- Seller: Jeffrey C (Contact)
- Location: Newburyport, Massachusetts
- Mileage: 00000 Shown
- Chassis #: 1GCCW80KXCR220502
- Title Status: Clean
- Engine: 307 cui v8
- Transmission: TH350 Automatic
UPDATE – The seller has provided some clarifications about the work that’s been done to the car. From Jeff: The top was chopped 3-4” and the body was lowered, the wheel wells enlarged, and the bed raised to accommodate. The engine is a rebuilt 307 that was bored .030 over with a high-lift cam attached to a 700R4.
There is no shortage of stock El Caminos out there, but this one clearly isn’t interested in blending in. Between its louvered hood, side pipes, lowered stance, vintage ET wheels, and a dashboard borrowed from a 1959 Chevrolet, this 1985 El Camino has the flavor of a street machine built decades ago rather than something assembled from the latest catalog. Located in Newburyport, Massachusetts, it is offered at auction with a clean title.
Power comes from a 307 cubic-inch V8 believed to date from the 1970s. It is equipped with a Holley carburetor and a mild cam, with exhaust exiting through side pipes that the seller admits make the car about as loud as you would expect. A TH350 automatic transmission sends power rearward.
The seller purchased the El Camino, already modified by a local builder, in 2023 and subsequently added gauges, seat belts, and a speedometer. The front end has reportedly been rebuilt, with a new steering box and suspension components, and the brakes have also been replaced. The seller states that the car runs well and passes state inspection.
Visually, this Chevrolet is full of period-custom touches. The body has been lowered approximately three to four inches, while the hood incorporates louvers and a scoop. ET-style mag wheels complete the stance, and a tow hitch remains fitted out back. The doors have been shaved of their exterior handles and are opened using poppers controlled from the bed.
The cabin is probably the most unexpected part of the build. A 1959 Chevrolet dashboard and steering wheel have been grafted into the El Camino, creating a retro look. Aftermarket instrumentation includes a speedometer and tachometer, while a Sirius radio and antenna have been added. Seating is provided by a bench seat rather than buckets.
Cosmetics are the main unfinished area. The seller says the car needs paint. It was purchased with a gold-painted roof and primered body, after which the body was finished in matte black. Unfortunately, the paint on both the body and roof has begun bubbling, lifting, and flaking, although the seller states this is not rust-related.
The side and rear windows are Lexan. The passenger window needs adjustment inside the door, while the curved rear window is showing crackling and needs sealing. The windshield is said to be good. Headliner padding is present, though it still requires a finished fabric or plastic covering.
This El Camino is unlikely to appeal to someone searching for originality, but that misses the point. It looks like the sort of machine you might have encountered outside a burger stand or drag strip years ago, complete with side pipes, mags, shaved handles, and enough custom fabrication to ensure there probably isn’t another one exactly like it. Finish the paint or leave its rough-edged appearance alone and enjoy it. Either way, this El Camino is certainly more interesting than another stock cruiser.
Bid On This Auction
Brad Taylor Australian team bid $1,750.00 2026-08-18 06:08:54
Johnny bid $1,500.00 2026-08-14 13:24:56- Brad Taylor Australian team bid $1,100.00 2026-08-14 06:40:31
- Johnny bid $850.00 2026-08-12 12:25:00
David bid $450.00 2026-08-12 09:12:11- Johnny bid $200.00 2026-08-11 23:59:43
UGH! That’s just AWFUL.
I would so have rocked this in 1984 blasting Van Halen.
That is not a 307 ,it’s a Chevy engine probably a 305.
It could be a Chevy 307 , I was thinking he was saying it was a Oldsmobile 307.
It’s a Chevy 307 according to the builder. Not an Olds. Thanks
The oil filler on the left valve cover indicates this IS a Chevy engine from the 80’s. What Chevy? I guess we’d have to believe the seller. Olds engines had a filler tube at the front of the engine, and early Chevys from the 50’s & 60’s, if I recall. Pretty sure all 7 of my Cutlass’ and my 78 Delta 88 Holiday Coupe all had the filler tube.
Makes my eyes hurt!
Awesome!
