The El Camino was considered a “gentleman’s pickup.” It was part truck and part car as those were the days before pickups and SUVs ruled the market. From its 4th generation of production, this 1976 El Camino is offered as a restoration project out of an estate sale. It has been on the road in only two years, so maybe there’s a good foundation to work with. Located in Santa Rose, California, this Chevelle in pickup disguise is available here on craigslist for $2,500. Thanks, Ikey Heyman, for the tip!
In response to Ford’s Ranchero, Chevy brought out the El Camino in 1959 as a pickup based on a full-size 2-door wagon. It only lasted two years but was resurrected in 1964 as a mid-size based on the new Chevelle platform. From there, it would continue on through 1987 and ended up outliving the Ranchero. Along with anything else that GM built as an intermediate, the El Camino gained Chevy’s new Colonnade styling for 1973-77. The new styling featured hardtop-style doors and upper glass and the payload continued at a respectable 1/2 tons.
A styling update for 1976 gave the El Camino aa set of rectangular dual stacked headlights, making the ’76-77 modeling instantly recognizable over the ’73-75 models. The 1976 editions, like the seller’s El Camino, could be had with two versions of the 350 cubic inch V8, could for 145 or 165 SAE net horsepower depending on whether you ordered a 2- or 4-barrel carb set up. We don’t know which version of that engine is in the seller’s vehicle, but its paired by a Turbo-Hyrdamatic transmission.
We wish the seller had included more photos of the car rather than the stuff all around it. The body looks straight, and we’re told there is some rust, although we’re not exactly sure where except the bed. The pickup belonged to his brother who has since passed on and the family is no doubt cleaning things out, including the El Camino. The interior is said to be rough, so assume a lot of time will need to be spent there. El Camino’s are popular with enthusiast as they escape some of the 1970 regulations due to being described as a truck. As such, a nice ’76 can fetch $15-20,000 according to Hagerty, even though nearly 45,000 of them were produced.
Maybe this is the rare model, one-of-none, of the El Recyclo…
If he would just cash in those cans he wouldn’t have to sell his truck…
Had a silver ‘77. I picked up a old timer one day to do some work on a fishing boat. He walked up to the rig. Looked it over climbed in looking around the interior, then says: WHAT THE F@&* DO YOU HAUL IN THIS THING? MARSHMALLOWS?” 🤣😂
“When I said to take out the trash, I didn’t mean the El Camino”
Does anybody else find the Haggerty values on these “least desirable” of later years of the El Caminos a little inflated? Is this maybe a case of Haggerty wanting to rake in more in annual premiums for these by saying they are worth more? Or maybe owners “claiming higher agreed values” by equating them with earlier El Caminos?
It should be noted that this face wasn’t found on all ’76-’77 Elkys – if you ordered the El Camino base version you got a revised version of the single round ’73-’75 face. If you ordered an El Camino ‘Classic’ or SS you got the dual square lights. Same with the Chevelle passenger car, if you ordered the regular Malibu(now being the bottom-level of the Chevelle line) you got the single round headlight face, ‘Classic’ gives you the dual quads.
https://www.veikl.com/d/Chevrolet-El-Camino-Brochure-US-1976-EN-15098/2
Personally I’ve never understood what people dislike about this design, particularly when wearing the dual quad front. OK it’s not a 60s Elky however I think it has sweet flowing lines and those frameless doors makes a highlight – IMHO it’s one of the very last true American car designs I find appealing. The seller hasn’t exactly made much effort presenting his Elky, but being a Cali car it could actually make a great starting point at low $ and I’d just throw him a low-ball
If it ran and drove it might be worth $2500
liken this 1 alot (even tho a ‘ford guy’). Reminds me of that gen’s Malibu classic, stacked hdlghts’n all (love that arrangement). Smooth lines…try’n figure how to upgrade the suspension/handlein, breaks, pep & (is a) 700R4 (one w/OD & non electronic?). I’d even keep it the same color.
The inside plastic trim around doors and windows on these is unobtainium, the only trim you can buy is the two windscreen pillar trims from the Chevelle, ask me how I know. I had a 77 until last year with the 305 engine and 2 barrel, a good daily driver with swivel front seats and shifter in the console but the inside plastics were disintegrating, typical 70’s plastic, ask any 70’s Jeep Cherokee owner.