119

Listed Now

$36,265

Avg. Asking Price

1959–1988

Year Range

Transmission Distribution

Automatic 67% ◄

Manual 13%

Condition Distribution

Excellent 18%

Good 10%

Fair 7%

Poor 3%

✓

✓

✓

✓

✓

✓

✓

✓

✓

✓

El Camino rust follows the Chevelle pattern with one critical addition: the cargo bed. The bed floor is a stamped steel pan welded to the body structure, and water and cargo wear accelerate rust significantly. Lift the bed mat (or any bed liner installed) and inspect the bed floor with strong light. Rust through is universal on cars used as actual trucks; cars used as cruisers tend to have better-preserved beds. Frame rust on 1964-1972 A-body El Caminos hits at the same body mount points as the Chevelle, rear body mount cushions collapse and water pools above the frame, rotting from inside. The 1973-1977 Colonnade-body El Caminos use a slightly revised frame; the 1978-1987 G-body El Caminos use the lighter G-body frame derived from the Malibu. Mechanically, El Caminos share drivetrains with the Chevelle (1964-1977) and the Malibu (1978-1987). The small-block 327, 350, and 305 V8s are bulletproof. The big-block 396, 402, and 454 V8s are similarly durable. Common issues include broken motor mounts (a Big Block specialty), worn timing chain on tired engines, and tired Quadrajet carburetors. The Turbo 350 and Turbo 400 automatics are essentially indestructible; the Saginaw three-speed and Muncie four-speeds are robust. Don't buy somebody else's project. The El Camino market is full of half-finished restomod builds with parts in boxes. The frame and the cab are non-negotiable, verify both are solid before considering any cosmetic or mechanical work.

PHS Documentation is the gold-standard verification for any El Camino SS claim from 1968 through 1973. PHS confirms original engine, transmission, axle ratio, paint, and options. For any SS El Camino priced over $35,000, PHS documentation is mandatory. Cars without documentation should be priced as base El Caminos with SS trim, fine if priced as such, but not at SS money. For 1968-1972 cars, the SS package was the high-trim performance variant. Verify the SS option code (RPO Z25 for 1969+) on the cowl tag. The 1970 SS454 (LS5/360 hp) and the rare 1970 SS454 LS6 (450 hp) are the high-water marks of El Camino performance, only 4,475 LS6 cars were built across all 1970 GM A-body production (Chevelle hardtops, convertibles, and El Caminos combined), making LS6 El Caminos extraordinarily rare. Frame inspection is the first non-negotiable. Crawl under the truck with a flashlight. Probe the perimeter frame at the rear body mount points and at the front kick-up. The frame and the cab are non-negotiable, if the frame is rusted through at the body mounts, walk away or budget $8,000-$15,000 for proper frame replacement. Bed inspection is the second non-negotiable for an El Camino. Lift the bed mat or bed liner and inspect the bed floor with strong light. Rust holes in the bed floor mean either expensive replacement ($2,000-$5,000 for proper sheet metal repair) or accepting the truck as a cruiser rather than a working vehicle. For 1978-1987 G-body El Caminos, inspect the rear quarter panels (the area behind the cab where the bed sides meet the cab corners) for rust. This is the universal failure point on G-body El Caminos. Verify also the bed-side seam where the bed wall meets the bed floor, water collects here and rusts both surfaces. Document the truck. Photograph every panel, every frame rail, every body mount, every engine bay component, and every identifying tag/stamp. Build the case before you wire money.

1959-1960 first-generation El Caminos: driver-quality cars run $22,000-$45,000 today. The 1959 launch year is more desirable than 1960. Documented original-paint cars: $45,000-$75,000. 1964-1967 second-generation A-body El Caminos: driver-quality base cars run $22,000-$38,000. The 1966 SS396 (the rare second-generation SS) is the desirable variant of this era at $45,000-$75,000 documented. 1968-1972 second-generation A-body El Caminos are the muscle-car icon era. Driver-quality 1968-1972 base cars run $25,000-$45,000. SS396 cars: driver-quality $45,000-$75,000, documented L78 cars $80,000-$140,000. 1970 SS454 LS5: driver-quality $60,000-$100,000. 1970 SS454 LS6 (rare and desirable): $120,000-$240,000+ for documented numbers-matching cars. 1973-1977 Colonnade-body El Caminos: driver-quality cars run $18,000-$35,000. SS variants from this era: $28,000-$55,000 documented. The 1973 SS454 (last year of the SS454 in El Camino) is increasingly desirable. 1978-1987 G-body El Caminos are the bargain entry: driver-quality cars run $15,000-$30,000. The 1983-1987 SS variants (with the 305 V8 and the iconic SS graphics package) trade for $20,000-$38,000. Choo Choo Customs SS El Camino conversions (aftermarket-built premium SS variants) command 10-20% premium when documented. Project El Caminos start around $10,000-$22,000 for A-body cars and $6,000-$15,000 for G-body cars. Either buy a finished truck or buy a clean rust-free truck and build it yourself, the middle ground is where most first-time buyers lose money.

The El Camino name is Spanish for "the way" or "the road," and Chevrolet chose the name to evoke the Spanish heritage of California's El Camino Real (the historic road system connecting Spanish missions). The name was suggested by GM's Advanced Concepts group in 1958 and selected over alternatives including "Chevy Pickup" and "Roadster Pickup." The 1970 SS454 LS6 El Camino is the rarest of the LS6 production run. Only a small percentage of the 4,475 total LS6 cars built across all 1970 A-body production were El Caminos: Chevrolet has never released exact production figures. Documented LS6 El Caminos now command $120,000-$240,000+ at auction, making them among the most valuable production trucks ever built. The Choo Choo Customs SS conversions of the 1980s were aftermarket-built premium El Caminos produced in Chattanooga, Tennessee (hence the name) by a specialty conversion company. Choo Choo built thousands of SS conversions on standard El Caminos in the 1983-1987 era, applying the SS hood, SS graphics, and unique trim to base El Caminos. Documented Choo Choo cars command 10-20% premium over equivalent factory cars when verified.