Dig it!
Sinister. Needs paint though. Jet black or even dark primer. Candidate for insertion into a dark novel.
A knockout bid right out of the gate…$200!
I said UGH too, then the more I looked at it, the more I started to like it.
Me too, it grows on you. A lot of talented time went into this, and it will be interesting to see what I think is one of the most interesting finds on this site comes in at, offer wise.
It says ” Body lowered” , but looks more like a roof chop ?
The roofline was lowered, that’s why the Lexan windows. The wheel wells and bed were raised for the lowering of the body.
The rear window is leaking but it appears to be from the molding and not the Lexan. The crackling is on the curves and the leak is coming from the straight section
That’s what I was thinking.
Is this supposed to be a Smokey Yunick vibe? Hard to tell. It’s a mess as it is but it does have visual potential with just a few cheap tricks.
There is way too much black primer here. Below the center trim line, it should be gold to minimize that aspect. Then paint the side pipes flat black. The entire hood should be gold.
Wheels need to be black with gold accents.
Also , it needs to be slammed to the ground, especially the front. Right now it looks like a Carolina squat truck.
The car sat equally low front and rear but the spring compression clamps on the front were cracking. I replaced the front springs, the rear has air shocks. It can be adjusted either way. Thanks
Pretty sure the tops been chopped, explaining the need for the Lexan windows.
Not 1985
85 had duel headlights. Just sold mine last year.
The provided VIN comes back to a 1982… The builder had a vision, but I think he needed much stronger glasses. I do like the dash, too bad it didn’t have the Bel Air steering wheel though.
The dual headlights were modified to singles
Does anyone else think that the top was chopped?
The dual headlights were modified to singles
Sorry, the top was chopped, the wheel wells enlarged to lower the chassis, the bed was shortened as well (depth)
So the body was not lowered (aka channeled), but the roofline was chopped, correct ?
It says ” the curved rear window is showing crackling and needs sealing” , does it need sealed or replaced?
Thanks for any answers you can provide.
Does anyone else care?
I do. I dig it. Father in law had a Chattanooga Customs version. This one is just plain cool.
Definitely rough around the edges…… and then some. It looks like the roof has been chopped too, did I miss that in the writeup, or are my aging eyes playing tricks on me?
I kinda like the 59 dash grafted in. It’s different, that’s for sure.
what a POS. ruined a good el camino.
The car sat equally low front and rear but the spring compression clamps on the front were cracking. I replaced the front springs, the rear has air shocks. It can be adjusted either way. Thanks
The roofline was lowered , the Lexan windows were a result. Also the body was lowered, the wheel wells were enlarged and the bed was raised to accommodate the lowering.
More info on the motor: it’s a rebuilt motor bored .030 over with a high-lift cam attached to a 700R4.
no under side pics
I can appreciate the work done for the chop top and f the dash swap. A chopped top doesn’t work for me because of my height and long legs but I like a well done one. The person that built had a vision (hopefully ) but for me that hood scoop doesn’t work that well on this particular car and the fender vents definitely don’t work for me! The mismatched wheels are an easy fix. I don’t love the side pipes. On something like a Cobra they work perfectly. My biggest issue with side pipes on any car is that you have to be very mindful getting in and out when they’re hot 🔥. 40 years later and the burn scar still shows on my right inner ankle from when my boss at the time gave me a ride in a Cobra he just bought. I doubt if I’m the only one that got a ‘souvenir ‘ from side pipes. Obviously some people love this car just as it is. Cool for them honestly. I do know for myself and for some others it isn’t their cup of tea to say it politely. bnbur
I have no idea why it wouldn’t allow me to edit my comment? I was a bit tired when I did it but I can assure you I wasn’t drinking or smoking anything other than tobacco when I wrote it. And yes I spell reasonably well and normally correct mistakes when I see them. This time the comments part just would not cooperate.
Why is it mentioned nowhere that it’s got about a 3″ chop!?!?
So… chopped and channeled?
One guy’s sweet chariot is another guy’s pile of junk. I guess I would have to drive it before I decided. I have built a few chariots in my time, and some loved them; some, not so much.