Well, I joined the elcaminocentral forum about a week ago and yesterday I bought my first El Camino. It is a 1983 automatic with AC, radio with tape player, sport mirrors, bed liner, bed rails, locking wire wheels, dual exhaust, trailer hitch, guages, etc. It is a two tone light and dark brown, but it actually looks more like bronze. The car originally came with the 350 diesel engine, but the 2nd owner replaced it with a '88 307 Olds gasoline engine in 1990. Since it was a diesel car, it has the larger 22 gallon fuel tank. I am the 4th owner and I have all the documentation for the car for the last 12 years - receipts and everything! I also got the original owner's manual, the 1983 brochure, and the Chilton's manual.

Needless to say, I am very excited!!!

slim33slim,
Welcome to the adventurous world of El Caminos. Sounds like you've found a nice one.

Congratulations and welcome to the board ! 8)

Sound like a real nice car. Got any pictures?

You probably have all the heavy duty parts since it was a diesel, 4-core radiator, better brakes, bigger bearings in the front. I was looking at a wagon that used to be a diesel and it had some kind of pump to run the brake booster????????

I heard one time that cars with a diesel titles are not required to be inspected. Anyone else heard this before?

I love my elky although it needs to be restored. But I almost traded it one time but changed my mind at the last minute. There's just something about El Caminos!

Congrats!!! Now let the fun begin :D Your lucky to find one that still has the bed rails on it, for some reason people took those off a lot of the time :?

i took mine off, i tought they looked a little dumb, and i would never use them

Thanks everyone. I'm sure I'll be visiting this Forum quite often.

As for inspections, we don't have them any more in South Carolina. :D

I have about 18 pictures of the car at this web site:
http://www.dotphoto.com/go.asp?l=sk18463&p=my8388&AID=571820&Pres=Y

Thanks again,
slim33slim

NICE LOOKING CAR MAN!! 8) 8) 8) 8) 8) 8) 8) 8) 8)

Dual Exhaust, Full Dash Gauge pack, Straight body- Looks like you got a sweet ride on your hands! :)

Congrats!!!!!
Ben

Dual Exhaust, Full Dash Gauge pack, Straight body- Looks like you got a sweet ride on your hands!

Ditto...and decent paint too....

Thanks again for the compliments. I do like it! :lol:

congrats, your elky looks mint.

Very nice indeed. Congrats!

I like the fact that it has the rails. As stated many of them have been taken off. People see mine and usually ask if thet are an aftermarket item because they have never seen them before.

JD

Once again, thanks for the compliments :!:

I really just stumbled upon the car while talking to a friend who has a '79 El Camino. He told me he recently saw one a few miles from his house and that I should check it out. Both he and I were so impressed with the car that my wife and I went to drive it the next day. Two days later, I drove the car home along with about 12 years worth of documentation, receipts, etc.

Being part of this Forum has definitely added to my enjoyment of the car too!

Great looking El Camino. I just bought a 83 myself. Mine is not in nearly as good of shape as yours. I didn't give that much for it. It is going to take some work to get it as good as yours. Congratulations!!

[/img]Very clean,sweet looking ride. Congratulations