1981 Chevrolet El Camino

Description

El Caminos, love 'em or hate 'em, are a unique piece of the American landscape. With decades of tradition behind it, this 1981 specimen is an awesome and affordable special interest car and has a lot to offer the beginning collector or seasoned Elky fan. If you've been looking for one that hasn't been worked to death or modified beyond recognition, this might be your last chance.

El Caminos were trucks, and most of them were used like trucks and left for dead when they gave up. Fortunately, this handsome two-tone example has most likely been a cherished toy for most of its life, and thanks to life down south where the roads are warm and dry, it doesn't suffer from the dreaded tin worm, either. It was freshened not too long ago, including that glowing burgundy paint that has an appropriate look without the goofy 1980s add-ons like graphics and stripe kits, although they did add a set of SS decals from a later model. Fit and finish are above average, especially for a GM product of this era, so the guys who did the restoration were pretty careful about what they were doing. And speaking of preservation, just take a look at the bed, which looks like it hasn't carried anything more substantial than a few sacks of groceries, and all the chrome and stainless trim, which remains in first-rate shape.

The nicely finished interior is a fantastic reminder that this is no ordinary pickup truck. Just about everything inside was restored and freshened with the rest of the truck, including a pair of high-back bucket seats with attractive gray and black upholstery. The carpets and dash pad are quite nice, with few signs of wear and no notable UV damage. The matching door panels are equally sharp, with no UV damage or cracking like you so often see on cars from the '80s, although the upper panels might be new. You can see where the El Camino shared DNA with the Malibu and Monte Carlo in the instrument panel, which covers only speed and fuel level, but this one also carries options like A/C, power windows, a tilt wheel, and an AM/FM stereo radio.

El Caminos get V8 power, and this one is no exception with a 305 cubic inch Chevy V8. Smooth and torquey, it's a great companion in the El Camino and as a small block Chevy, you know it'll run this well practically forever. As you might expect, the engine bay is pretty tidy, with all the factory equipment fully intact and the engine painted corporate blue so it looks authentic, and a 4-barrel carburetor gives it surprising grunt off the line. There's no sign of neglect, no questionable upgrades, yet plenty of evidence of expert maintenance and it runs well enough to drive just about anywhere with confidence. It's backed by a freshly rebuilt TH350 3-speed automatic transmission spinning a standard 10-bolt rear end, and if you're looking around underneath, you'll note the only deviation from stock is a custom dual exhaust system with a set of mellow-sounding performance mufflers. Handsome chrome Torque Thrust wheels finish the sporty look with 215/65/15 blackwall radials that are the right choice here.

So El Camino fans rejoice, this clean late-model has been preserved for your enjoyment and is ready to go today, all at an extremely reasonable price. Call now!