After a brief start in 1959-60, the Chevy El Camino returned in 1964 as part of the new mid-size Chevelle lineup. There it would soldier on until the rear-wheel-drive platform was retired in 1988. The El Camino was a “gentleman’s pickup” based initially on a 2-door station wagon. The seller’s 1980 example appears to have been a barn find and runs and drives but is otherwise in need of some TLC. Located in Winterset, Iowa, this Chevy truck is available here on craigslist for $7,000. Thanks for the heads-up on this tip, Tony Primo!
The El Camino was downsized in 1978 with all the rest of the General Motors intermediates. It was a company-wide effort to reduce weight and thus help improve fuel economy. We’re not aware there was any negative impact on the truck’s carrying capacity. Chevy sold more than 45,000 El Caminos in 1980, a typical year for demand for the pickups. The seller’s example is said to be your basic workhorse, with a V6 engine (229 cubic inches?) and a 3-speed manual transmission.
With an engine producing only 115 rated hp, the seller’s Chevy is likely no hot performer. All the photos provided show it all cleaned up except for one on a trailer where it was dirty. We assume that’s how the seller found this El Camino which is said to have just 62,000 miles. We’re told it was a single-family-owned vehicle that may have been retired until recently.
The seller says it runs and drives, but doesn’t say how well, so it may need a bit more mechanical tinkering. And the body and paint have seen better days, though it’s not rusted out. It might not take much for this to become a daily driver, though you could opt for a restoration. However, the V6 and 3-speed manual don’t make it the most tempting candidate.
I have only seen a couple of Elcaminos from this generation that had a stick in person. I believe any one i saw was a 4 speed. We had a neighbor with a Pontiac Lemans 2 door ( around 1980) with a 6 and 3 speed manual that he bought new. This has got to be rare. Personally I know the 6 isnt that gutsy, but it would be neat to keep this stock with the 6 and 3 speed. I cant help but wonder if a dealer special ordered this to have on the lot as a low price Elcamino to try to draw people in, then upsell them one a little more loaded. It actually looks pretty solid, depending on what it looks like underneath. Im surprised to see it has AC though, you were able to get these and Monte Carlos without AC back then. Im sure once the compressor kicked in and thought of climbing even the most modest of hills probably went right out the window.
An area Chevy dealer used to stock stick shift Malibus around this time. As late as ’79 they had a coupe and a wagon. Same place had two Cosworth Vegas, one of each year, a 4 and a 5-speed. Not your typical inventory even in a small mid Michigan town. The dealership went away a few years later to be replaced with a lumber yard that it is today.
I love the 1978 through 1987 Era of Elcaminos. I always wanted one since I was a kid and still do. Best of both worlds meaning rides and drives like a car and the utility of a smallish truck.
I only have seen 1 in my life that was a stick shift and it was the 1980 super sport version
A woman who graduated a year ahead of me ordered a ’78 with the V8, 4-speed combo. Black with camel buckets, color key rally wheels, power windows and no air. It’s Michigan, you know, and who wants to give up the horsepower?
I love these in just regular Malibu trim. A little two door with a manual is a hot candidate to drop a 350hp or so SBC into.
In 79 my Dad was a GMC dealer, we sold a V6 3sp stick Cabrolaro to my best friend that was a carpenter. He got sick of 9-12 mpg with his 2500 Sierra Yes it was special ordered and I don’t remember another one.
I used to work with a guy who had a ‘Camino with the V6 3spd combo. I never thought of them being rare, I could be wrong. Looks like a good rig and a decent price. Over the weekend throw in a hot small block and a Muncie and let’er rip
That 229 six is best used to anchor a boat but the manual is a plus. Makes dropping in that 383 stroker small block and a Tremec 5-speed easy peasy.
I have a 1985 Conquista 305 V8, Auto with 82K miles. Second owner. Has air shocks in rear with trailer hitch. Pulled a boat. Non opt now but I drive it a few times a month. Bad paint and interior but I think I will start the process and make it a driver and get rid of my Silverado.
I bought a 1980 Malibu new. It was the 229 with 3 on the floor. Pretty gutless. Put a Saginaw 4 speed in it when it had 600 miles. A 4 speed was not available with the 229. That helped. Still a real slug. Sold it 1 year later.
My two brother cousins had a el Camino I forget the year but I think it was this year anyway the older cousin couldn’t make the payments so the younger brother bought it he was in auto mechanics high school he rebuilt a free small block Chevy engine he took out the three o five out and put the four hundred engine,with dual exhaust already in it it also needed a paint job but didn’t he put on the wider white lettered tires and mag wheels,left the regular rally wheels up front.omg what a torque monster it was kept it as a sleeper and he illegally raced beating anyone that wanted to race on that street.he got numerous tickets on it lost his license for a while had to pay a lot on insurance he gave me a ride in it omg I kissed the ground when he dropped me off lol!
I had one just like this except the manual. Same color, same slow 229. I put cargo coils in the back to give it a little rake. It was a beautiful car. Wouldn’t mind having another with a V8.
Yep….lots of these survived – still looks like a rare one with the stick shift.
of the 3 chevelle gens this is my fav. The big blocky grill, straight lines, and on this model – the curved rear glass/head board. I was well past ‘the car fascination stage’ by the time these came out but the model was one for a ford guy to enjoy.
“..However, the V6 and 3-speed manual don’t make it the most tempting candidate….”
If 292 = 3.8L (or the venerable 3800) I’ll say the opposite. “Tassa good’un !” Sure I’d rather a 4 speed (= OD) automatic or manny 5 speed (not really) but
I understand from da cheb guys its durable fora bent6.
Far from another grammar policeman but: “Caballero” just for our actual record.
I had the 229 / auto in my ’81 Camaro. Yes, it was a dog. The dealer talked me into ordering that engine because he had a bunch of V8s sitting on the lot because gas prices had recently gone up.
Worse yet was that in ’81 they came out with “Computer Command Control” which was a primitive form of fuel injection. It made it impossible to do any simple carb adjustments.