This 1971 Chevrolet El Camino has been sitting in the seller’s driveway for the past two or three years and he is now ready to part with it. Listed here on eBay, the car is located in Rapid City, South Dakota. The car is bid to $3,250 and there is 1 day left in the auction. While the car looks pretty plain sitting in the driveway, this one could be fixed up to be a really nice car.
There are not any complete pictures of the interior but this one stands out the most. It appears that the upper portion of the tan dash was painted gold at some point. The exterior of the car is two tone with brown on the main body and tan accents. The odometer reflects 80,000 miles.
From what can be seen the body and the bed of the El Camino seem to be pretty solid. The seller states that the car ran well before he stopped driving it but doesn’t mention the engine size or really anything else mechanical. The VIN (136801L160468) indicates that the car is an El Camino Custom (Code 36) that was equipped with a V8 engine and built in the Van Nuys, California factory.
The seller states that the car was owned for a long time by the prior owner who started fixing it up and got sick. The windshield is cracked and one of the tires has a slow leak. Most likely this car is equipped with Chevrolet’s 350 cubic inch V8 engine and it sends power to the rear end via an automatic transmission. It is nice to see a car without a lot of rust and still wearing its faded original paint. What do you El Camino enthusiasts think about this car?
Excellent candidate! nice Camino would make a awesome restomod big block 572 with a 5 speed 12 bolt and what the heck make her handle add in a ride tech airride system in smugglers box leave the body stock with stopping power of four wheel discs with period correct ralleys or cragars,just my thoughts ;)
I’m not sure why the writer called this a “Plain Jane” El Camino? It’s not an SS, but then most El Caminos weren’t. It is a 71 El Camino Custom though, and not a base model.
The Custom was basically the same trim as a Malibu, and used Malibu door panels, seat covers and carpet. The stainless door window trim, the tailgate stainless and wood grain applique, and the lower body moldings and silver rocker panel paint, were all unique to the El Camino Custom.
Beyond it being a 71 Custom, we don’t know much. It’s yet another poor ad, where the seller doesn’t tell you anything. The VIN indicates it’s a V8, there are no fender engine emblems, so it started life with a 307 2bbl. I can tell from the heater control, that it doesn’t have AC, but it does have a vinyl top and tinted glass. Chances are good it has power steering, as most did. Overall, it looks like a typical 71 El Camino, in decent shape, and is probably a good candidate for restoration, an SS clone, or a resto-mod.
Agreed! Nothing “Plain Jane” about it! High level of trim. Two tone paint too. Writer was probably just looking for an angle.
I was selling Chevys when this was new. These are really pretty nice drivers; and useful, too. I’ll agree that, being a Custom, it probably has power steering and front disc brakes, which I’d leave alone after replacing the hoses. The A/C wouldn’t be a problem – a Vintage Air conversion would cure that and get rid of the 50-year-old heater. I’d also lose the Delco AM radio and put in a modern sound system from one of the suppliers that sell ‘hidden’ systems.
Next, I’d go with an engine/tranny swap (either BBC/T400 or an LS with a modern transmission). The body would be black with a black vinyl top and bright silver rockers – and a black interior with cloth inserts to match. A set of 16″ Torq Thrust Ds (gray center, polished rims) and not-overly-wide tires would set it off nicely. You’d end up with a great cruiser without breaking the bank!
Thanks for the memories. The Delco radio and sound system sucked. I replaced it. 80k miles? Hell, my experience is that when a GM vehicle hits 50k, kiss that nice smooth ride, away.
The car was built in Van Nuys, is very near my hometown, in the San Fernando Valley. The Van Nuys Plant later built the Camaro and Firebird. I owned both models and each had unique features.
The Van Nuys Plant is long gone, all gone but the memories. The cost of business, in Southern California, turned from a profit center, into a cost center.
yup, that’s the way i recall the last one i saw …… sitting in someone’s driveway rusting away.
one of these would be very different and quite cool. all the stuff i need to build the chicken coop without having to hook up the trailer.
Lots of good suggestions here for what to do with this one.
My neighbor down the street has one of these (green) that looks like new, driven occasionally, belonged to his dad.
Plain-Jane is a good term, but used improperly results in confusion. So, what would’ve been a real and rare plain-jane el camino for 1971? Perhaps ordering a 454-V8 with a 3-speed automatic or manual. Or even better. Ordering a 250-L6 with a 4-speed manual. In the third generation the 2-speed automatic powerglide was offered, but I don’t have any source telling that it was option for the el camino through early 1970s. But, if true, there’s another chance to find something even more rar than anyone else.
El Camino production numbers:
https://www.chevelles.com/threads/el-camino-production-totals.1132177/#post-11389309
I love it that thing is sweet I wish I had money to buy it I would much rather have the 70 same version plain Jane probably green My grandma had a Malibu she bought brand new and I’ve always wanted SS or ElCamino or wagon or 70 love these cars
If it was closer to me I would buy it, I have an engine for it sitting around.
Looks to be a very good buy at the winning bid of $4500 that seemingly needs little to be a decent driver. As the others have said, could be used as is or made into a very nice restomod. Either way, much nicer than a lot of the overpriced junk for sale here.