You know you are getting old when the cars of your youth are becoming the stars of Barn Finds. This 1978 Chevrolet El Camino in Conquista trim for sale on Facebook Marketplace in Richmond, Indiana, reminds me of a vehicle that loomed large in my past. About the time when I was unleashed on the road by myself to the detriment of my hometown, my father purchased a 1980 El Camino from a speed shop. The interestingly optioned El Camino featured is similar to that fun but short-lived example I briefly enjoyed before a van took it out. With an advertised 68,000 miles, this one is in good shape for its age and has a few quirks on its options list. Do you think the $8,750 asking price is proving to be a bit optimistic after five weeks on Facebook Marketplace? What do you think is a fair price for this interesting truck? Thanks to Ted for pointing out this vintage El Camino!
El Caminos were a huge part of my childhood. My father’s family were El Camino fans of the highest order. All of my uncles drove El Caminos, and when my father needed a second vehicle, he obviously wanted an El Camino. The one he found was a two-tone blue 1980 model in pretty good condition. It was sitting at a speed shop under a thick blanket of dust but had a transplanted 327 cubic-inch small block under the hood. Those speed shop guys also gave it a nice set of dual exhausts, and it sounded wonderful in that magical way that only a V-8 with a proper exhaust can sound. Despite my rocky relationship with my father and my well-earned reputation as someone who treated a gas pedal like an on/off switch, I was occasionally trusted to drive it. That truck made me a fan of El Caminos as well, as was the family tradition.
It wasn’t with us very long, and I was the one behind the wheel when it received a mortal blow. My brother and I were running an errand for my parents on Sunday morning when I pulled to a stop at a red light on a secondary road. The light turned green, and I started to move into the intersection when we were suddenly facing 90 degrees in the opposite direction. We were fine, but the El Camino’s front clip was pushed hard to the right, the hood was crumpled, and steam from the radiator was billowing out from under it. A van slowly came to a stop. It was from the hotel down the road, and it carried in it a young driver and an older lady from New York who was very upset. The story came out later that she was being taken to the airport, and they were running very late. Looking back, the driver blasted through the red light about five seconds after I got the green. For once, I didn’t stomp on the gas and was a responsible driver. Except for the “look both ways” part.
I still cannot believe that my parents weren’t mad when they showed up. They were more worried about my brother, who had a habit of not wearing his seat belt. He did, and we were fine. The poor, blue El Camino would never recover. It was taken to the scrapyard, and my father bought a much nicer (and slower) 1984 model with the Conquista trim and two-tone brown and champagne-colored paint. With a topper. It was a loaded-out old man truck with power everything and pillowy velvet upholstery. In contrast to his previous El Camino, it was in spectacular shape. The problem was we had already been exposed to the now-wrecked 1980 model that was much more spartan and worn. What it had going for it was that it was fun to drive, being fast (for its time) and light. I still feel bad about what happened to it. However, I was a kid then, and my survival skills behind the wheel left a lot to be desired. I am slightly better now, thirty or more years later.
After all those years, I’d still like to have an El Camino to tool around in. They were the perfect truck for someone needing to occasionally haul things but wanted a car-like ride with handling to match. The 1978 El Camino you see here would be a very nice replacement for the previously mentioned 1980 version. The seller tells us that it is equipped with Chevrolet’s ubiquitous 305 cubic inch V-8 and an automatic transmission. From the pictures, we can see that it also has power steering, power brakes, air conditioning, and bed rails. It also wears the standard vinyl interior, manual windows, and still sports its factory AM radio. The ad lists just 68,000 miles on the odometer.
The only major drawback is that the maroon exterior finish has faded over time. While the seller believes that this may be remedied by a “buff and polish,” that may be a bit optimistic. What you can be optimistic about is how durable this truck will continue to be. A small-block Chevy with a standard GM automatic and a basic rear end is a recipe for boring reliability. Add to that the ridiculous number of spare parts still available for this combo, and you can see why these trucks still have a large fan base. An El Camino is an easy truck to live with, then and now. Let’s hope that Chevrolet will someday see fit to dust off this old design for a new generation of drivers.
Have you ever owned an El Camino? Would you purchase a new version? Please share your memories and thoughts in the comments.
