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Parts or Project: 1974 Chevrolet El Camino

Chevy’s El Camino was a coupe utility vehicle like the Ford Ranchero. It’s sometimes referred to as a “gentleman’s pickup” as it was based on an automobile platform, not a truck. The El Camino saw five generations of production from 1959-to 87, with a three-year break in the earlier 1960s. This ’74 El Camino has been off the road for more than 20 years, hiding out in a dark storage shed. It will need a lot of work or perhaps serve as a donor for another initiative. Located in Thornton, Iowa, this Chevy is available here on eBay where the bidding stands at $2,850.

The first El Camino’s lasted just two years (1959-60) during the “batwing” era of Chevy styling. When Ford went a different direction with the Ranchero in 1960 (basing it on the new compact Falcon), Chevy retreated as they were still a year out from introducing the Chevy II. However, the station wagon-based pickup returned in 1964 as an intermediate when Chevrolet brought out the new Chevelle. It would track with the Chevelle/Malibu for nearly 25 years.

When all of General Motors’ mid-size cars were redesigned with “Colonnade” styling in 1973, it was natural that the El Camino would follow. The trucks were little changed in 1974 except perhaps for slightly bigger bumpers to keep the Federal safety gods happy. Not a lot is known about the seller’s ’74 edition other than it was last licensed in 2001. Maybe a mechanical issue developed, and it was parked in the shed/barn where it resides now. It has served nicely as a storage table for years and it will take time just to remove all the things that have been stored on or in it.

This El Camino is said to have a 350 cubic inch V8 under the hood, but too much stuff is there to pop it open for photos. That was the standard engine in the pickup at the time and it’s paired with an automatic transmission. The mileage is 82,000 which implies that the engine could be due for an overhaul even if you could get it running in its present state.

The body looks fair although the seller confirms there is some rust in the quarter panels. The hood is a different color than the rest of the Chevy, replaced for some reason. We don’t know the condition of the interior or bed, but this will likely be a time-consuming restoration project. Or perhaps parts of it will breathe life into another El Camino or Chevelle from that era. More than 56,000 copies were built in 1974, including about 10% badged as GMC’s variant, the Sprint.

Comments

  1. Avatar Big Al

    Is there a car under all that junk ? Come on owners !!
    We can’t see the car at all. Terrible pictures to boot.

    Get all the junk off your car, wash the car, and take lots of pictures. Geez !!! 😡😡

    Like 25
    • Avatar $ where mouth is

      Al, its BARN FINDS , you understand right ?.
      Its more approprapiate to get all miffed when the cars are all washed and perfect pics on this sight; those would NOT be a barn find.
      Also, barn finds are for a cetain type of buyer, sure its become popular and ‘cool’ but the reality is, theyre not for the guys with money, theyre for the guys (or other) with skills, vision, passion.

      Like 6
      • Avatar Solly

        very few cars are this site are actual barn finds

        Like 14
  2. Avatar solly

    People keep too much stuff, this could be an episode of hoarding buried alive

    Like 6
  3. Avatar Paul

    Oh man… my first car was a 1974 El Camino! It was even the same color originally, but had been repainted a more vivid yellow. Had a 400 2bbl, and had been lowered. It was NOT a fast car. But it was mine. :)

    Like 5
  4. Avatar Arby

    “Don’t move the junk, it’ll ruin the value…”

    Like 16
  5. Avatar bobdog

    Looks like a ad for a garage sale. Does the car come with all the junk on it ???

    Like 3
  6. Avatar Fran

    Hahaha
    Just up the street from me is a 67 Shelby GT something, I asked if it was for sale and the reply I got was. “No it is not for sale, we still drive it.” I could not even tell if it was a 350 or 500 because everything around it!

    Like 3
  7. Avatar Troy

    Put a 2 in front of the 82112.7 shown on the odometer but if its the stock 350 as the owner states and its not locked up its good for another 1000k miles if you can deal with the mouse poop smell

    Like 2
  8. Avatar Al camino

    You can’t fix stupid

    Like 5
  9. Avatar gary

    It must have been sitting for a long time the hub caps are buried

    Like 0
  10. Avatar Howie

    The left door is open, but zero photos of the interior.

    Like 3
  11. Avatar George Mattar

    1974 probably the worst year for gas mileage as auto makers were scrambling to get mileage up. Add to that stupid federal pollution BS. It was a dark time to buy a new car. The 350s in most GM cars of this Era had camshafts about as hard as tin foil.

    Like 2
  12. Avatar HC Member

    What a clown posting pics like this. At least make an effort. I restored a 73 El Camino that had a rebuilt 350 and trans paid $1500 for it and turned it into a Hotwheels car and drove her for 5 years before selling it. Factory AC and front disc’s. Got tons of parts with the car when I got it. After a new Edelbrock intake, carb and petronix ignition she was a bruiser.

    Like 2
  13. Avatar Mike

    How did this FB marketplace ad get on e-bay? The pictures are horrible. Funny how everything around the car is cleaned up, but not the car itself. Also the ALL CAPS description is kind of a tell.

    Like 2
  14. Avatar Oregonman

    I love it when sellers bring everything out of family room and pile it on the car to make it look like it’s been that way for years underneath all of that is Amazon prime box that was probably dropped off last week.

    Like 2
  15. Avatar tony t

    TERRIFIC call on the “Amazon ‘Prime'” box shout-out.

    Like 2
  16. Avatar Claudio

    Up to $3000 on ebay now!
    Proof than there is an ass for every seat !

    Like 1
  17. Avatar Beel

    My neighbor bought one of these new. He said it was his worst vehicle ever. Useless as a car and useless as a truck (because of limited carrying capacity).

    Like 0
  18. Avatar Rodney - GSM

    Unless that Halloween Treat Bucket is full of full size Hershey Bars, I’m out….

    Like 0

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