In a world where it seems everyone is in a tizzy about the amount of fuel burned, it is painful to see that a two-door, car-based pickup is absent from the American automotive market.  It seems like it would be a good idea to offer people who want a truck for occasional use with a car-like driving experience something smaller, lighter, and more fuel-efficient than the current crop of pickup trucks.  It wasn’t that long ago that customers could purchase a vehicle like this 1986 Chevrolet El Camino SS by Choo-Choo Customs for sale on Craigslist in Eugene, Oregon.  This gorgeous car-based truck is in excellent condition and being offered for a heady $24,500.  Is that too much to pay for one of the most versatile vehicles General Motors has ever produced?  Thanks to Tony P. for the tip on this neat truck!

You could probably trace the car-based truck’s lineage back to the thirties.  During that time, many manufacturers sold what amounted to a truck bed that fit in the trunk of a coupe.  Coupes back then usually seated two or three people up front had little to no room behind those front seats, and featured a long, sloping trunk.  These pickup beds fit into the trunk area and extend out behind the car.  While some may have been capable of folding up to allow the trunk lid to close, most required the removal of the trunk lid.  This was a very cumbersome setup, but it was a start.

It wasn’t until Ford released the Ranchero in 1957 that car-based trucks were officially a market segment.  Chevrolet countered with the El Camino in 1959, thus ensuring that the segment would last given both Ford and GM’s proclivities for having a competitor in every established segment of the market.  While Ford gave up on the Ranchero in 1979, it took Chevrolet until 1987 to surrender the segment to history.  The argument was made that small conventional trucks like the S-10 and the Ranger had taken over the segment and the rear-wheel-drive platform that the El Camino was built on was switching to front-wheel drive.  Others such as Dodge, Plymouth, Subaru, and Volkswagen all tried to market front and four-wheel drive competitors of smaller stature with limited success.  Today, Honda, Hyundai, and Ford are selling four-door variants with small beds and limited capacity.  They are not the same thing.

The 1986 El Camino SS you see here is just one year off from the end for this type of vehicle in the United States.  Holden, GM’s Australian branch, made a variant called the VF Ute until 2017 based on the same chassis that the last GTOs were made on.  There was hope that GM would export these too, but only a handful ended up here thanks to individuals importing them.  Built on the G-body platform along with the Monte Carlo and other coupes, the El Camino was never a huge seller.  However, the body style had a loyal following and made a lot of sense in a world when full-size trucks were generally regarded as work vehicles.  They were easy to get into, comfortable to drive, simple to park and were a good choice for someone who needed a truck occasionally for mundane matters.

What makes this El Camino unique besides its stellar condition and 26,000 original miles is the fact that it is a coveted Choo-Choo edition.  Choo-Choo Customs was a Chattanooga, Tennessee-based company that specialized in making custom vans for dealers across the country.  These customs usually included a body kit, raised roofs, and luxurious interiors complete with captain’s chairs and killer stereos.  They also branched out into adding custom packages for various trucks from heavy-duty 3/4 and 1-ton trucks to Suburbans.  From 1983 to 1987, they worked their magic on El Caminos.  The company grafted on Monte Carlo SS-type front ends and faux hood scoops, added rally wheels and sport mirrors, and a few decals to complete the conversion.  They were sold as dealer-added packages until the last El Caminos found homes in late 1987.

The seller of this El Camino has taken excellent care of this truck.  It is described as being in mint condition and all original.  The only possible discrepancy would be the wheels, which appear to be Monte Carlo SS wheels.  Perhaps they were an option or ordered separately when the truck was new.  It would be interesting to see if the fiberglass side panels were from Choo-Choo as well.  As a small indication of the treatment that the truck has received, the seller even has the original window sticker.

Is this showroom condition El Camino worth the $24,500 asking price?  For an El Camino aficionado, probably yes.  This one has a whole lot of miles left in it and you would be hard-pressed to find a better one.  Even if you wanted to buy and make it your primary vehicle, $24,500 doesn’t buy much of a used truck in this condition.  Sadly, the cost of good vehicles with low mileage is insane right now.  Wearing out such a nice, collectible truck may be a sin.  However, I’d daily drive this one until the wheels fell off.

What would you do with this El Camino?  Do you think the concept of a car-based truck still has a market?  Please share your thoughts in the comments.