1972 GMC Sprint (El Camino Super Sport Tribute)
The VIN told me that this is a 1972 GMC Sprint that was born with a 350V8. The car was built in Baltimore and spent its life in Virginia. Just a few years ago, it underwent a frame-off restoration and conversion to an El Camino Super Sport Tribute.
I don’t know why the choice was made to switch from GMC to Chevrolet. But it is what it is. Perhaps popularity? The conversion was part of a complete nut and bolt frame-off restoration. We can both guess what that cost. Certainly it was a lot.
The frame and suspension components were powder coated. The underside of the car is also Cortez Silver and it is very tidy. New fuel and brake lines were run. A complete 2.5 inch dual exhaust system was installed. All weather gaskets and rubber bushings were replaced. The suspension and steering were rebuilt, as were the brakes. A new fuel tank was installed.
I am betting that the Cowl Induction hood was installed during the restoration. It is like new and functional. Hood pins were added. The Super Sport emblems and grill were installed. This car has dual mirrors.
The engine is a 454. I did not discover numbers to tell me more. I believe it is pretty stock. It has cast iron manifolds. The carburetor is an Edelbrock. The engine is nicely dressed up with a lots of chrome bits. All brackets have been refinished.
The transmission is a Turbo 400 Automatic. It is shifted by a center console mounted horseshoe shifter. The rear end is a 10 bolt open with 3.08 gears. It is a great combination, as the 454 has the torque to handle the gearing, while the gearing offers decent fuel economy out of the big block engine.
This is a factory-equipped Air Conditioned car. That means it also came with Soft Ray tinted glass. The A/C system looks rebuilt. It is also converted to 134a Freon. It is functioning, but not to the point of producing ice cold air. I would guess a small charge of 134a would make a difference.
This car is equipped with power steering and brakes. The steering wheel horn button is labeled as “SS”. Round Pod gauges (code U14) are in the dash and working properly. This has both the tachometer and the clock, which also works. The radio is an aftermarket “retro” AM/FM/Cassette stereo.
The body and Cortez Silver paint on this car are exceptional. It could not have been driven much after the restoration, as there are only minute flaws. I don’t see any sign of body repair or filler. The paint is expertly applied and shines brilliantly. All chrome has been either replated or replaced. All Super Sport components and emblems are in place.
The wheels are chrome Rally wheels with hubcaps. The tires are BF Goodrich Radial TAs of 235/60/15 size.
The bed has been sprayed with a textured bedliner compound that is colored to match the paint. It is not showing dents or corrosion.
The bucket seat interior is quite striking in Red. It really compliments the color of the car. The bucket seats are in great condition, as is the console, carpet, door panels, dash and headliner.
Everything works properly on this car. There are two sets of keys. There is a jack, spare tire and lug wrench behind the driver’s seat. The spare is a mini-spare that fits perfectly in the storage area.
The current odometer reading is about 52,500. I have no way to know if this is actual miles, so it will be sold as except from mileage disclosure due to age. Because the car has been restored, there is nothing to go by regarding the mileage versus visible wear signs. Everything looks new, or close to it.
As soon as I finish this description, we are off on a long ride to a Cruise Night. I believe this car will perform quite well at freeway speeds.
While this is not really an El Camino Super Sport, it truly looks the part. It is very capable of long cruises at highway speeds. It has enough “grunt” to be enjoyable from stop light to stop light.
This is a very striking vehicle that will garner lots of looks. The Cortez Silver paint with the Red interior is truly striking.
