For the past few months, I’ve begun to wonder if enthusiasts are tiring of the insane prices some vintage cars and trucks have been going for. There’s only so much comfort one can take from knowing you could potentially make money on a vehicle when it comes time to sell; in the meantime, you’re possibly feeling like you overspent. That’s why vehicles from the so-called malaise era may begin to see some renewed appreciation as representing a better value than what passes for a collector vehicle. That’s why this rare 4-speed manual-equipped 1979 Chevrolet El Camino is so appealing, listed here on craigslist for $18,500 near Phoenix.
What a great cruiser. While we all know the El Camino and can appreciate its quirkiness as a package, there’s something about finding one in pristine condition with a manual gearbox. It becomes more compelling as a purchase with three pedals, if only because the combination of a pickup bed, V8, and manual transmission is one of the most classically American combos ever offered. Of course, the fact that it’s not really a truck in the truest sense of the word works to its advantage because it transforms into an epic street cruiser. Not since Gene Hackman brutalized one in Enemy of the State has an El Camino been so cool.
Of course, it helps that this one is in outstanding condition. The interior is far more handsome than I would have ever thought an El Camino could look. Mileage is said to be just 42,000, which helps explain the state of preservation inside. The lighting may be working in its favor, but other photos in different lights seem to confirm the cabin really does look this nice. The El Camino came in a variety of special trims, including the Super Sport, Caballero, and Choo-Choo Custom, but this one appears to be a standard model that has survived in incredible condition. The listing notes the previous owner special-ordered the bucket seats.
The El Camino came with a few different eight-cylinder options, including a 4.4L, 5.0L, and a 350. The seller doesn’t specify which one his El Camino is equipped with, nor does he include any engine bay photos. One can assume it has to look as clean under the hood as the rest of the car, which was clearly the previous owner’s pride and joy. Factoring in the special-order configuration and low mileage, this El Camino may be pretty close to unrepeatable. An SS just sold with a four-speed for over $22,000, so there’s a good chance the seller will get his price if he’s patient. Thanks to Barn Finds reader Rocco B. for the find.
The craigslist ad has the VIN; this one has the 4.4L (267 cid) V8.
That’s the nice thing about small block Chevrolets, they are all externally the same size. More cubic inches are just a bolt in away.
put a factory crate 383 in mine…way easier than an LS 435 hp from GM
The 267 is a sad little motor. Can’t imagine why anyone who wanted a four speed would have wanted the 267 to go with it. The four speed was usually found with the 305 or 350.
My first car was a ‘79 Malibu Classic Landau coupe with the 267. The car was mint but I wished that it was ordered with the 305. I eventually replaced the 267 with a period correct 350. That being said, when hooked up to a 4 speed, the 267 ran about as well as a 305 automatic. I would love to have this El Camino in this condition.
Also making El Caminos look cool: Jesse Pinkman stealing Todd Alquist’s El Camino in Breaking Bad.
Exactly.
The front end with the single headlights look so much cleaner
& nicer than the four headlight ones.Once again,the price seems
high to me,but I’m not sure what the market is on these.
I looked at one of these new on the lot late in ’79,& now wish
I’d at least test driven it.Ended up buying a new Toyota SR5 pickup
that I ended up selling about 6 months later.
Likewise with the much more common Malibu four-door sedans the original 6-light notchback roofline was much handsomer than the “formal” one that I expect was forced on Chevy and Pontiac when, after the crash program to develop it, it was probably felt Buick and Olds sedan sales wouldn’t be enough to amortize its’ costs in the short 2-year run expected before the FWD A-bodies took over.
Thank you Rmac for educating me about this 267 cu. In. engine.
I.d never heard of it till. Now I know. Thanks Rmac.
Very nice ElCo
Vinyl seats and no A/C in Phoenix. I’m surprised the original owner isn’t still stuck to the driver’s seat.
Drove a 78, 305 4 speed one as a beater for a year or so. Old and ugly took it off the road as it was a cop magnet for some reason, you have a tail light out, where are you going at this hour and so on. Nightshift sucks with an old looking car at times. Fun to drive as it had ac, power everything but the paint and northeast appearance left much to the eye. Like all Chevies I owned, reliability was a 10 plus. It never left me or cost me anymore than gas, tires, and oil.
I lived in PHX for 20+ years and I can tell that if this car is truly a PHX survivor instead of up north in AZ somewhere where it’s cooler, the low mileage is because of no a/c and spent it’s time in the garage.Nice car. Good luck to the new owner.
I never even heard of a 267 cu. in..
Somebody please expound on that engine.
Love it!
My first car was an ’82 with the 229 V6 and 200r4 trans. The whole time I owned it, I wanted to do a V8 and 5 speed swap but dad wouldn’t let me “hot rod it”…even though the motor smoked and the slushbox trans was always on its last leg. A factory bucket seat, 4 speed truck would’ve been the holy grail for me.
Finally the rear end gave out and I snuck in a 3.42 posi from a Monte SS. Dad always wondered why the speedo was so far off LOL. That was as “hot rod” as it ever got.
