For 1973, Chevrolet introduced a full redesigned El Camino. It still shared styling elements and chassis with the Chevelle, but it received an interesting new roofline and bed design. The refresh also brought updates like standard front disc brakes, improved suspension design, and a range of performance options. Reader Jason V has decided to thin the herd and is offering this 1973 El Camino as a Barn Finds Auction! It’s located, with his other cars, in Milford, Connecticut and you can bid on it below. And be sure to check out his other auction here!
The fourth-generation was the last generation that you could get a muscle car El Camino, with engine options ranging from the thrifty inline-six all the way up to the pavement pounding 454 V8. This example was optioned with the middle of the pack 350 V8. The engine has been dressed up a bit with Edelbrock valve covers and air cleaner. With the 4-barrel carburetor equipped, this 350 was rated at 175 horsepower from the factory, but this one has few bolt-on upgrades. That Edelbrock Performer Intake should help the engine breather better and likely means there’s also a bigger carb under that air cleaner. Exhaust gases are sent out the car through performance headers and a dual exhaust system. These upgrades probably don’t bring power up to 454 levels, but it’s sure to be a welcome improvement. Jason states that the engine runs great, starts right up and sounds awesome.
For an El Camino that has covered a little over 100k miles, this one is in really great shape. It clearly has been well cared for since new. Jason has service records from the past two owners, which could partly explain why it’s held up. The fact that it started life in Southern California probably helps as well. Besides a crack in the dash and the need for new floor mats, it looks ready to go on the inside.
It’s been on the East Coast for the past 5 years, so chances are it hasn’t ever seen use as a winter driver. That being said, there is some paint bubbling in a few of the usual areas. They don’t appear to have broken through the paint yet, but you will want to address those areas sooner rather than later. If you’d like additional photos of any areas, let Jason know and he will snap and send them over.
While there are some things to be done here, this El Camino looks like a fun driver as is! Jason tells us that it runs like a beast with the upgrades and that he would be comfortable driving it all the way back to California. If you have any questions about it, please leave them in the comments.
- Location: Milford, CT
- Title: Clean
- Mileage: 104,000
- Engine: 350 cui V8
- Transmission: Automatic
Bid On This Auction
Owenwa bid $3,600.00 2019-11-12 15:57:12
Pdlegend bid $3,500.00 2019-11-10 22:01:45
@donham bid $3,100.00 2019-11-10 14:35:48
scrappy 67 bid $2,950.00 2019-11-10 07:46:27- @donham bid $2,750.00 2019-11-09 19:12:49
Dkjonestx bid $2,600.00 2019-11-09 17:47:10- @donham bid $2,500.00 2019-11-07 09:32:42
- Pdlegend bid $1,500.00 2019-11-07 09:24:51
mystarlite bid $500.00 2019-11-06 19:15:58
Auction your car here on Barn Finds for only $99!
Jason is currently working on getting us photos of the underside of his El Camino! As soon as we have them, we will get them added to the photo gallery.
A pet peeve of mine is people painting the name of the car where it doesn’t need to be.
Who doesn’t know from the rear view this is an El Camino?
I’ll check with Jason to see if it’s painted on or vinyl. If it’s vinyl, at least it would be easy to take off.
Unfortunately Josh, if it is vinyl and it has been there a long time, the paint around the letter will be faded and you will always see the letters anyway.
So the lettering is vinyl and it hasn’t been on there for a super long time.
Does the AC work properly?
The AC system is complete but unfortunately doesn’t blow cold.
Step 1: paint tailgate
Step 2: ENJOY!
Ummmm…. Step 3: fix A/C.
Step 4: Shampoo/ re-upholster seats. They are nasty looking.
Now, I can drive it. (In my dreams)
The seats are a plush material. That’s the way they look. They are not dirty. I thought my 84 Mercury Cougar’s interior looked oily when I got it off a trade, but it wasn’t oily after all. I like plush material. It looks good. I don’t see many cars with it.
The tail gate lettering fits right in nowadays, saw a new Ranger the other day with RANGER spelt in big letters on the tailgate. Other trucks, I’ve noticed that trend. Don’t like it all that much but I’m nobody.
Neat El Camino with a decent 350, ’73 was a new look for both the Chevelle and the El Camino. Kinda goes hand in hand, right?
I don’t see many El Camnos all that much anymore, used to be tons of em.
Man ,I love this el Camino , big block, crager wheels ,white letter tires, I always thought the body style looked so good compared to the two door chevelle . But, tailgate decal got to go and interior has to be redone can’t take the seats. If I had the room for another project this would come home with me.
Once had a 73 SS454. Worst car I ever owned. Horrible build quality, cheap materials, smog strangled 454, ugly and very heavy bumpers. Sold at auction for $7500. Good riddance.
Yea 73 was a pi$$ poor year for Chevy and all the American cars, between smogging them down and the recycled steel that you could hear rust , not many survived the crusher. Might be a good cheap father son project. Good luck!!!
Cheers
GPC
Has bidding topped out at 2500.00 ?
Not good.
@Crusty C – It has 5 days left.
RestoRick may be right. I’ve heard these stories before. Speaks to low bidding. I just hope all is okay with car. Best of luck to seller and new owner.
I registered to bid and everytime I try I get taken back to the page to update my account to bid which I’ve done 3 times. I wondered why the price on this was so low………. I guess it’s cause only certain people are allowed to bid
Is the El Camino still for sale?