Vehicle Description
We sell a lot of El Caminos here at Streetside Classics, and most
are solid, clean cars like this 1983 Chevrolet El Camino Conquista.
Not trying to be anything other than a well-preserved old car, it
offers plenty of power from a 350 cubic inch V8, an upscale
interior, and that fantastic practicality for which El Caminos are
rightfully famous.
Repainted in 2011 in what appears to be its original two-tone blue
color combination, this very stock-looking Elky reminds us that
they weren't all SS models. Someone did a great job on the finish
work, because there aren't many 25-year-old cars that clean up this
well, and it's pretty obvious that this was never a working-class
truck. It does show a few signs of use, but that's inevitable on a
vehicle that's built to drive, but you can tell that it has been
someone's special hobby car for weekend use only for quite a long
time. The two-tone blue will look good forever and doesn't have
that dated look that some early '80s cars offer, and with bright
bumpers, stainless trim around the fender arches, and a set of bed
rails, there's plenty of eye candy to make it appealing. And
speaking of the bed, it's protected with a rubber mat so you can
still put heavy stuff in there, and the lift-up vinyl tonneau cover
essentially makes it the world's largest weatherproof trunk.
Cloth upholstery makes this El Camino luxury car comfortable and a
whole host of luxury options means you can use it every day and not
feel like you're driving an old car. The woodgrained steering wheel
appears to be the only notable deviation from stock, but it is a
welcome change that warms up the interior nicely. Options include
A/C, a tilt steering column, cruise control, and a remote driver's
mirror. We're guessing that almost everything inside has been
replaced at some point, including the seat covers, door panels,
dash pad, and carpets, simply because it looks too good and too
fresh to be circa 1983. The radio is a newer AM/FM/CD head unit
that fits neatly in the original slot and a woodgrained applique on
the dash makes this particular El Camino feel upscale. Heavy-duty
floor mats protect the carpets and there's a custom speaker box
tucked behind the seats.
At some point, this Elky received a heart transplant, now running a
350 cubic inch crate motor that's a neat fit and provides
considerably more power than the original 305. An Edelbrock
4-barrel carburetor and matching aluminum intake surely add some
horsepower and give it great throttle response without turning it
into something that's too high-strung to drive. A few dress-up
pieces make it look a little better than stock and it's always nice
to see the factory hardware being reinstalled, because it retains
the original wiring, hoses, and A/C system (now using R134a
refrigerant). The transmission is a familiar TH350 3-speed
automatic feeding a 10-bolt rear end, which seems to have highway
gears inside because this is an effortless high-speed cruiser. A
single exhaust system has a muted sound that suits this refined El
Camino just fine and one glance at the undercarriage will convince
you that this car has never spent any time in the snow. Factory
Rally wheels look sporty and carry 205/75/14 Yokohama rubber that
rides and handles great.
Not a rare car, not a big horsepower piece, but you don't often see
an El Camino this clean, this well sorted, and this ready to use
without a big price tag. Take this one home today!