1985 Chevrolet El Camino

Chevrolet is famous for its never-ending unique ideas and productions; one such manufacturing is the Chevrolet El Camino, which first came in 1959. After around 5 to 6 years, the second-generation El Camino was introduced, which inherited much of its specifications from Chevrolet Chevelle. Its most popular model, I.e. 1985 Chevrolet Chevelle is most commendable; however, it belongs to the fifth generation. Chevrolet stooped producing their El Caminos thirty years after the model’s debut. The focus of this article is the 1985 Chevrolet El Camino, a forty years old manufacturer that still runs

General Overview:

1985 Chevrolet El Camino is still on the roads for the comfort it offered to its owner. People who bought this model stuck to it and still raved about it. It is a pickup truck that is very unlike a pickup truck. It has a Chevrolet wagon station platform, with the cab and cargo bed embedded in the body. That being said, it is a half-car and half-truck that fulfills the purpose of both vehicles by offering the best utility services and significant cargo capacity. The first look of this pickup-cum-car gives an impression of a sea shuttle sailing in the air.

Trims:

1985 El Caminos had two doors, which could accommodate two passengers in the inner cabin; however, you may choose to stuff the cargo bed with more people. It came in two significant trims: the SS model and the base model. Both models offered rear-wheel drive, and one could upgrade the base model by adding more features, including the Conquista package, AM/FM, audio system, tilt steering, and power steering.

Comfort:

1985 Chevy El Camino users have ranked its comfort level with 5-stars. It is too comfortable to be a truck because of the wagon-derived body. The two seats in the inner cabin are exceptionally comfortable, especially for those with a two-members family. They can tow huge luggage and ensures the proper handling of the passengers and their luggage. Both trims have soft fabric or cloth upholstery on the seats, and the first thing you will notice after sitting in the car is the couchlike nature of its bench seat. You may recline buckets or use 55/45 split bench seats if you preferer the individual seating.

Moreover, the power steering also offers excellent comfort to the driver, as he may drive smoothly without putting forward a lot of energy.

Powertrain and Performance:

The base powertrain for the 1985 Chevy El Camino is a 4.3-L V6 engine with 130 hp energy at 3,600 rpm and a torque of 210 lb-pounds at 2,000 rpm. The stroke and the bore are 101.6 mm by 88.39 mm with an excellent compression ratio of 9.3:1. El Camino also got a power train upgrade: a 5.0-L V8 OHV engine with 150 hp energy at 4,000 rpm and a torque of 324 lb-pounds at 2,000 rpm. Its bore and stroke are 95mm x 88.4mm, which gives away a compression ratio of 9.50:1. A three-speed manual transmission is standard, while you can get a three-speed automatic transmission as an option.

Fuel Economy:

A considerable drawback of the 1985 El Camino is that its fuel economy is not as good as the cars that come out today. The combined gas mileage is 14 miles per gallon inside the city and 20 miles per gallon on the highway. Thus, the overall fuel economy is 16 mpg.

Drivability:

1985 Chevrolet El Camino has cut-pile carpeting, sunshades, padded armrests, trim moldings, and headliners that add to the comfort of the driver and passenger. Furthermore, all the controls are in the arm range with the clear and readable gages mentioned. You may notice a column-mounted multifunction switch that is a jack of all trades and handles multiple functions like windshield washer/wiper, dimmer, turn lights, and available speed control. This is mounted at a finger’s distance from the steering wheel.

Storage:

The large cargo storage box or bed of the 1985 El Camino has a capacity of 35.5 cubic feet. Besides the ashtray and glove compartment, there is considerable space behind both seats in the inner cabin. This space continues under the pickup box beside the spare tire.

Exterior:

The exterior of the 1985 El Camino leaves an impression on the viewer even in 2022. As discussed earlier, it seems like the simplest and most elegant form of the sea shuttle. This sleek, accommodating pickup truck symbolizes sleekness, performance, uniqueness, and resilience.

Safety:

1985 Chevy El Camino boasts excellent safety features of its double-wall construction in crucial and weak areas. It has air-adjustable rear shocks that protect the car from bottoming out under heavy loads.

The 1985 El Camino is quite an old car; therefore, it’d be ideal if you could buy an El Camino repair manual to ensure that you aren’t messing up with the car’s built-in function. The machinery, fitting, and repair of such old vehicles differ from the cars produced in the current era. In addition to the repair manual, it is also a good idea to purchase an owner’s manual, and parts catalog, if you plan on doing any service or restoration work.

Frequently Asked Questions

What years of the El Camino are the best?

The model years 1968-1973

Is the El Camino Considered a muscle car?

Yes

Why is it called the El Camino?

Chevy chose the Spanish name, which means ‘The Way’