Rally Wheels/Original Interior/305ci Small Block/TH350 3-Speed/Unrestored

1987 El Camino SS

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. And the rest as they say is history.

All starting from an Australian farm wife wanting a vehicle she could use during the week on the farm and then drive it to church on a Sunday, the concept of a car with a truck bed was born. The Chevrolet El Camino, (literally translated to “The Way”), is in our massive facility and stands out as a nice example. Dressed in black, with silver rockers and stripping to delineate the two, it's a worker during the week, and churcher during the weekend, that Australian woman would be proud!

Exterior
Nice straight steel panels cover this car/truck example. The uppers are painted black which has been reworked to near factory specs and finish. On the lower portions of this vehicle, we have silver paint covering the rockers. Just a slight bit of rust on the driver's lower door at the gap. The remainder is rust free. The grille area is appearing to harbor a bit of dust, and the chrome plating is delaminating off of the surround of the egg crate portion. Bumpers remain shiny and window trimmings are in good condition. A nicely curved B pillar runs rearward and forms the bed sides of the pickup bed on back. Here we see aluminum rails as a highlighter and also serving as a grip for any strapping or hold downs. The bed is left uncovered and is painted black on the ribbed reinforced steel. The tailgate is functioning and rust free. Below the rear bumper frames the back of the bed, and houses the horizontal taillights. 14-inch honeycomb styled wheels are wrapped with Uniroyal blackwall rubber on all 4 corners.

Interior
Burgundy smooth vinyl which has plenty of padding, is covering the door panels. Some chrome trimmings are also on and a molded plastic armrest and ledge to house the door locks and mirror joystick can also be seen. Slipping inside the dash utilizes square and rectangle design so essentially a series of boxes form the instrument cluster, center radio and temp cluster, and the boxy design center console. These surfaces all utilize the burgundy plastic/molded vinyl, along with black panels to create the 1987 GM dash look. A padded cushion is on top of the glovebox in the center console and this lives just behind the shift lever. Burgundy broadcloth covers the buckets, and these are showing some fading. No rips for tears or exposed padding for these chairs though which are in good condition save for the fading. Deep pile burgundy carpeting covers the floors, and a burgundy fuzzy headliner is hanging tightly above.

Drivetrain
This truck/car sports a 305ci small block engine, topped with a 4-barrel carburetor, and a TH350 3-speed automatic transmission on back. All is looking unrestored and in patina with some dusting on all surfaces under this hood. A 10-bolt rear axle is on the back.

Undercarriage
Some surface rust and patina are present, but all in all structurally sound underneath. Surface rust is noted particularly on the edge of the rockers and some of the steel frame. Independent coil springs are on front and a 4 link with coil springs for the rear ride. Power disc brakes are in front and power drums for the rear along with power steering.

Drive-Ability
A turn of the ignition and she fires up quickly. A nice acceleration on the test track, some bias free panic stopping, and smooth automatic shifting. The blower only blows only on the floor, and the A/C is inoperable. Also, the consignor noted there is an exhaust leak on the right side “doughnut” of the exhaust.

Mostly original looking, worn but presentable paint in two tone style, and a cloth interior. The bed is in nice condition, and just a smidgeon of rust is noted and its mostly surface rust. A truck car combo for everyone in the family no matter what they are going to do.

VIN DECODE
3GCCW80H7HS908675
3-Mexico
G-General Motors
C-Chevrolet
C-4001-5000 GVWR
W-El Camino
80-1/2 Ton Pickup Delivery
H-305ci V8 4bbl
7-Check Digit
H-1987
S-Ramos Azripe, Mexico Assy Plant
908675-Sequential Unit Number