1985 Chevrolet El Camino Conquista

Description

We've been watching the El Caminos heat up for a few years, and we've found that cars like this 1985 Chevrolet El Camino are as popular today as they've ever been. Perhaps it's the V8 power, the luxury car-like ride, and the awesome practicality that makes them perennial favorites, and when they look this good and are this well preserved, we never have to work very hard to find them new homes.

The Conquista package was the top-of-the-line El Camino in the '80s, moving the blue-collar Elky a bit more upscale. This one features tri-tone paint that gives it a clean, sleek look and helping this one stand out in a crowd. The has a great shine that 30-year-old enamel usually doesn't look like and it's pretty obvious that this one was never somebody's work vehicle. The tri-tone paint job is perfectly blended at the trim, starting with the roof, then the body, then the lower edges, making it interesting to look at and making great use of the extra stainless trim. Bed rails and tie-down hooks are a practical addition to any hauler, but the paint in the bed is so nice, you might think twice about putting any of the rough stuff in there. The grille, bumpers, and other bright pieces remain in great shape, and from behind the wheel, that hood ornament out there makes you forget there's a pickup bed out back.

The tan interior is pretty standard mid-80s GM, with a split bench seat, plush carpets, and lots of options. Things that usually are problematic in these cars are not issues, here, with a headliner that fits well, cloth upholstery that hasn't ripped, and with that wood-rimmed Grant GT steering wheel, it looks very dressed up indeed. The options list includes working factory A/C, power windows and locks, a tilt steering column, and even cruise control, all of which help the Conquista live up to its image. You also get a full set of gauges, including a factory tachometer, and the column-shifted 3-speed automatic transmission makes this a genuine 3-passenger vehicle. A newer JVC AM/FM/CD stereo is a big upgrade over the original Delco unit and it's easy to see yourself sliding behind the wheel and heading out in this car, isn't it?

Full-sized cars mean full-sized engines, and this El Camino packs a smooth 305 cubic inch V8 that runs superbly and looks very well maintained. You could spruce things up a bit with some cleaning, but dirt does nothing to diminish just how well this car runs. It appears to be unmodified save for an R134a conversion on the A/C, so that means all the factory reliability and drivability remains intact. It appears to have recent hoses, a newer alternator, and a few other service parts to ensure that it's in top shape, and you wouldn't know from driving it that it's in its third decade of life. A TH350 3-speed automatic transmission was the only one offered and it turns a 10-bolt rear end with comfortable gears inside, so it's not geared like a truck and you can drive it all day without feeling weary. The underside is extremely clean and someone has upgraded it to a true dual exhaust system that surely frees up more than a few horsepower. Factory wheels look surprisingly sporty for 1985 and carry blackwall radials that look right and have lots of life left in them.

Nicely documented with lots of original paperwork and manuals, this is an ultra-clean El Camino ready to enjoy. Trust us, the time is right to own an El Camino like this. Call today!