The Caballero was GMC’s version of the Chevy El Camino, with minor badging changes and production in smaller quantities. Both were based on the Chevy Malibu but with a larger wheelbase. The 1987 model year would spell the end of both “gentlemen’s pickups” as GM’s intermediates went to front-wheel drive in 1988. This edition belongs to the seller’s grandfather and supposedly has just 1,671 miles on the clock. Located in Vancouver, Oregon, the truck is available here on craigslist for $40,000. Thanks, Matt H, for sending this tip our way!
This variant of the El Camino debuted as the Sprint in 1971 and was renamed the Caballero in 1978. It was created to give GMC an additional product offering since their focus had been on trucks and vans. If you put an El Camino and a Caballero next to each other and walked away, it would be hard to tell them apart. The ‘87 model year saw just 1,882 copies of the Caballero built, which suggests that GMC never did much to promote the pickups. By contrast, Chevrolet sold 13,743 El Camino’s during the same period.
We don’t know a lot about the seller’s Caballero. His grandfather has kept it stored most of the time in a garage, which may have been from new. From what we see of the black paint and grey interior, everything looks to be in top-notch shape. The V8 is likely one displacing 305 cubic inches and paired with a Turbo-Hydramatic transmission. We’re told the GMC is like new, so we assume it also runs like new, but the seller doesn’t elaborate. Instead, he’d rather the interested parties ask for more details and photos. This might be a great find, but is it a $40,000 find? What’s your top dollar for this El Camino copy?
Not enough pictures to verify the mileage claim. That in it’s self is a red flag to me.
Hey Russ – Vehicle is located in Vancouver, WA, listed on Portland, OR Craigslist
Right across the Columbia River.
Vancouver WA is on the state’s southern border right across from Portland OR
40,000? Is this guy joking?
He’s either joking or he’s smoking…
As always I’m baffled by the fact that someone owned this and just never enjoyed it at all. Parked it and occasionally dusted it off. That sounds exciting. 40k? Come on Man. Seriously? Just saying.
On top of that since it’s been pretty idle for 37 years I’ll bet all the gaskets will be leaking as soon as you start it. Sure it’s a nice enough ride but not 40K worth.
Cars with super low miles have no real value to me. I buy my cars to drive and enjoy. On cars like this, the more you drive it, the less it’s worth. The justification for a higher price is the lower miles.Catch 22.
Anyway, it’s a very nice looking car from what we can see.
Too bad GM re-used the Caballero nameplate for this rather mundane El Camino clone. The original Caballero was a beautiful top of the line ’57 Buick station wagon.
The old man always had a Ranchero or El Camino around, including a 72 Ranchero GT and a 73 El Camino 454. Coolest looking one he had was a 78 GMC with the “Diablo” package which included gauges and tach and cool graphics but nothing in the way of performance upgrades. Just the run of the mill 350 four barrel but it was just the ticket for a high school boy. This truck looks fantastic but $40k and no bucket seats?
Been looking for a nice square body mid 80’s El Camano, but at that price I can get 3 nice ones.
Kind of unusual car but I think it’s a just under 20,000 car.
I guess it should have been listed on hemmings for that museum price
Assuming it is less than 2k miles I’d rather buck up – but not necessarily $40k worth – for this car that probably doesn’t need any rust repair and that would make an excellent cruiser right from the start. I find this 1987 desirable because it’s a low production GMC and it’s the last model year for the Caballero.
From the pics, I see that this car has power windows and locks, A/C and it appears to have cruise. I can’t tell if it has the factory gauges and tach and it doesn’t have the bucket seats and console. Positraction and F41 suspension? Maybe.
I’m not sure that I’ve seen a Firestone Supreme white letter tire like that before but I suppose they could be the original tires from the factory.
I’d seriously consider this car at $25k – $30k and if I bought it I’d put on a set of old school Cragar’s with a modern tire, replace the underhood vacuum lines, heater hoses, radiator hoses, etc and maybe put in an aftermarket dual exhaust capable transmission cross member and put true duals on it. Then I’d drive it to cruise nights and enjoy it.
There are definitely factory gauges with tach.
$40k? I don’t care if it had negative 1600 miles. Laughable. I hate to beat sellers up for their asking prices but this one just has me shaking my head.
Even if it’s a 4bl/350 & A/C, the NADA value is 11.2K !
Put the doobie down & step away!