Excepting the notable half-assed attempt by Pontiac with the Grand Prix 2+2, every General Motors’ G-body got a hot version worth giving a shot. Monte Carlo SS, Olds 442, and of course Buick’s wild children in black immediately come to mind. Other versions, like the Buick Turbo Coupe and the 9C1 Malibu, not so much unless you’re in the know. But then there are the two utes that got dolled up for a party, the Chevrolet El Camino Black Knight and the GMC Diablo. Both were dark paint and stripe packages for the Elky and the Caballero, respectively, and in person, both command your attention with hood graphics that hint at Trans Am hood bird inspirations and callouts a-plenty. Sadly, that was pretty much it…you got the 305, automatic, and you were on your way.

Like every other tape-stripe decal car, the look was actually pretty decent, it was just that there was no grunt to go with the looks. That’s a simple fix: more power. For this original four-speed Knight, the fun comes in the form of 427 cubic inches of old-school Rat motor, fitted with a Comp Cams “Mutha Thumpr” bumpstick. Don’t sweat, it’s still drinking 87 octane fuel. You get the benefits of owning a 1980s machine: power windows, power locks, power steering, power disc breaks, and the only thing that isn’t playing along is the fuel gauge in the dash. That’s it. 

But let’s talk about one thing: the meats out back! This is how Pro Street was meant to be: plenty of substance, plenty of power to back up the look. This is an Elky with some serious junk out back, fat tires and all. Yet it’s kind of subtle, if you ignore the gold anodized wheels. There is no cannon exhaust, there’s no unnecessary wheelie bars or hood scoop. In fact, past the tubs and the tonneau cover snaps, this is a perfectly straight El Camino that looks Day Two fresh.

eBay Link: 1980 Chevrolet El Camino Royal Knight