Union gospel mission motors of Spokane has 3 of them one of them is in better shape than this one and priced cheaper so +/- $15k you can get a nice one plus two running and driving parts cars
This year is starting to grow on me. Pretty good price, looks good. I’m swapping out the body on a 66′ as we speak. Just bought a donor from up north with “patina” ,ratrod…
The maroon paint on GM cars of this time frame always had a tendency to fade. But it always came back with a little elbow grease. This is a nice little truck and I’m impressed it still has the AM radio. Get an FM converter and it will be the 70s again.
Wow that was some Sunday morning for you and the family 👪 Bennett 🙏 🤲
Luckily only the cool blue 327 Camino was the victim.
Those late red lite runners are some of the most dangerous and irresponsible drivers out there.
The paint is likely shot. A friend had a Monte Carlo in this shade, and the pigment in the paint faded; the finish was still glossy, but the color faded to the pink shade seen here.
I had a 71 in H.S. 350 with a 4 speed manual, a real tire smoker.
I loved it
My first brand new vehicle was an 86 El Camino. I special ordered it Labor Day weekend 1985. It came in the day before Thanksgiving. It’s still in my garage today with only 6600 original miles. Mine is the SS Sport Decor version being black with silver lower and front air dam with the chrome bumper. Looks exactly like the one pictured in the 86 sales brochure. This 78 looks like it needs only minor TLC. Looks like a decent buy to me. 78’s are the only year for the outboard back up lights. Same for the 78 A body wagons.
Glad you and your brother survived the accident, My square bodied El Camino experience was brief. I bought a new SS in 79 and really loved it. My issue was that the very first time I took it to a carwash, the paint peeled up in sheets in the bed. It was only a week old. The Chevy dealer said that GM was using a new water base paint and the only remedy was a complete new paint job using conventional paint. They replaced all of the SS stripes except the SS on the tailgate which was on back order. I only owned it about a year when my spouse sold it to a friend. I had put a Pioneer stereo in it and I wanted it back. The buyer cut the wires off the stereo at the radio and threw it on my lawn. I missed the El Camino and years later I bought a 1960 project but it just wasn’t the same.
All this one would need is time in the body shop to have it painted. I sure miss the days of El Camino and Ranchero. They were the perfect style and size of a truck. Too bad they don’t make them anymore.
When I first saw these I thought putting the lights in the back bumper was a bad idea, but these have really grown on me. I would drive it the way it is. That bed would carry several golf bags or my e-bike with ease
I had a 1970 El Camino back in 1980. Arizona car so no rust. 350 V8 and Turbo 350. Hugger Orange with a black vinyl roof and black interior and US Mags. Beautiful car. My youngest son had a 1978 El Camino a few years back. Damn shame it had so much rust in the floor and right quarter panel. The car was arrow straight, the paint was decent. The interior was in fantastic shape. Now for the fun part. Someone prior to us built a 307 (yeah I know, most people hate the 307 but I don’t think they were bad) the did an RV cam and Edelbrock intake and Holley carb, cat delete and dual exhaust and a Muncie 4spd. One an industrial part of town road at night that thing would burn rubber like no tomorrow. Blasted shame about the rust. Same color as this featured car too.
This is a terrific color combination on here. One of my favorites. I hope it gets repainted to original, and that the original rims are kept too. I liked these Chevy rims, and they look great on ElCaminos and Monte Carlos. I’d even leave the AM radio too.
Worked for a Chevy dealer as an F&I in late 70’s. My first demo was a 78 S/S El Camino, basic trim, 350 auto, Black with gold trim. Beautiful car. Next up after it sold was a 79 El Camino S/S with every option available at the time. Only disappoint was a 305 V8. Light maroon upper, dark maroon lower with a med maroon bucket seat interior with console and white tonneau cover. Stunning car. Feel in love with the El Caminos. Since then I’ve owned a 1969 El Camino and a 72 GMC Sprint (wish I had that one back). Both went away for various reasons. Currently have an 81 S/S with a bored out 350 (355), headers, cam, high rise Eldelbrock manifold and Holley carb. Real ripper :-). Still love these cars!
Sounds like a sweet and fast 81′ model Billy 😎 🆒️ 👍
located in the rust belt it would be a very good idea to check the frame for corrosion especially in the rear where the frame curves over the rear axle and to the back, I’ve owned many G bodies all from the mid west, the frames rust out in that area
why would you take off the exhaust then decide to sell and then offer it to the new buyer. makes no sense to me. fair price though