Vehicle Description
We've made the case for the practical and stylish Chevrolet El
Camino here before, and with this handsome Lime Green 1971 Elky, it
remains as true as ever. There's a great running, numbers-matching
350 cubic inch V8 under the hood, a smooth-shifting automatic
transmission, cold factory A/C, and a super-clean bucket seat
interior inside. Honestly, if you can find a muscle car more
versatile than this one, you should buy it, because opportunities
like this don't come around often.
Dressed in period-correct colors without a lot of dress-up, it's
the archetypal El Camino, and personally, the '71s are my favorite
with their single headlamps and side-mounted parking lights. The
bodywork is quite nicely done, and despite several years of use,
the finish still looks pretty darn good with only minor signs of
use and age. Elkys have always been drivers, and this one is
driver-grade through-and-through, although it manages to have quite
a striking presence with that factory-correct Code 43 Lime Green
finish. Dark Gray on the lower body tones down the lime green a bit
and acts as a perfect complement to the otherwise high-impact
shade, and when coupled with black vinyl top this car/truck looks
very grown-up. They skipped things like the usual cowl induction
hood, shaved handles, and gaudy wheels during the restoration, and
the result makes this El Camino stand out in a crowd of the usual
suspects. Beyond the style, the basics are quite good: the doors
fit well, the hood sits flush, and the tailgate (which is nicely
adorned with woodgrain trim) 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 and remaining brightwork
is in great condition, too. The painted bed is protected by a heavy
rubber mat that makes it practical and the sheetmetal underneath is
in solid shape, more evidence that this El Camino has lived an easy
life.
With bucket seats and a center console, this El Camino offers a
very upscale feel inside - well beyond its blue-collar roots.
High-back buckets are fitted with correct Jade reproduction seat
covers that look very fresh, but it's possible that most of the
interior is original or at least OEM. The matching green dash pad
and plush green carpets are certainly too nice to be original but
nevertheless look like they've always belonged, and with matching
door panels at the flanks and a taut headliner above the cabin is
very well-insulated. Factory gauges cover the basics and look
clean, and although this is center console car the shifter for the
automatic transmission is on the column. That steering wheel looks
to be an original piece, but despite a couple minor cracks it's in
great shape and easy to grip. Options include cold factory A/C,
power steering and brakes, seatbelts, and an original AM/FM stereo
that remarkably still works.
The engine is a strong-running, numbers-matching 350 cubic inch V8
that shows signs of maintenance and extensive care throughout. 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 and accompanying 350 decals, the engine is
nicely dressed in Chevy Orange enamel on the valve covers and block
itself, just like it looked back in 1971. There's a stock
carburetor and intake up top, and the exhaust manifolds at the
flanks are so clean they're likely newer to the engine, feeding
directly into the dual exhaust below for a great throaty soundtrack
that's period-perfect. That TH350 3-speed automatic transmission
handles the gears, and it feeds the stock 10-bolt rear end out back
that's more than capable of handling all the power and torque.
Power steering and power front disc brakes improve the ride quality
immensely, as do the upgraded air shocks out back. Traditional
Rallye wheels always look right on Chevy muscle, and these wear fat
215/70/15 BFGoodrich T/A white-letter 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!
