Vehicle Description
1986 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.
The concept of a truck-like car came from a farm woman in Australia
who wanted a truck to haul hay on the weekdays, and a car she could
drive to church on Sunday. Someone from GM thought that was a good
idea, and hence the EL Camino was born, although technically the
Ford Ranchero beat them to it, (1957 as opposed to 1959), but hey
it's a great story! For consignment Hi O Silver two tone El Camino
and looking very nicely preserved. If it's Sunday let's go to
meetin' if it's Monday back to work!
Exterior
Square and rectangle design abound on all surfaces of this
car/pickup version. Dual square headlights, a square opening for
the egg crate grille and all this in a rectangle front end. Some
extra fairings are on below the bumper, and these surround this
vehicle and show in a darker gray. This dark gray continues around
the vehicle halfway through the wheel wells, rockers and around the
back. Straight rust-free steel is bathed in silver and back to the
dark gray for the roof and B pillar as well as the bed top edge.
Some stainless trimmings are noted in the sides and window
surrounds. On back covering the bed is a solid piston lift up
tonneau cover, which when raised reveals a silver painted bed that
sports a rubber liner covering for the floor. Badging is all shiny
and correct, and the paint is nice and deep on the silver. 14-inch
snowflake rally wheels with a thin red rim are seen on all 4
corners and are wrapped in 205/70R14's all around.
Interior
Much like showroom, extremely clean surfaces starting with the
swing of the doors revealing the door panels utilizing smooth
padded vinyl in deep burgundy, molded plastic in excellent
condition which houses the door pull, power windows, power locks
and side view mirror joystick. Slipping inside we are greeted with
mid 1980's square and rectangle design for the dash, all
functioning controls, and nicely set up for ease of operation.
Cruise control is noted, and A/C with an AM/FM/Cassette player is
fitting neatly into a square panel. Seats are bucket style and are
nice and wide. They are donned with fancy triangular tufted and
stitched inserts and smooth bolsters and uppers and are all in the
burgundy vinyl. In the center is a smooth burgundy vinyl armrest
and it has a small seat insert between the buckets. Burgundy
carpeting floods the floors, and above is a fuzzy broadcloth
headliner also in burgundy.
Drivetrain
Under the hood is a 305ci LG4 V8 engine with a 4-barrel carburetor
on top. On the back is a 200R4 4-speed automatic transmission with
a 10-bolt 2.56 gear ratio rear axle. Nice and clean and well
detailed under this hood!
Undercarriage
A little surface rust and a smattering of patina are seen on the
floor pans, rockers and fenders. Suspension also has some slight
light surface rust but otherwise unremarkable. Independent coil
spring suspension for the front, and a 4 link with coil springs on
back, along with power disc brakes for the front and power drums
for the rear.
Drive-Ability
She fired right up and I was off to the Classic Auto Mall Test
track. Here this car did very well, with plenty of power from the
305ci LG4, handled like it was on "rails" and steamed along
smoothly at cruising speed. All comfy for the interior and all
functioning.
A nice silver clean example with snazzy stitched and tufted
triangle vinyl seats. A clean rubber lined bed, and good tri tone
paint in shades of gray. A worker and a cruiser, and a car like
ride all around. Let this one show you "The Way"...Adios
VIN DECODE
3GCCW80HXGS917918
3-Mexico
G-General Motors
C-PickUp Truck
C-4001 Thru 5000 GVWR
W-Elcamino
8-1/2 Ton
0-Pickup
H-305ci V8 LG4 150hp 4bbl
X-Check Digit
G-1986
S-Ramos Arizpe, Mexico Assy Plant
917918-Sequential Unit Number
Classic Auto Mall is a 336,000-square foot classic and special
interest automobile showroom, featuring over 600 vehicles for sale
with showroom space for up to 1,000 vehicles. Also, a 400 vehicle
barn find collection is on display.
This vehicle is located in our showroom in Morgantown,
Pennsylvania, conveniently located just 1-hour west of Philadelphia
on the I-76 Pennsylvania Turnpike. The website is
www.classicautomall.com and our phone number is (888) 227-0914.
Please contact us anytime for more information or to come see the
vehicle in person.