The “stacked headlight” Chevrolet El Camino is perhaps one of the lesser-seen variants of the company’s popular half truck, half car offering, and this one has been in single-family ownership since new. Forget the headlights; how many are left that have never left the same group of caretakers? Very few, I’d guess, and while this one isn’t perfect, it still appears to be an excellent driver. Find it here on craigslist in Watertown, MN for $9,800.
I actually have a similar El Camino for sale on my uncle’s property in North Georgia albeit in far more tired shape. It has the same stacked headlights and lower taillights in the low-slung rear chrome bumper. This era of El Camino is surprisingly stately in the front but still full of party-friendly accommodations in the back. The seller’s rig doesn’t appear to be in anything better than driver-grade condition, and that’s OK – this is a truck (or car) you won’t be afraid to actually get out and use.
Silver on red is a pleasing color combination and one we didn’t see a ton of in the El Camino. Red or cardinal interiors in general ways stand out to me as some of the best-looking ones around, but if you were a domestic car shopped in the late 80s or early 90s, you likely got pretty sick of seeing this shade inside. In a bit of a paradox, the color of merlot was pretty typical in domestic vehicles, but if you found it in a European model, it almost always made the car in question more desirable.
The seller claims this El Camino is very original, from the 350 engine to the eight-track in the dash. The seller refers to it as the “cabin car”, which translates to it being the summer vehicle that was put into action when the family headed to their cabin for the summer. The El Camino was actually dropped off for annual maintenance the other day to get its fluids changed, which is indicative of a series of owners who have clearly loved having this El Camino in the family and are still looking after it all these years later.
Original condition, including the 8-track in the dash? But it’s not the factory 8-track; it’s clearly an aftermarket unit.
About the 8 track ….. by 1976 the 8 track was already history and favored by the cassette tape deck. I bought a new 1976 Malibu Classic Landau coupe which is what the el Camino is built from. I also had the stacked headlights which only lasted about two years. I had the stereo with cassette right from the factory. I wish I had that car back today . it was a beauty . Burgundy with white interior, swivel bucket seats and white landau ( 1/2 ) vinyl top. a real sharp car but you are right that 8 track was installed later but going back in time .
Purchased a brand new S-10 pickup in 82 that had a factory 8 track system. Must’ve been the last one!
Had a factory 8 in my 79 T-Bird. Still have some 8 tracks around here somewhere….in a box (could even be the 8 track carry box) Adding to my collection of:
Vinyl, 8 tracks, cassettes & CD’s.
8 tracks were great….they just kept playing over & over, never needed to
turn them over…although they did get eaten once in a while, but so did
cassettes. And while driving they were easier to handle/load than cassettes.
Love the Waylon in the 8-track. Looks decent.
love these last gen Chevelles in all their guises (Malabue Classic, wagon sedan, coupe, this). The big grill’n stacked hdlghts a major part. Their straighter lines portend the boxy ‘8os style to come. The camino hada curved back window at the head board that wuz stylin too.
I’ve always hated the stacked square light look on the late 70s cars .Unlike the cars of the 60s that were designed to have round stacked lights, all of the 70s cars that had them originally had round lights and the changes were just a cheesy change up in the header panel , and the boxy lights didnt work with the flowing lines the round light header panels had. The Montes, Malibus ,Cordobas , Torino , Elite , and the downsized Fury and Monaco all suffered from this ; luckily it was short lived and Its never been back. Just my opinion !