Vehicle Description
Please visit www.ClassicsBeyond.comto view all the pictures of this
vehicle. History of the Fifth Generation El Camino (1978?1987) The
1978 through 1987 El Caminos were produced in four trim levels:
Classic, Black Knight (1978)/Royal Knight (1979?83), Conquista and
Super Sport, and shared chassis components with the Chevrolet
Malibu. Chevrolet 90? V6 and Buick V6 engines were used for the
first time. The optional 305 cubic-inch small block V8 was rated at
150 or 165 hp (112 or 123 kW), and from 1982?1984, the
Oldsmobile-sourced diesel engine was also optional.A new, trimmer
El Camino was unveiled in 1978, adopting the new, more sharp-edged
Malibu styling, and a one-inch longer wheelbase of 117 in (2,972
mm). The front end sheet metal and doors were shared with the
Malibu, and the rear tailgate and bumper was shared with the Malibu
station wagon. For the first time, though, the El Camino had a
unique chassis ? it was shared with no other Chevrolet. The front
end featured a new single rectangular headlight design. The base
engine was a 200-cubic-inch (3.3-liter) V6 that developed 95 hp (71
kW), except in California where, to meet emissions standards, the
231-cubic-inch Buick engine was the base engine. Two upgrades could
be ordered: a 305-cubic-inch V8 with 145 hp (108 kW), or a
350-cubic-inch V8 with 170 hp (127 kW) that was only available in
El Caminos and Malibu station wagons. It was not available on
Malibu passenger cars (with exception to coupe and sedan Malibu 9C1
police vehicles). Among GM makes, at least, the era of bigness was
fading into history, overtaken by a new age of efficiency and
economy.The 1979 model got minimal changes following its debut as a
redesigned "new-size" model in 1978. Alterations to the 1979 El
Camino amounting to little more than a new divided grille. However,
a "small-block" 267-cubic-inch (4.4-liter) V8 joined the options
list and slotted between the standard 3.3-liter V6 and the optional
5.0-liter four-barrel V8. The 350-cubic-inch (5.7-liter) V8,
developing 170 hp (127 kW) was again available. Both three- and
four-speed manual transmissions had floor shifters.The 1980 El
Camino started out the 1980s with few changes, though engine
choices were shuffled a little. The base V6 displaced 229 cubic
inches, up from 200 the year before. Horsepower increased from 94
to 115 hp (70 to 86 kW). Optional again were a 267-cubic-inch V8
with 125 hp (93 kW) and a 305 V8, now with 155 hp (116 kW) (down
five). The 350 with 170 hp (127 kW) offered in 1979 was dropped. A
three speed floor shifted manual transmission was standard, but
most got the optional three-speed automatic.The 1981 models
received a new horizontal tube grill. The 1981 engines mostly
continued from 1980, but now used GM's Computer Command Control
(CCC) emission system. The base 229-cubic-inch V6 made 110 hp (82
kW) (down from 115 hp (86 kW)), as did the California-only
231-cubic-inch Buick V6. Optional engines were the 267-cubic-inch
V8 with 115 hp (86 kW) and The 305-cubic-inch V8, now with 150 hp
(112 kW). The three-speed automatic added a lock-up torque
converter to aid highway mileage.
