1981 Chevrolet El Camino

Description

El Caminos are fun. Everyone loves them, and if you're one of those guys who likes the idea of having a muscle car with a bed, then this 1981 El Camino probably looks pretty darned tasty, doesn't it? It captures the 1980s vibe without looking dated and with a fresh crate motor, it's not the wheezing performer that you'd expect from 1981, either. It hauls!

This Elky was painted about six months ago, but they kept it pretty stock, which is always a good idea. Two-tone paint jobs were all the rage in the '80s, mostly because performance was simply off the menu so they needed to find excitement elsewhere. This car neatly solves that problem (more on that in a moment), but it keeps its sense of history and purpose with the white and maroon combination. It actually seems to accentuate the sporty aspects of the El Camino's profile, particularly the smooth roof that's akin to a 3-window coupe from the '30s. Add in a bit of flashy stainless steel trim that neatly provides a break point for the colors plus a matching pinstripe to highlight the gentle curves (dig the dip at the rear quarter window-never noticed that before, did you?), and this is one great-looking truck/car. The bed is finished with a spray-in bed liner material and a mat, so it's still highly functional and all the chrome looks pretty darned good.

The interior is standard General Motors fare from the 1980s, with burgundy cloth over a bench seat that gives the El Camino 3-passenger capacity. The dash will look familiar to anyone who's driven a Malibu of the period, but with an upscale move, the Elky also got lots of faux burled walnut on the dash that looks remarkably well-preserved. In fact, the entire interior looks so good that it's either new (unlikely) or has lived someplace where it didn't spend a lot of time out in the elements. The seat is supportive, the carpets look great, and all the gauges are bright and crisp. This car is also loaded with options like A/C, power windows and locks, a tilt column, and aftermarket remote door openers. The factory stereo (with CB!) has been heavily reinforced with big speakers on the bulkhead behind the seat.

The engine is a 350 cubic inch crate motor with a ZZ4 cam inside, an .030 overbore, and plenty of horsepower. In contrast to the original engine's wheezing 120 horsepower output, this one probably makes close to three times that number, yet starts easily and idles well without getting hot or cranky in traffic. A few chrome dress-up bits remind onlookers that this is no garden-variety El Camino, and with a 700R4 4-speed automatic overdrive transmission and 3.42 gears out back, it's a fantastic highway cruiser that actually pulls down decent mileage, too. The underside is quite tidy, and with a recent dual exhaust system that sounds great, it has shed its final vestiges of 1980s mediocrity-this sucker rocks! Flashy chrome Torque Thrust wheels make a fine statement about its performance and wear 215/70/15 blackwalls that fit right and can still carry a load.

A neat old car that's ready to enjoy with no compromises needed. If you lived through the '80s, this is a refreshing alternative to the El Camino you thought you remembered. Call today!