Converted SS: 1987 Chevrolet El Camino
In response to Ford’s Ranchero, a “gentleman’s” pickup, Chevrolet rolled out the El Camino from 1959-60 and again from 1964-87. It was a full-size model at first, then became an intermediate for the rest of its run. The last year a factory El Camino was built as a Super Sport was in 1972, but it would make a return in 1983-87 as a conversion offered through Chevy dealers. This low-production 1987 edition looks to be in genuinely nice condition and may only need a little work with the exhaust. From Washington, Oklahoma, this El Camino is offered here on eBay where the bidding holds at $10,200.
The El Camino would retire at the end of its filth generation in 1987 as GM’s G-platform cars were moving from rear-wheel to front-wheel-drive. We understand that some Chevy dealers weren’t happy that you could buy a Monte Carlo SS in the 1980s, but not one as an El Camino. Enter Choo Choo Customs, a company known for performing conversions on a variety of four-wheel vehicles. The process began by taking a factory El Camino and replacing the front clip with one from the Monte Carlo SS. With some added graphics and other conveniences, it gave dealers a vehicle to sell that Chevy could have built themselves – but didn’t.
Between 1983-87, about 2,200 of these conversions took place, so no more than a few hundred were likely built for their last hurrah. The Choo Choo Caminos were stock mechanically – and they didn’t have the same engine as the Monte Carlo – using a 5.0-liter V8 paired with an automatic transmission. That would be the case with the seller’s pickup, which is said to run and drive great. The only thing that is amiss mechanically is said to be a leak with the exhaust that the seller attributes to a bad gasket, perhaps related to the side-mounted system.
This El Camino has been used but well-taken care of by its second owner. It has just over 100,000 miles on the odometer, with the body and paint being in good (but not excellent) condition and the interior is close to original condition. According to Hagerty, an El Camino of this vintage in good-to-excellent condition is likely a $16,000 vehicle, and the Choo Choo option is worth another $4,000. This means this car should be a good buy at $20,000 or less.
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Comments
Does the exhaust exit in front of the rear tires or out of the tailpipes under the rear bumper? Or can you pick and choose which system you want to use depending on how you are feeling?
The side exhaust was fake. The 305 was gutless, but like the Monte they looked good and with a little work made a sweet cruiser.
Back in the day I loved to pounce on Monte SS with My 5.0 Fox GT. The GT was such a superior car right out box. Its amazing today to think these were made with a 305 and touted as a performance car but people loved them and thought they were the greatest. It’s laughable that Hagerty has a valuation of $20K for a 100,000 Choo Choo and that seems like a good deal.
I think Hagerty values are off on this one. Yes you can go to dealers and find them priced like this, but the actual market is lower. I bought a loaded, two tone ’83 about 5 years ago for around 6K and sold it three years ago for about the same. It had just over 100k miles and was like the day it rolled out of the factory (high end repaint) . Bought in rural KY.
“The El Camino would retire at the end of its filth generation in 1987”
Perhaps it would have continued on if washed.
Beautiful looking car. I’ve always loved this generation El Camino. It’s a damn shame that it was discontinued after this. It was a cool blend of comfort, style, fun, and utility work in one vehicle.
Never liked these, ugly, cheap no power, SS a joke. Sorry
I liked the look and style ,but the integrity of the interior parts always had a thin low quality feel.
It’s too bad manufacturers no longer make a pickup like the El Camino and Ford Ranchero based on a standard sedan.
In fact, it’s too bad manufacturers no longer make standard sedans.
Well if you really want a fake pick up truck and you don’t mind South Korean, here is the perfect model for you Steve.
https://www.caranddriver.com/hyundai/santa-cruz
Certainly looks better than the car featured here
Well Steve the Koreans are listening to you. They are now offering a fancy SUV based pickup. A Hyundai Santa Cruz. It’s available with AWD and comes with a whopping 10 year 100K guarantee.
As far as sedans you still have Chrysler or whatever they are calling themselves. But their offerings are pretty long in the tooth. The American companies bailed on sedans. The Japanese are making the finest these days especially Toyota. The Camry my choice.
Amen, AMCFAN! I’ve owned many cars (including a Rebel Machine and a SC/360 Hornet over the last few years)…and a ton of Mopars, Buick GS’s, etc. If I was buying a new car it would be a Toyota, hands down. The only car that I would feel confident in lasting for many hundreds of thousands of miles, since the demise of the Crown Victoria.
Priced about $9500 too high. Embarrassing.
It’s worth that, if $7500 was in the glove box.
E Bay ad says TH350 tranny. By ‘87 didn’t the 305 use the 200-R4 ?
That front fascia looks tacked on. The earlier versions of this generation were much better-looking. And power? Nothing an LS or other healthy 350 transplant couldn’t fix.
It is tacked on.
The El’s and Rancheros are always going to be awesome.
BBC/5 Sp. Ladder Bars and go.
Oh, by the way author…that is NOT a Monte Carlo SS front clip. It’s a cheap, fiberglass header panel manufactured by Choo Choo Cheesy Customs that resembles the one on a Monte Carlo SS.
MICHAEL BERKMIER.. I was going to correct this know nothing editor but you beat me to it. I own an all .. mostly original 87 El Camino and use it as my daily driver. The 305 4v and 200-4r are a good cruising combination and with 743k miles I still get 22-23 mpg. The engine still has its original timing chain and none of the tin has ever been removed. a couple of carb rebuilds by Mountain Man Fuel Systems and a couple of transmissions and that’s all. so this is one of those love em or hate em cars that has treated me well these past 35 yrs.. so I think I will keep it around. BTW.. the standard 305 in the Monte is the same as in the El too.
Seems to me you’ll run it til it rolls over the one million mile marker. Pushing 750k is noteworthy in and of itself. Had to read that line a couple times to realize I read that right.
I just tuned into my listing; I too thought it was on the high side till I watched the Mecum Auction this weekend. You never know; anyway this is the price I have listed this Cream Puff.
Better to pay extra for a great car to get the true value of a El Camino.
Steve