While said to have been restored a decade ago, this 1975 GMC Sprint, GMC’s version of the Chevrolet El Camino, has some rust issues that need to be dealt with underneath and possibly elsewhere. They mention some bubbling paint and rust underneath, but bidders don’t appear to be scared off by that. They have it listed here on eBay in Clermont, Florida, and the current bid price is $8,300.
It’s hard to tell in the overall photos; it looks like it just jumped out of a brochure, but the seller has included a few detailed photos showing the rust areas. The underside is the part that worries me the most, as they say the driver’s floor is getting a little weak. They don’t show all of the areas, but it must not be enough to worry the bidders, who have bid it up to $8,300 so far. Florida can have big issues with vehicle rust, despite their slogan as The Sunshine State. You can’t see it here, but the top of the bumpers have some rust to deal with.
The second-generation GMC Sprint was made from 1972 for the 1973 model year until the end of 1977, and call me crazy, but I’ve always wondered what a four-door hardtop version may have looked like… I’m not a fan of the Pep Boys exhaust tips sticking out of the back, but that’s a personal preference. Inside the bed could use some freshening up; it’s looking kind of rugged around the edges.
Swivel bucket seats were available, but this car has a standard bench in vinyl. The seller has included a nice video here on YouTube showing a walk-around and you can see how good this Sprint looks overall, but you can also see a lot of surface rust in areas, such as the interior chrome. I’m not sure about the carpet, I’d want to take that bench seat out and see what’s under there, pronto.
The engine is 350-cu.in. OHV V8 with 145 horsepower and it’s backed by an automatic, although a 3-speed manual would have been standard, no pun intended. There was also a 400 V8 available as well as a 454 V8, and that one could be had with a 4-speed manual. The seller says this Sprint has no engine or transmission issues, they both work “excellent.” Hagerty is at $9,200 for a #3 good-condition Sprint. How much is this one worth, given the rust issues?
The 3 speed would have been Standard…..
That was a good one Scotty. I have to make a confession…. I’m rather tired right now and reading about the interior I thought you said it has a swivel bench seat…… I was obviously wrong and realized that after I reread that but I was staring at the bench seat trying to figure out how it swivels. Most people wouldn’t even admit this. But hey, I just did. Iike the 4 door hardtop version as well Scotty, hey maybe you can do a photoshop of a 4 door hartop with a swivel bench seat!!!
Ok way off subject. Its a shame about the floor but if you can patch that up and the rest is solid you’ll have a nice unique GMC version of the ElCamino.
The 4 door version would fit right in with all of the modern 4 door pickups, that are more sedan than truck.
Pat L that was my exact thought. Fifty years ago who would have thought that four door pickups would dominate the market. Cool photoshop Scotty.
That two-tone green is to die for.
They made these fifty years ago and nobody would buy them!
@Scotty: LOVE your Photoshop renditions! Perhaps you should do an article showcasing of all your efforts; I for one, would truly enjoy it!! :-)
Thanks, guys! I never know if anyone clicks on those since it’s rarely mentioned in the comments. I really appreciate the kind words on this one. I spend probably way too much time on some of them, and I always wonder if it’s worth it. I really liked the four-door Pontiac Grand Prix, but nobody mentioned it, so I figured they were getting old by now. Some work fairly well and look almost like they could be real, and some are more for the joke aspect; a four-door Yugo or Chevette?! Thanks for the great comments!
Waiting patiently for an AMC Pacer El Camino rendition. Two or four door would be acceptable Scotty ššš.
That was one of my earliest ones, dating back to 2013, Pat! A cab forward Pacer pickup, ha.
There’s an older Hot Rod Annual with an article on a
Pacer Pickup that someone made & took it to AMC
headquarters in Kenosha.It had flames on the sides (IIRC).
I probably still have it here somewhere.
I personally think its great to see your different ideas Scotty. Whether its a drop top or a crew cab or what have you. You have a knack for doing that. Something I sure could never do. Please don’t stop your creations, I enjoy them.
