350 cui V8 automatic, rebuilt engine, new radiator, reliable cruiser

Price: US $12,000.00 Item location: Richmond Hill, Ontario, Canada
Description:

1979 Chevrolet El Camino

For sale is my 1979 Chevy El Camino that I have owned for 3 years. When I bought this car, it had been stored in a barn for 15 years. The previous owner had bought it in Oklahoma, USA, repainted it in black but never got to drive it due to family matters. After buying the car, I went through everything to make it a reliable cruiser. I tried to keep the car as original as possible with any work done. The car has a solid body and frame thanks to its U.S. history. From the carburetor number, I identified that this car may have originally been sold in California. From the VIN the car seems to be a true 350 cui (5.7L) car. The transmission is a Turbo-Hydramatic 350. The car comes with a custom dual exhaust with 4 cherry bomb type mufflers. Tires are 225/60R15 in the front and 235/60R15 in the back. I do not know the type and ratio of the rear axle. The car may have been an "SS" when new as it has the optional 350 cui engine. This car is a real head-turner and gets positive feedback wherever you drive it. I had many classic cars but this one gets the most positive feedback. I tried to provide an as honest and detailed description as possible based on my knowledge of the car to avoid any surprises for the buyer.
Condition:
According to the conditions rating scale from Hagerty the car's condition would be rated as "fair". The car runs and drives reliably and has a good solid body. This car has seen its share of owners that did various repairs to it to keep it on the road. The vehicle shows signs of wear corresponding to a 39-year-old car. This car was never in any accident as far as I am aware of it. I uploaded more pictures to box.com, please find them under the following link (please note that the pictures are presented on several separate pages that must be opened individually for viewing, alternatively, please use the 'Download' function): app.box.com/s/xpktw3s5jllerownxj7y31h80qtqxnpt
Mechanical:
Car has a recently rebuilt engine that still has some warranty left on it. There are lots of new parts on the car and it is a reliable cruiser. The transmission is shifting firmly but does lose some drips of oil when parked. The air conditioning seems complete but is non-functional. On the down side, the car pulls slightly to the right. I brought it to my shop for an alignment and there seems to be no obvious reason that may cause this. The following parts were replaced or rebuilt since I bought the car in July 2015:
  • the engine was rebuilt (warranty until July 2019)
  • new radiator
  • new water pump
  • new fuel pump
  • new distributor
  • new starter motor
  • newly rebuilt Rochester Quadrajet carburetor
  • new battery
  • new springs and shocks on all 4 corners
  • new front brakes
  • any needed suspension work was done
  • replaced the speedometer

Exterior:
The paint is a poorly executed garage-type do-it-yourself job. It looks great from a distance but as you come closer it shows its poor workmanship. In some areas the paint is flaking off. There is are two particular bad spots on the roof and on the driver's door where the mirror is attached (see photos). There are no obvious door dings or dents on the vehicle. The chrome bumpers, trim and door handles are in good condition. The body and frame show minimal rust. The undercarriage is in good condition. The windows are all in good condition with tint having been applied to the rear window only. The tires still have a lot of threads left on them but show some cracks on the sidewalls from aging.
Interior:
The bench seat is in good condition for an unrestored piece that is 39 years old. The interior door panels are in fair condition but complete and free of cracks. The headliner is in fair condition with no tears or holes. The dashboard is complete but has a few cracks on top (I installed a cover on it, see pictures). All instruments in the dashboard are functioning, except the clock. Also, the gas gauge only shows 3/4 full when the tank is filled up but otherwise functions ok.
The odometer shows approximately 81,300 miles but I do not know how many miles the car actually has driven in total due to the 5-digits-only odometer. Since the engine rebuilt in August 2016, I drove the car for approximately 8,000 miles.
Also included are the exhaust pipes from a Pypes Performance Exhaust converter-back system for this car. However, you will need the original y-pipe, catalytic converter and a set of mufflers to install it as it will not attach to the current dual exhaust system. Also included is a new original shifter in case you prefer it over the custom skull shifter currently installed. Please see the photos on box.com for more details.
The insurance appraisal completed in November 2016 valued the car at $15,000 CAD (approx. $12,000 USD). Please find an excerpt of the appraisal on the box.com link provided above.
Transaction:
  • Reserve is set at $6,995 USD
  • I may consider selling to the highest bidder even if reserve is not met
  • An Ontario Used Vehicle Information Package is available
  • Pickup or transportation of the car to be arranged by buyer
  • Any customs duties, fees, or taxes to be payed by buyer
  • Any required customs documents to be completed by buyer
  • Ontario safety inspection can be completed upon buyer's request at no charge
  • The car is sold as-is. No warranty expressed or implied
  • The car is licensed and insured and ready for a test drive
  • I accept bids from Canada and the USA only
  • The winning bidder has 24 hours to provide $500 deposit via PayPal and the balance of the payment either (1) via wire transfer in advance of pickup, (2) certified bank draft, or (3) in cash when the car is being picked up