It came with the original AM radio, which I replaced with an era-appropriate AM/FM unit (though it still plays out of the single dash speaker).
I'm the third owner of this El Camino; I acquired it from my wife's aunt and uncle 5-6 years ago. They bought it from the original owner @ 1981, so for the most part it belonged to my wife's relatives for most of its existence. My wife's aunt drove the vehicle for many years, but eventually they moved to the country, and other than using the El Camino as a field vehicle for feeding cows it didn't get a lot of use. Eventually they parked it in a barn, remembering I'd told them at one point that if they ever wanted to get rid of it to let me know. I acquired it, and did my best to get it roadworthy, but realistically I couldn't drive it frequently enough to keep things up. I put new tires on it, as well as an alternator, shocks, muffler, etc., and had a mechanic go through it several years ago; but the last time I drove it (several years back) the brakes went out, so it has been parked since. I don't have the assistance I'd need to get the brakes back into working shape, and living on a steep hill I can't do much to get it out of the garage safely to tinker with it, so I put it on a set of rollers (which transfer with the vehicle), moved it to the far edge of the garage, and as you can see if has become a storage rack for the most part.
Having been used as a field car the vehicle does have some dents here and there, but in general it's in solid shape. The only rust of any real consequence that I'm aware of is around the rear glass (pictured), which seems to be contained to that one single piece of sheet metal at the front of the bed. I suspect someone with better body shop skills than myself could either fill those in, or replace that one panel and be set. The vehicle does leak rain water around the front glass (and through the rust spots in the rear), which has been the case since well before I acquired the vehicle. As a result my wife's family kept the car covered once the leaks began (either in a carport or barn, and I've kept it in the garage since I've had it), which has helped preserve the interior, especially the dash which as you can see from the photos has no cracks. As best I remember all the glass is good. Interior-wise other than the seat cover needing replacing, the carpet on the doors and the headliner have lost most of their color and would eventually need to be replaced.
As it sits currently I'd say it isn't driveable and would need to be trailered. The brake problem may simply be a master cylinder, or there could be a leak in a line somewhere. Neither would be an expensive fix by any means, but as a result of sitting for several years the vehicle also leaks oil and transmission fluid, so while I suspect I could charge the battery and top off the oil and get it started with no problems, I would not advise trying to move it under its own power until it were moved to a level lot somewhere. If you wanted to make it a daily driver, it would need attention to the brakes, and to the various seals that would need to be replaced to stop the oil/transmission leaks. But realistically with those items repaired the vehicle would be operable.
My ultimate goal was to get the mechanicals sorted out and then move on to body work and paint, but realistically with my day-to-day routine I couldn't drive a vehicle of this vintage as my daily driver (plus it really doesn't provide me enough leg room to get comfortable), so I never got beyond some of the primarily mechanical stuff. I could tackle the brakes, but realistically I have too many other home projects that are taking priority, and in a house with no attic or basement storage, garage space is at a premium, and we honestly need the space more than we need the wheels.
I'd rather see this vehicle sell to someone who plans to fix it up and drive it, as I think it's well above being just a parts vehicle. That's the primary reason I'm listing it here versus simply calling a charity to come haul it off, since I'd like to give someone a chance at it who would want to get it back on the road. I'm not in an immediate rush to get rid of it, but I think I've put things off about as long as I can. It could definitely use some body work and paint, but if you're looking for a work vehicle and are mechanically inclined this could be a good option. Parts for the 229 V-6 are cheap and plentiful from what I've encountered, and I've gotten as good as 18 MPG on the highway, so compared to full-sized trucks of this vintage this El Camino can get decent mileage.
I should probably clarify in the photos where there are two El Caminos, the one in the foreground (with beauty rings and center caps) is mine that is for sale. The one in the background belonged to a guy who happened to park in my same lot at work one summer, so we got together one day and parked them side-by-side just to take some photos since they were so similar. So just to be clear, this auction is for only one El Camino; those were the only fairly recent pictures I could find of it outside to post.
Chevrolet El Camino for Sale
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Wed, Aug 5 2015
Last month, General Motors launched a series of ads touting the benefits of steel over aluminum – specifically, with regard to the Chevy Silverado versus the Ford F-150. (Kind of. We're not sure what a grizzly bear has to do with anything.) We took issue with the ads, with editor in chief Mike Austin saying they "reek of insecurity, and distract from the Silverado's strengths that could be used for positive advertising." But what bothers us more, is that yet another report surfaced claiming anti-aluminum GM will indeed use the weight-saving material in its next-generation fullsize trucks. On Tuesday, GM announced a $877-million investment for its truck plant in Flint, MI. But Reuters says that huge overhaul is because the trucks will use "substantially different equipment than the tools GM uses today." The report specifically states, "People familiar with the company's plans say GM's next-generation pickups and SUVs will make use of various materials, including aluminum and lightweight steel, to shed weight and gain fuel efficiency to meet tougher federal standards." The Silverado already uses a few aluminum components in the engine and hood, and if more widespread use will help GM build its best fullsize trucks ever, then that's great. Honestly, we have no reason to doubt that aluminum will be used in the next Silverado and GMC Sierra. We just hope GM remembers that nothing is ever truly deleted from the bowels of the Internet when it launches the subsequent "look how great aluminum is!" campaign. Related Video: News Source: Reuters Green Plants/Manufacturing Chevrolet GM GMC Truck aluminum steel
Wed, 03 Apr 2013
Spy photographers have spotted the new Chevrolet Silverado High Country and GMC Sierra Denali out on public streets for a little testing. From the looks of things, the Silverado will receive a much-differentiated front fascia along with special badges and those honking 20-inch chrome wheels. Expect to find a more posh interior as well. Likewise, the Sierra Denali will wear a tweaked nose with the familiar Denali bling. The one of the GMC trucks spotted here rolls on 21-inch gunmetal wheels instead of the 20-inch chrome pieces of the High Country.
Word has it both trucks will go on sale after the Texas State Fair this summer. While General Motors hasn't said for certain what we can expect to find under the hood, we'd be surprised to see anything outside of the range of engines found in the standard Silverado and Sierra models. That means buyers should be able to get their hands on the efficient, 23-miles per gallon 5.3-liter V8.
Sat, Jan 10 2015
It's not news that General Motors is working on a $30,000 electric vehicle with a 200-mile range. Then-CEO Dan Akerson said as much back in 2013. What we've heard before is that this mystery EV will be based on the Chevrolet Sonic and will will arrive in 2017. So, if that's all correct, then it would make sense that confirmation of this plan would come at the 2015 Detroit Auto Show, which is just around the corner. And lookee here... The Wall Street Journal is reporting that GM will unveil a concept Chevy Bolt at the Detroit show on Monday. That name sure makes sense, too, since GM registered that trademark back in August. According to the Journal, the rumored numbers – 200-mile range, $30,000 price – are still what's expected. Some new purported details are that the battery will come from LG Chem, which also makes the Volt's batteries, and that the Bolt will be a crossover that could be sold around the world. This all smacks of a preemptive strike against the Tesla Model 3, which is also due around 2017. Currently, GM sells the Spark EV in limited areas of the US, despite a lot of excitement for wider availability. To sell a 200-mile EV for $30,000 means that GM and LG Chem will likely have drastically reduced the cost of making a big plug-in vehicle battery. What this means for the new Volt and GM's future plans is something we're more than a little excited about to learn more of on Monday, the same day that we get to see the redesigned Chevy Volt for the first time. Well, aside from the CES teaser. Green Chevrolet Crossover Electric 2015 Detroit Auto Show Chevy Bolt bolt