Hey everyone!

Well, I thought it would be kinda cool to see what everyone thinks of my El Camino and how much it's worth. She's quite a machine, and best of all, everything's original. Let me tell you about it:

Lucas' 1987 El Camino:
-Original paint - Blue with Silver underpanels. The blue kind of seems like a green under certain light.
- Original 305ci 5.0L V8 Engine with all original components, never rebuilt.
- Original matching blue interior with Vinyl 3-seat bench.
- All original electronics including power everything. Everything works, including the lights, AM/FM/Cassette player, etc..
- New windshield whipers, but I still have the originals.
- Original wheels. I have some plain-jane black wheels on at the moment, but the originals go on for shows.
- Original TIRES! I can't believe I managed to get them. Best of all, they're in great condition, they can be driven quite a bit for a show. I currently have some Aurora White Walls on.
- 26933 ORIGINAL MILES!
- I can't think of anything else important to mention. Bottom line, it's original. :cool:

The only components of this 'Camino that aren't original are the belts, the hosing, and the battery, which is an AC Delco of a similar year. Definitely an oldie. The condition is near perfect, with only a handful of MINOR scratches which I may be compounding in the near future. The is NO rot of any kind. I'm planning on posting pictures for you guys soon, but I can't seem to upload them into the member directory... I don't know how. :-(

Anyway, let me know what you think. -Lucas

EDIT: I also have the original warranty information, owner's manual, and service schedule book. In addition to those, I have the original key set, key set copies, key chain, etc.. You name it, I got it. -L

This might give you an idea if your car is comparable to theirs.

http://www.bethanykars.com/

Whoa! Nearly $25,000 for a 5th Gen! Don't you think those asking prices are a tad high. I've seen '87 5th Gens that appear to be as nice for less than 1/2 what they are asking.

Oh..back to your car Ass (can't say A**, it's censored), I can call you Ass? seeings as how we're almost brothers (in the great El Camino clan). That is one honey of an Elky, a genuine El Conquistado-re-me it is? Low mileage, original dry-rotted 17 year old tires, original worn out wiper blades and of course all the "you-name-it-I-got-it" stuff is great too.
All kidding aside you did find a very nice car but if you read posts on this forum it seems that nearly everyone modifies the 5th Gens. The real fun in owning the 5th Gens is making them into something the factory couldn't or wouldn't. The 5th Gens weren't particularly powerful, didn't handle especially well, had marginal brakes--well you get it; they can be much more than the way they were built. All 5th Gen Elkys are what I call Special Interest Enthusiast Cars, you ain't gonna find them on the auction block at Barrett-Jackson anytime soon, but they will continue to increase in value. Enjoy your original factory correct Elky, but when you get tired of it and want to step up to the next level read the posts on this forum; these guys have "been there-done that" and have real world experience. Good luck and congrats!

You know I can't believe that a** is censored, that word is in the Bible for Chriss sake. But we have pictures of Daily Babes that make my father (who was in the Navy and saw a lot of things he shouldn't have) blush. Sheesh!

I agree with mrappi most of us try to buil our 5th generation Elky's the way Chevy SHOULD HAVE! :evil: But then we would not have had the fun. Now not all the 5th generation Elky's are the same; and thats how it should be. $.02

an all original low miles fith gen elky? A rare find, but boring to say the least. It probably isn't worth as much as a "tricked" out one unless you can find the right person who wants it. The only Elky's that have value in their original state are late 60's early 70's SS, and factory big blocks. Otherwise fifth gen's are indeed a rare find with low miles, but I'm not sure of their collectable value? Good luck with it!

I met an "old guy" at a car show last month who had an '87 Choo-Choo.

-36,000 miles
-Original Paint (in need of new paint though it was still presentable)
-Original Owner
-No rust whatsoever
-Garaged since new
-Never smoked in
-Perfect Interior
-Original Paperwork
-Bed looked like new!, had bed cover and stupid rails (yuk)

Asking Price--------------$13,000 FIRM, for me I feel $11,500 would be a more than fair price and would of gladly paid $11,500 IF I would of had that money to toss around. With a new paint job I could see the asking price of this car go out of sight. Color was black.

8) $5 with a full tank of gas. I joke I kidd but seriously I bet you can get more cash for that car is you keep it all origional. Later- Matt

I hope that some people keep their 5th Gens factory correct because sometime in the future these cars may become valuable as museum pieces. As for right now there is no doubt that a properly "restofied" 5th Gen is as valuable and in some cases more valuable than a primo stocker.

about 20 months ago, i bought my first el camino. also, it was my dream car. any el camino, ever since i was a kid, the el camino was beautiful. it's an 81 Conquista, and I love her. bought her in great shape, but she is my daily, so it's worn down a bit. (paint, and a few dings have appeared on my molding) nonetheless, i was on a mission to keep her as stock as possible, and even more beautiful, but over time; the engine has got to go. as far as i know, there's only the 267 and 305 offered in the 81. i love my 267, and i have much faith that in a long period of time, having that origional engine will be worth something, i'm still so ready to drop in a 350. to call it short, in my opinion, a 5th generation isn't old enough to be worth much right now, but if you can keep it garaged and looking good, in a while it's gonna be something really nice. for me though, i think i gotta do something to it.

and as far as asking prices, it's not worth more than $2000, but it'd take at least $12,000 to get me to sell. she's way too sexy for me to give up that easily.

I wouldn't say a 5th Gen isn't worth anything--tell that to Bethany Cars they think the're worth $25,000. I am very familiar with early Corvettes and Tri-5 Chevys. With the Corvettes a numbers matching factory correct Vette will always be more valuable. The Tri-5 Chevys (except maybe Nomads and convertibles) don't lose any value when tastefully "restofied", in fact they are usually more valuable. I don't think 5th Gens will ever be a collectable car in the same vein as early Vettes, mainly because theer are so many of them. I bought my Elky to drive and as I've made improvements in horsepower output, handling and braking it is way more fun to drive than when it was stock.

Well those seem like mighty high numbers for a car that is not that far out of production, especially an 87 model. I gave $300.00 and if I were buying one now, here in Texas, I'd expect to pay no more than 2,000.00 if its all factory and in execlent shape and the price would go down depending on the "custom work" or "Modifications" that has been done.

I am actually suprised at the price. I would expect to pay something like that for a 3rd gen Camino which falls into the Muscle Car era but not a 5th generation Elky.

I agree with ElkyPete, I gave 3000 for mine "up here in the north" because it was an unmolested one owner that had been garage kept since new. Only had normal parking lot dings and the guy had just had a new interior installed which gave me a good place to start my modifications to make it what I want. I will drive it and enjoy it as that is the only "value" a car has to me. I drive all my cars---I collect models.................Dan

Hasn't Bethany Cars been sround for sometime? Somebody must be paying those crazy high prices or are the final prices much less? Looking at E-Bay, Old Car Price Guide, local papers and other internet sales I find it hard to believe that any 5th Gen regardless of condition is worth more than $10,000-$12,000.