Hey guys, I am researching my local junk yard to find that 1 of the 3 destinations has a 1987 El Camino... I am going to check it out sometime soon and see if it is in decent condition (atleast the frame) Think it would cost a bunch to get parts for one? How much would you guys think junk yard would sell it for? 300-1000?
Oops meant to put 1987 *
Jackk wrote: Oops meant to put 1987 *
Fixed.
thanks!
Junkyards rarely sell complete cars. For one, they are worth more in parts than as a whole. Two, they may have sent the title in to the state already, which makes for big headaches.
ddavidv wrote: Junkyards rarely sell complete cars. For one, they are worth more in parts than as a whole. Two, they may have sent the title in to the state already, which makes for big headaches.
You're better off regularly checking craigslist for one. Parts will be cheap and plentiful off the shelf.
found one for $5,444 with only 81k miles! 3 hrs away from me, however I don't know if something is wrong with it - its being sold by dealership.
I bought one for my brother-in-law for $800, there's one around the corner for $1,800.
You wouldn't happen to be anywhere near Washington State would ya? I know a "fixer-upper" that may be priced near the bottom of your $300-$1000 junkyard estimation...
Jackk wrote: found one for $5,444 with only 81k miles! 3 hrs away from me, however I don't know if something is wrong with it - its being sold by dealership.
That's got to be near the top of the market for an 87 El Camino.
Really? From what i've seen lately it's about mid-range. Anything sub-$2500 will be lucky to be a decent driver and they dont start to look 'good' by my low standards until ~$3500 and up with many truly nice examples going over 10k.
Look behind the rear wheel where the horizontal frame member turns upward around the rear axle. Dirt hangs out inside the frame, holds water and rots out.
Poke it few times with a screwdriver before doing any neutral drops.
They routinely sell in NC for $6-12k... still-appealing car-like ride & handling with light hauling capability. '87 was last full year for the G-body Elky... 305 V8 or 4.3 V6. Hotchkiss parts can really make them handle, but smog-choked engines make no useful power. A 1600 mile example was FS in TN for $25k last week... no takers (no surprise).
Best one in US is worth $18k (Hagerty), so $5k should get you a runner. Tech help & more at www.elcaminocentral.com
parts are stupid cheap for g bodies.
I'm surprised nobody's mentioned mullets and Southern Rock yet. Don't they go hand-in-hand with El Camino ownership?
Joking aside, I bought a new El Camino in 1979. I don't have a mullet but I am fond of Skynard, Blackfoot and other music that came out of Muscle Shoals in that era. The El Camino with 305 V8 was an absolute piece of crap, second worst vehicle I ever owned. (Worst was a 76 Buick Skyhawk bought new). Both had legendary P-poor GM quality. Paint oxidized a month after the warranty expired. Cam lobes wore down to circles by 40k miles. Gauges failed. Knobs on the instrument panel broke, premature rust, etc. etc. I made repairs and kept the El Camino for around 15 years and sold the rusting hulk for $300. I've never bought another GM product. My point is, based on my own experience, if you buy a project El Camino, be prepared to do a lot of work fixing shoddy GM quality.
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