Description
This is my 1982 Chevrolet El Camino, a genuine American V8 pickup coupe showing 45, 000 miles. I have photographs of the engine without valve covers to confirm the mileage and show how clean it is. The car is already fully tax and MOT exempt and is correctly registered with DVLA, so there are no paperwork issues for the next owner. V5 and exemption documents are present and in my name.
Structurally the car is excellent. The chassis and underbody are completely solid and rust-free, and the body is straight with no dents. The paint shows a few marks and small flakes in places, however being a RAL colour the next owner will not have any trouble perfecting the paint if desired. There is absolutely nothing hidden or nasty.
Every fluid is fresh and clean, it does not burn oil, and the drivetrain is tight. The gearbox and torque converter are faultless, with smooth gear changes and no slop at all from the transmission or the differential. Brakes are strong and do not bind - I have changed the seals and rebuilt three corners with the fourth being a fresh GM caliper.
Its got a BRAND NEW genuine Rochester Quadrajet carb and has plenty of power on tap with absolutley no bog.
The interior is presentable and usable with no bodges, though it would benefit from a new headliner and some TLC. Lighting has been improved with aftermarket headlights which make night driving practical compared with the weak standard 1980s units. There are also switchable daylight running lights operated from a steel toggle switch on the dash.
The El Camino wears its US Army-style livery and sits well on pristine GM deep dish alloy wheels. It comes with two keys and a hidden starter cut-off switch for security.
Missing a couple trim pieces here and there, wipers / stereo. Cheap to source from eBay etc but I never got round to it.
Overall, this is a very solid and honest El Camino that can be enjoyed as it is or taken further with some finishing work. The El Camino is an unmistakably American car that always draws attention, and this one is no exception. Every trip it gets filmed and pointed at, whether it is a run to the shops, a petrol stop or a show.
It is loud, over the top, and looks like nothing else on the road here in the UK.
What sets this one apart is how straight and solid it is. So many American cars that made it over here have hidden rust issues or bodged repairs, but this example has clean metal where it matters and a drivetrain that feels tight. The gearbox engages like butter, the brakes have been sorted, and the suspension and differential are free from play. It feels like a proper working car, not a project held together with patches.
I bought it because it is rare to find one that ticks the boxes: genuine low mileage, solid underneath and with plenty of readily available, affordable parts. I also like that it has not been messed with. The upgrades it does have - headlights you can actually use at night and a simple daylight running light switch - are practical and reversible.
My favourite thing about it is the way it turns every drive into an event. The sound of the straight-piped V8, the livery, the stance - it all works together to make it a proper occasion every time you get in it. It is not a shy car, it is one that gets photographed and filmed wherever it goes.
For someone who wants a real American classic that can be used and enjoyed, and who appreciates something solid and honest with only minor finishing jobs, this El Camino will be hard to beat.
