From 1964 to 1987, the El Camino was a “gentleman’s pickup” version of the mid-size Chevrolet Chevelle. Mechanically, it could be equipped any way you could order a Malibu, including the Super Sport option and the hot 454 cubic inch V8 (beginning in 1970). The seller offers a nice ’71 El Camino which we’re told is a real-deal SS 454, but there’s no documentation (or any seller details for that matter) to back it up. From a garage in Walker, Louisiana, this truck presents as a nice survivor that has been cleaned up in some of the pics. This potent pickup is available here on eBay where $19,200 has yet to crack the reserve, but you can Buy It Now for $29,500.
The El Camino was a body style of the Chevelle, not a separate series. Since the SS was an option rather than a series after 1968, you’d need to have a build sheet, window sticker, or other documents to validate an El Camino SS 454’s heritage. Sources indicate that 19,300 Chevelles and El Camino’s came with the RPO Z15 option in 1971, of which 9,500 had 454. If you assume 20% of them went into the El Camino, perhaps the original population was fewer than 1,900 copies. So, if the seller’s “car” is a legit SS 454, it would indeed be in rare territory in terms of survivors.
This Chevy no doubt has a story, but we (and maybe the seller) don’t know what it is. It’s black on black, has bucket seats and a console, and a 454 under the hood. But is it the vehicle in its original condition or is it an older restoration? Is it numbers-matching? Again, we don’t know. Some of the photos show it as being dusty, so perhaps the seller found it that way and then cleaned it up. But does it run? If you’ve been lusting after one of these big-block pickups that appear to be ready to roll, would you bid on this one?
Door panels are missing SS emblem and metal piping. Console looks like its out of a Monte since it has the faux wood grain. Smells like a clone to me.
El Camino’s do not have the door SS emblems. 72 column shift dash, either touched up with a sliver paint pen or aftermarket. Missing tailgate trim 425 HP 454? Whaaaaaaaat? 12 bolt rear with an incorrect (but a good upgrade) sway bar, elco’s did not have the F41 suspension option.
Good looking unit, but I’m betting it’s a clone. Someone noted it has a MC dash? I’m not sure on that part. What I AM sure of, the SS dash is out of a 72, note the seatbelt indicator to the right near the lighter. Doubt it’s numbers matching.
The good ole Marti report would clear it all up for $30k. Require the seller obtain one. Nothing like honesty.
A Marti report is not going to do you any good for a Chevy…
Clone or not, it is definitely NOT a Monte Carlo dash. I agree with Mr Dave, a 1972 dash.
I actually mistyped, someone said it’s a MC console, I can’t say either way as I have never known there was a difference in consoles.
The console is… who knows. Has the correct style brushed trim around the shifter, but wood on the top, and not the same wood as a Monte dash. The Monte dash is sort of a burl, the wood on the console is a straight grain and much lighter in color.
Numbers matching or not, this is one good looking El Camino! I’d like to know if it’s a straight drive or an automatic, not that either would be a deal killer, but I’m a big fan of selecting the gear my vehicle is in, rather than it trying to figure it out. I like these, especially the old ones, they will forever hold a special place in my heart, as I got to drive an uncles’ early 80’s El Camino around the Darlington race track, on an off-season day when apparently nobody was around. My uncle Jimmy drove around to the track entrance and just peeped the nose of the car into the track area and we didn’t see anyone anywhere, so he said ‘what the heck’, and proceeded to take a lap on the famous raceway. After he got back to the entrance, I said ‘can I try it? ‘. As I only had my driver’s permit at the time, he was reluctant, but after his lap we still didn’t see anyone, so he agreed, and I got my first lesson on a straight drive, and turned her up to around 80 on that big ol’ oval. Good times, good memories…
I’m pretty sure this El Camino is an SS clone. The SS was based on the mid range El Camino Custom that included stainless trim on the door frames around the glass and 2 stainless trim strips running across the tailgate from tail lamp to tail lamp. On El Camino Customs there was a woodgrain panel between the strips and a “Chevrolet” script, and on SS’ it was painted black between the strips with an SS emblem. The base model El Camaino had body color door frames and no trim strips on the tailgate. In 71 the SS was a packa ge, not a stand alone option, and could only be ordered as a package on the El Camino Custom, and not on the base model.
I can’t say if it’s a Chevelle or Monte Carlo dash, or a 70, 71 or 72, but I can tell that it’s out of a column shift car. The speedometer has the box with the P-R-N-D-2-1 gear indicator at the bottom of it which would only be in a car with a column shift automatic. The speedometer on floor shift cars didn’t have the shift indicator because it was on the console aligned with the horseshoe shifter. And I agree with J Lav that it’s a Monte Carlo console. The Chevelle had a silver insert, not woodgrain.
SOLD for $29,500.
I disagree on the engine production years. A few years ago there was a factory yellow 1969 Elcamino SS 454 for sale in my town. It was in poor (original) shape and looked like it was sitting for thirty years.
There was NEVER a production SS454 in 1969. 454 was earliest born in 1970 models.