Everyone knows about the El Camino, but sometimes it’s easy to forget that GMC also had their own version of the car-based pickup. Starting with the 1971 GMC Sprint, it was even available in a version like the SS called “SP.” In 1978, during the redesign of GM’s A-body, the Sprint became the Caballero and lasted through 1987 when GM put the Malibu and its pickup truck variants to rest. This 1986 Caballero on eBay is very similar to the Caballero’s swan song.
The Chevrolet El Camino was GM’s response to Ford’s Ranchero. It came to life in 1959, continued through 1960, then Chevrolet decided to give the market back to Ford. By that time, Ford transferred the Ranchero to the Falcon platform. Starting in 1964 with the debut of the Chevelle, the El Camino was revived and continued being America’s only mid-sized pickup until the Ranchero became based on the Fairlane/Torino in 1968. When Ford discontinued the Ranchero after 1979, the car-based pickup was Chevrolet’s once again.
Starting in 1978, GMC had a trim package called the Laredo, which mainly consisted of two-tone paint. This package was renamed Amarillo in 1981 and continued through 1987.
This Florida-based 1986 Caballero Amarillo is powered by a 305 V8 motor and automatic transmission. Special options include power door locks, power windows, air conditioning, and tilt steering. If the 94,000 miles are well-maintained, you’ll have plenty of miles ahead of you; if it’s beginning to show signs of mistreatment, it’s the perfect time to drop in a 400 small-block and go beat up on WRXs–all for $7,195.
Comments
As an past owner of a GMC Sprint SP I loved my car. The Big Block was a pig on gas but I loved this car none the less. Today I wish I still had it as it would be worth around $30K as it was one of only several hundred built with the SP package.
No offence but only the Aussies can master the coupe utility. Invented in Australia by Ford Australia and perfected by Holden.
What color is the sky in your world Matt? Do you really read what you post?
What inherent skill does Holden hold about grafting bed skin to a sedan body that no one else has? Are they secretly build by Aborigine Elves under ground I the outback?
To be honest Henry Ford beat you to it with the model T based pickup hack as it was available with a pick up bed before Holden really was even around. Even the Dodge and Graham brothers beat old Henry with their first car based trucks back in the teens.
Down under Ford did their first Ute in 1934 and Holden did their first offered to the public in 1951.
Now if you want to claim that Holden has offered the best of what is left on the market you may have a realistic claim.
Ford USA and Dodge experimented with car based trucks but the first true car based truck was from Ford Australia. Considering Holden have been engineering and manufacturing utes for decades, it does mean they are experienced in this field. It is more than marrying a truck bed to a sedan or coupe. There is a lot more that goes into than that. Considering that the only logical car that could suit a reborn El Camino is the Impala as many have also suggested across GM fan sites such as this, it is clear GM can’t produce a decent coupe utility at this stage without Holden. A front wheel drive coupe utility would be a shocker.
Matt we are talking Utes here not a nuclear space craft going to Mars.
Blending the body and bed do not take a lot of advanced technology here.
I will give you the Holden is the best on the market.
GM could build one tomorrow but the reality is out side of Australia there is little market for these vehicles. Even down under you are losing yours.
You need to get a grip on reality. The only reason Holden had the RWD and coupe program was because you were the only market left still buying the RWD platform. As you will see soon the Alpha is replacing it and will take over. Yes it is being built and designed here but it could be done at any GM facility on the planet if they so chose.
Holden has no secret box of technology that no one else has. They are just one of many talented GM design centers that are fully able to do about anything needed. I expect as long as they can contribute globally they will still see work and get to compete for new designs. In this case they RWD Alpha has been moved closer to where it is being built.
I know you are a proud Aussie and that is fine but you need to come to grips of a global auto market and how it really works. Here many Americans understand this and did not look down on the Camaro because it was not designed here. The next one will be and it will matter little too most where it was designed.
I wish the nationalism would still be important but today few people care and with the scale of cost companies no longer pander to it.
Like I said in the other thread that GM of Brazil offered a design for the C7 and that the C8 could be won buy GM of Australia as that is how the system works today.
Might also note these centers move people around often and regularly. The lifers often serve in most of the design centers at one point in their careers.
Matt,
I’ve had opportunity to drive all three generations of the Chevy Montana (South America) and the Opel/Chevy Corsa Ute (Southern Africa). All very capable, handsome, comfortable, economical and responsive front-wheel-drive half-tonners that have been and continue to be amongst the top-selling vehicles on those continents. As far as I’m aware GM Brazil and GM South Africa jointly engineered these very successful vehicles without the need for Holden and Oz involvement.
That said, as a past Holden owner/driver (in Zimbabwe, nee Rhodesia) I for one am very sad to see the end of Australian manufacturing. Let’s just hope the design and engineering centre survives.
The punters aren’t wrong!
Wish we still had the El Camino in US. Take one over a Silverado or Colorado any day. I’ll take the manual version, thank you very much!
I gotta agree with thehofinater. Don’t really need a truck, but one of these would sure come in handy once in a while just to put something in it the car cant handle.
I have very rare 1983 gmc cabrello diesel 5.7 I understand they only produced arround 200 diesels. mi ne has been in our family for 32yrs. a/c 2yrs old heads reworked new vaccum pump. int like new. elec windows,elc door locks,power windows,tilt sterring power stering and power brakes. 135000 original miles. will consider selling if price is right. its starts and runs like 20000 mile car