Please keep doing Photoshop things. I love them and admire your creative mind. Great writing style too.
Lol the Pacer pickup… its almost a cab over lol.
That’s cool Scotty. My first thought was that it looks like a piece of equipment you might see at the airport.
Ha, thanks! It was my “cab over” phase about a decade ago or more. Everything was turned into a cab over, I’ve got a ton of ’em. Probably the most “famous” (it’s all over the internet) is the ’60 Falcon Cab Forward Ranchero.
They both need clearance lights and chrome air horns on the roof!
Should be named “The Rancherooooo!”
Looks like a MAB from my army days in mid 70’s at Ft. Hood. Can it go into water as well Scotty? š
ā…most āfamousā…”
naah, jeepās FC150, 170:
https://www.motortrend.com/features/what-is-a-jeep-fc/photos
I like the M679 (van model of heep’s FC). All pretty rare now but still well known/loved. To me that means Famous~
chrisful, I meant, “most famous” of the Photoshop creations that I’ve done, which was referring to the cab over Ranchero.
I agree with you Stan. That would be cool to see in real life!! And I like cabovers!!!
Happy Independence Day, all!
Walter White would be proud Scotty.
Same to you your ideas look awesome
What’s next – a Nissan Juke?
Oh, man. So much here from Scotty’s imagination to a beautiful Sprint-Camino itself. I start with the rendering and say that if the whole point of the Collonade body was not for the elimination of the hardtop that hardtop would have made a great looking Malibu Classic or Cutlass Supreme 4dr. at Now for the Sprint. What a good looking truck. Shame we can’t have this today. The restorer took liberty in painting it ’74 colors as there wasn’t a light green metallic i in ’75 and it’s not the lime green from ’76. The armrest bench was a cool feature. I would love to get around in this. i
145 hp 350 would mean a 2bbl carb.(Like my ’75 Malibu.)
Looks like the owner upgraded with a 4 bbl on an aluminum after market intake.
interesting 2 tone. had a few of these but never seen them in that color. needs some tlc. floor plan is bit tasty, and carpet is weak but a nice decent looking meano. needs better tailpipes
hereās 3rdān last gen of chevelle. Only 1 I really like. Big square grill, ‘straight linesā after the ā60s muscle (wābumps over the wheelsā). The vert, coupe, sedan, waggy, p/u versions available; multi-trim levels in each; multi-motor/transmis choices. The ācaminoā extra special w/curved head-boardān glass~ Ahhh… for the days when incomes matched product costs (actually the other way round as Big 3 had the panoply to coax $ out of each level of consumer’s ability/desire).
I don’t know about the front floors, but from the pictures it sure looks like the rear floors (under the bed) are shot. This is a common problem on El Caminos going all the way back to 59, and Sprints from their introduction in 71. El Camino’s and Sprint’s shared the station wagon’s floors, so under the bed they have footwells. The bed has a bolted in panel at the front of the bed. This panel wasn’t sealed well so after time it would leak and water would pool in the footwells under the panel.
In 75 a straight 6 was standard with a 350 2bbl, a small block 400 4 bbl and a big block 454 4 bbl all optional. A 3 speed manual came behind the 6 and 350 with the Turbo Hydro optional and standard with the 400 and 454. The 4 speed was not available with any engine in the 75 Sprint or El Camino (the 4 speed was dropped after 74, and did not return until 78).
While on one hand I find this to be a striking looking Sprint, at the same time I just don’t know if I could ever warm up to the green(s)? This is a pretty rare truck, as 1975 was one of the lowest production years for the Sprint with only about 3000 being built. This particular one is a Sprint Madre del Sur, as the even rarer two-tone version of the Sprint was called (it’s two-tone El Camino cousin was the Conquista). While this Sprint presents well in pictures, once you get by the shiny paint I wonder if it otherwise looks as good in person?
Auction update: this one “sold” for $8,300, and the sale must have fallen through as it’s been relisted.