Chevrolet’s El Camino returned in 1964 as a mid-size “gentleman’s pickup” and remained in the Chevelle/Malibu line-up until its rear-wheel drive was retired in 1987. The truck usually outsold its contemporary at Ford, the Ranchero, which had kicked off the “Ute” (utility vehicle) market in 1957. This 1984 El Camino in SS trim looks nice from 20 feet, but as you get closer, you’ll find some cosmetic imperfections and perhaps some future problems in the rocker panels. Located in Greensboro, North Carolina, this daily driver is available here on eBay without a reserve where the magic number so far is $7,100.
The fifth generation of the El Camino arrived in 1978 and would continue for a decade with a couple of facelifts along the way. The most noticeable was in 1982 when more of an aerodynamic appearance was created. You could turn your El Camino into an SS by ordering RPO Z15, which was a trim package and added nothing to the performance as in days gone by. Two sources indicate that the only gasoline-powered V8 in 1984 was the 305 cubic-inch engine. A 350 was offered, but only as a diesel and it proved to be a mechanical nightmare.
We’re told this El Camino is a 350 and it uses gasoline, so either the engine has been replaced or the seller is in error on the displacement. El Camino demand dropped steadily through the 1980s and by 1984 only 23,000 were produced, including just 1,300 SS editions. So, the seller’s truck is in rare territory if you factor in the likely attrition over 40 years. The seller bought this pickup at an auction, so its history is spotty, but we’re told it was previously owned by a lady who used it every day (hence, 105,000 miles).
In the listing the seller says there is no “reverse,” but that should read no “reserve” as the car drives and shifts as it should with no leaks underneath. It made its way to its current home on the highway at 75 mph with no issues. The factory air conditioning no longer blows cold, so it’s going to need some attention. And the interior is in decent shape for the most part.
The body and paint are okay and nothing immediate is needed, but there is rust brewing in the driver’s side rocker panel that should be addressed before it gets worse. And is that an indicator of issues on the undercarriage that you can’t see without putting it up on a lift? Since these types of trucks have been off the market for many years, this El Camino will probably draw some attention just the way it does at Cars & Coffee.
I was going to say prospective buyers should ask for a photo of the rear frame aft of the axle because GM’s midsizers were notorious for those rear rails rusting to nothing. However, that’s not necessary. Check that underside picture again. Looks like a decent chunk of the frame has rusted away.
Saw a few of these back in the hot dog 🌭 days of skiing ⛷️ in the Mountain ⛰️ parking lot. So a rust inspection is wise… Anyways Throw all the wet gear in the back and cruise home in style. 🍻
A nice 84 El Camino will always draw attention and this one looks to be a good deal for the money. You can always do a custom restomod for an awesome dream machine. If l had the money I would but that’s just my preference.
The rust is a deal breaker. If it didn’t have the metal worms eating away, it would be a great daily driver. Plus, these are still a G body, and as such you can pretty much swap ANY drivetrain in it you could imagine.
I miss my 79 Cutlass wagon – it was such a great utility vehicle and I managed to bracket race it for a few years.
A while back I was in the market for a late model el Camino & I knew of the frame issues aft of the rear end, I looked at many but they all had very little frame left there. One I looked at, an ’80 had a very solid frame all over but it was a 229″ V6 with a 3 speed stick on the floor & it was painted Cinnibar which was to me a very unattractive shade of Orange, a tan cloth bench seat. I bought it , painted it Black changed the interior to Dove Gray with power split seats from a Chrysler 5th Ave, a 350 out of a K20 Chevy P.U. and a Borg Warner Super T-10 4 speed , 8″ Corvette Rally wheels & I was set, after a while the Hot Rod syndrome wore off & I swapped in a 267 V8 with a Turbo 350 A/T. out of my wife’s wrecked Monte Carlo, the swap took a while and for that while it was parked on a black top drive way with the rear tires at the end of the black top and the back bumper over grass, in that time the frame rotted away from the rear end to the back bumper, I sold the car after that , but it was a lot of fun while it lasted .
All these decades of dealing with rust you’d think they’d done something to the frame on cars to defeat rust. Has to be something no?
Russ you mentioned or maybe didn’t elaborate about the engines. Chevrolet offered a V6 and the aforementioned 305 and I believe a 350 V8 in the GMC Caballero. I wasn’t aware of a diesel being available in the El Camino. The V6 was an absolute joke. Couldn’t get out of it’s own way. They should have went next door to Buick and put in a Grand National motor in.
Performance not so great, but it was a beautiful design. I really like this.
buyer better start looking for a frame. this thing is a rusty scupper. Too much money for all that rust. there are better ones out there. stay away.
These days, it seems like any Elky (or similar “ute”) will draw attention at C&C. But this muscle truck wannabe won’t be long for this world if that rust is what I think it is: frame rot.