Nice Body & Paint/Newer 350ci Crate Engine/Rebuilt TH350 3-Speed Auto/2 Owners

1981 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.

For consignment, a 1981 version of the El Camino. A 2 owner truck, purchased in 1983 by our consignor and well taken care of. Nice two-tone color combo exterior and interior, a new crate engine in 2013, and a transmission rebuild in 2015. It runs very well, has a few faults here and there, but a car you can haul hay during the week and take to church on Sunday.

Exterior
Silver side slabbed steel, fairly straight, no rust, and retains its shine has a nice contrasting maroon lower body section with large and in-charge Super Sport decaling on the doors. No chrome trim for body sides, just red and orange tape stripes to delineate the silver from the maroon. Shiny brightwork wraps around the glass and door frames and also wraps around the top of the bed. Speaking of the bed, it has been coated in Line-X bedliner and is looking just fab with no wear, dings or scratches. Chevy 14 inch RS rally wheels are on all 4 corners and are wrapped with clean blackwall rubber. Our consignor is also including an El Camino fender cover and a Wolf Automotive cover for this...uh truck...uh car!

Interior
Nicely preserved maroon vinyl adorns the doors, along with a bottom panel of red carpet, and fine cranks and handles. A large comfortable split bench also in maroon is covered in tuck and roll vinyl but is showing some wear, tears, and seam separation especially on the driver's side. Iconic square design for the dash, with major usage of rectangles and squares, holding the gauges, knobs, factory AM/FM radio, and is making use of some rag rolled brown appliqué. Maroon carpet floods the floors, and a maroon headliner floats above the seats.

Drivetrain
The original 267ci V8 is long gone and now a Targetmaster 350ci V8 crate motor, new in 2013, sits within the original but very clean engine bay. It sports an aluminum intake manifold, Holley 4bbl carburetor and has been dressed up with polished Edelbrock valve covers and an air cleaner. A rebuilt in 2015 TH350 3-speed automatic transmission attached to the rear. A 10-bolt differential takes the power from the mill/transmission setup and puts it to the rear wheels.

Undercarriage
Only surface rust here, tubs are sturdy, and some scratching off of the paint on the rockers and areas of road dirt can be seen throughout. Independent coil spring, and coil spring on the front and rear respectively is the suspension. Brakes are power disc up front, and power drums on the rear. Headers snake their way out of the engine bay and send spent fossils through Flowmaster 40 Series mufflers before meeting the atmosphere in front of the rear tires.

Drive-Ability
A quick starter and decent driver. Thanks to the higher horsepower crate engine acceleration was splendid and shifting was smooth but firm. All functions were working at the time of our drive, but we didn't check the payload capacity of this car...er...truck.

Here we have a good example of the El Camino in Super Sport badging. Well running with a newer crate engine, and in overall fair to good condition. Look it's a car, no its a truck, no it's an El Camino! Come into Classic Auto Mall and we Willkie show you “the way” to see this!

VIN DECODE
1GCCW80J2BD505648
1-USA
G-General Motors
C-Chevrolet
C-Hydraulic Brakes, 4001-5000 GVW
W-El Camino
80-2 Door Sedan Pick Up
H-267ci V8 2bbl
2-Check Digit
B-1981
D-Doranville, GA Assy Plant
505648-Sequential Unit Number