305ci LG4 V8/Great Cruiser/Bed Cover

1986 Chevrolet El Camino

Rumor has it that Mattel's Elliot Handler (the 'el' in Mattel), spotted designer Harry Bradley's El Camino in the Mattel HQ parking lot and commented, “Those are some hot wheels,” coining the new name for Mattel's line of toy cars, Hot Wheels. In fact, Elliot was so impressed by Bradley's custom El Camino, he insisted that Mattel use it as a model for the first line of Hot Wheels toy cars (The Fleetside). And the rest, as they say is history.

The concept of a truck-like car came from a farm woman in Australia who wanted a truck to haul hay on the weekdays, and a car she could drive to church on Sunday. Someone from GM thought that was a good idea, and hence the EL Camino was born, although technically the Ford Ranchero beat them to it, (1957 as opposed to 1959), but hey it's a great story! For consignment Hi O Silver two tone El Camino and looking very nicely preserved. If it's Sunday let's go to meetin' if it's Monday back to work!

Exterior
Square and rectangle design abound on all surfaces of this car/pickup version. Dual square headlights, a square opening for the egg crate grille and all this in a rectangle front end. Some extra fairings are on below the bumper, and these surround this vehicle and show in a darker gray. This dark gray continues around the vehicle half way through the wheel wells, rockers and around the back. Straight rust free steel is bathed in silver and back to the dark gray for the roof and B pillar as well as the bed top edge. Some stainless trimmings are noted in the sides and window surrounds. On back covering the bed is a solid piston lift up tonneau cover, which when raised reveals a silver painted bed that sports a rubber liner covering for the floor. Badging is all shiny and correct, and the paint is nice and deep on the silver. 14 inch snowflake rally wheels with a thin red rim are seen on all 4 corners, and are wrapped in 205/70R14's all around.

Interior
Much like showroom, extremely clean surfaces starting with the swing of the doors revealing the door panels utilizing smooth padded vinyl in deep burgundy, molded plastic in excellent condition which houses the door pull, power windows, power locks and side view mirror joystick. Slipping inside we are greeted with mid 1980's square and rectangle design for the dash, all functioning controls, and nicely set up for ease of operation. Cruise control is noted, and A/C with an AM/FM/Cassette player is fitting neatly into a square panel. Seats are bucket style and are nice and wide. They are donned with fancy triangular tufted and stitched inserts and smooth bolsters and uppers and are all in the burgundy vinyl. In the center is a smooth burgundy vinyl armrest and it has a small seat insert between the buckets. Burgundy carpeting floods the floors, and above is a fuzzy broadcloth headliner also in burgundy.

Drivetrain
Under the hood is a 305ci LG4 V8 engine with a 4-barrel carburetor on top. On the back is a 200R4 4-speed automatic transmission with a 10-bolt 2.56 gear ratio rear axle. Nice and clean and well detailed under this hood!

Undercarriage
A little surface rust and a smattering of patina are seen on the floor pans, rockers and fenders. Suspension also has some slight light surface rust but otherwise unremarkable. Independent coil spring suspension for the front, and a 4 link with coil springs on back, along with power disc brakes for the front and power drums for the rear.

Drive-Ability
She fired right up and I was off to the Classic Auto Mall Test track. Here this car did very well, with plenty of power from the 305ci LG4, handled like it was on “rails” and steamed along smoothly at cruising speed. All comfy for the interior and all functioning.

A nice silver clean example with snazzy stitched and tufted triangle vinyl seats. A clean rubber lined bed, and good tri tone paint in shades of gray. A worker and a cruiser, and a car like ride all around. Let this one show you “The Way”…Adios.

VIN DECODE
3GCCW80HXGS917918
3-Mexico
G-General Motors
C-PickUp Truck
C-4001 Thru 5000 GVWR
W-Elcamino
8-1/2 Ton
0-Pickup
H-305ci V8 LG4 150hp 4bbl
X-Check Digit
G-1986
S-Ramos Arizpe, Mexico Assy Plant
917918-Sequential Unit Number