Vehicle Description
We've made the case for the practical and stylish Chevrolet El
Camino here before, and with this handsome Placer Gold '71, it
remains as true as ever. There's a great running 350 cubic inch V8
under the hood, an overdrive transmission, A/C, a clean paint job
that accentuates the car's classic styling, and honestly, if you
can find a muscle car more versatile than this one, you should buy
it.
Dressed in period colors without a lot of dress-up, it's the
archetypal Elky, and personally, the '71s are my favorite with
their single headlamps and side-mounted parking lights. The
bodywork is quite nicely done, and despite seven years of use, it
still looks pretty good with only minor signs of use and age. They
skipped things like the usual cowl induction hood during the
repaint, but they did shave a few emblems, and the result makes
this El Camino stand out in a crowd. Beyond the style, the basics
are quite good: the doors fit well, the hood sits flush, and the
tailgate closes without a heavy slam. Bumpers, both front and rear,
appear to be reproduction items or even very nice originals, and
all the stainless trim is in excellent condition. The bed is
protected by a heavy rubber mat that makes it practical and the
sheetmetal underneath is in very good shape, more evidence that
this El Camino has lived an easy life.
This El Camino offers a very upscale feel inside, well beyond its
blue collar roots. The standard bench seat is fitted with a
reproduction seat cover, but it's possible that the rest of the
interior is original or at least older than the set cover. Factory
gauges cover only the basics, so a pair of aftermarket gauges hang
underneath to monitor oil pressure and temperature. The steering
wheel is probably the most notably deteriorated part, but it wears
an oversized wrap that makes it easy to grip. An upgraded AM/FM/CD
stereo head unit powers speakers behind the seat and you'll note
that the car is equipped with A/C, which makes it a fantastic
choice for road trips.
The engine is a strong-running 350 cubic inch V8 with some nice
upgrades that make it a fantastic runner. Like all small block
Chevys, it is bulletproof reliable and delivers fun on the street
without worrying about breakage. Wearing a correct air cleaner
assembly, the engine is nicely dressed with finned valve covers and
a bunch of performance parts, including aluminum heads, Edelbrock
Performer intake manifold, a Holley 4-barrel carburetor, and
factory exhaust manifolds that feed a pair of Flowmasters
underneath. That 700R4 4-speed automatic transmission handles the
gears, and it feeds the stock 10-bolt rear end. New parts include
the alternator, brake booster and master cylinder, power steering
pump and hoses, and the drilled and slotted front brake rotors.
Traditional Torque Thrust wheels always look right on Chevy muscle,
and these wear fat 205/70/15 front and 275/60/15 rear BFGoodrich
T/A radials.
Properly sorted El Caminos are hard to find, and when they've led
hard lives like most of their siblings, it's even more difficult.
With a strong engine, handsome paint, and proven reliability, this
is a turn-key car with a ton of practicality and style at a
shockingly reasonable price. Call today!