B I G square box around U for protection, slo drive train.
Wait till ur a father, then you’ll know how WE think (purchase for U)…
A lot of comments about it being a Phoenix Az. car but in the CL ad I see state of Washington license plates, Probably less of a need for A/C in the Pacific Northwest than in Phoenix. But a very nice El Camino. I had one I bought second hand, an ‘ 80 that was painted an ugly “Cinnabar”, Saddle bench seat interior, 229″ V/6, 3 speed stick on the floor, It quickly became a Black, 350″ V/8, Borg Warner ST10 4 Speed terror riding on Corvette Rallye Wheels, it turned out nice.
The reason it does not have a/c, it’s from Washington state. Look at the license plates
Why if this car in near Phoenix is it carrying Washington plates? What is the truth here?
Recent retiree, maybe?
I’ve had three El Camino’s and loved them all. I worked on construction as an operator and they served me well. A 305, 350, and a 4.3 V-6. The V-6 was as fast as either of the V-8’s, the only time it was noticeable was going up steep hills, it would downshift. Mileage was excellent, they were good in snow, comfortable, and easy to maintain. Never let me down! Wish I’d never sold them,
4 speed was only available on v8 if it was the 267. No 4 speed available with 305 or 350 the 4 speed was not strong enough to handle the torque of the bigger V8
I honestly did not think a 350 was ever offered in an el Camino after 77. I have had 5 el caminos including current 85 SS 305 that I am debating keep matching numbers or drop in a 350??
I believe ‘78 was the only year you could get an El Camino (or any G body) with a 350 4 speed from the factory, and the only G body ever available with the 350. A friend of mine was really into them and he had two of them with the 350 4 speed combo. 305 4 speeds weren’t that uncommon
I still have my 78 El Camino Super Sport with Factory 4 speed it came with the 350 I drove it off the showroom floor paid 6800 I bought it June 1st today my son was born I guess he will get it when I’m
This is a super nice El Camino. It’s a comfortable, good looking car with a bed that would meet most people’s hauling needs (motorcycles, appliances, camping gear, or a young person’s belongings when making a move). Upon graduation from college in 1978, I was excited about the smaller El Camino and planned to buy one (with a 4 speed) with my anticipated high earnings. As it turned out, my earnings did not start out high, so I bought a 50 Chev PU (with a 4 speed). That small V8 would have appealed to me, because even back then, I liked reasonable fuel economy.
267 V8 (a big minus) no a/c (not here on the humid east coast) and no power options (windows/door locks/seat) equals a big “No Thank You” four speed or no four speed…
As I recall Chevy came out with both a 4.1 v8 and 4.3 v6
The 4.1 was the 267 v8 used in Chevy monza’s Pontiac sunbirds old firenza it was small enough to use the borg Warner manual trans
They put a few in. G body chevelle montes cutlass and Buicks not a torquey motor and not a high revving engine so it did not last long
A friend hot rodded his
Stroker, 5 speed , 4 wheel discs but he painted it lime green , frame , floors , engine , you name it , it was GREEN
He had to give it away cause it just wouldn’t sell !
The 4.4 litre was the 267 V8.
The 5.0 litre was the 305 V8.
The 5.7 litre was the 350 V8.
There was also a 3.3 litre V6 (200) in 1978 &1979 and a 3.8 V6 (229) from 1980 on.
I had a 1985 4.3 V-6 that I bought brand new off the show room floor for $12085.00. Ran like a top, had 125K miles on and didn’t burn a drop of oil. Wish I’d never sold it!
Also a 4.3 litre V6 (262) based on the 350 V8 in later years.
I bought a 1985 El Camino Sport brand new from the show room. It was a 4.3 V-6 and paid $12,885. for the car. I drove it for over 100K miles and never had a problem with it, wish I’d kept it!
The 267 V8 is the 4.4 litre.
The 305 V8 is the 5.0 litre.
The 350 V8 is the 5.7 litre.
All were based on the 350 V8 with different cylinder bores.
The 267 and 305 were created for fuel economy purposes in the mid to late 70s. The 267 was introduced in 1979 but only lasted to 1982.
There were also V6s:
The 200 V6 is a 3.3 litre, basically 3/4 of a 267 V8.
The 229 V6 is a 3.8 litre, basically 3/4 of a 305 V8.
The 262 V6 is a 4.3 litre, basically 3/4 of a 350 V8.
said B4 on these “Lub me some last gen Chevelle (3rd or ’73/7 the malibue classic): waggy, camino, sedan, coupe – all.” The big square grill, lines straighten out some since the ‘humps over the wheels’ in the 60s. Doesnt this model have that fantastic curved head board/rear windshield? I’d take “the smallest bent 8” or my preferred (if available) the good ol Stove-bolt 6 (more tq than the 1 w/30+ cubes).
o0OP, this aint 1 – the grill IS a lill different (slants). longer WB, etc. Camino went past the demise of chevelle… C what I did there? (also – “Get me ouda my wheelhouse’n C what U do ta me.”) All your fault
8^ )
Washington state plates on it