Auctions have changed over the years. They used to be places where you’d go to get a good deal. Now, thanks to the hot TV lights of Barrett-Jackson on a Saturday night, auctions seem to be a place where you go so you can show your golf buddies how much you hate money. Nevertheless, my contention is that even at a place like Barrett-Jackson, there are deals to be had if you’re willing to see what’s going across the block early on a Tuesday, rather than when Speed is in the house. That’s the idea behind this feature: to find the cars that are selling at the big auctions for not a whole lot of money. Our first example comes from this past weekend’s Mecum Auction in Kansas City.
Colonnade El Caminos and GMC Sprints are an acquired taste, especially these late editions. The earlier cars have a bit of a following, but the stacked headlight El Camino Classics from 1977 — just a year before the changeover to the much lighter, probably more appreciated, downsized A-Body El Caminos — aren’t exactly setting the world on fire. But any El Camino brings decent money today, especially one in relatively clean condition with a 350. The “Classic” trim level was the top of the line for 1977. This one claims to have leather interior, but if it’s in fact leather, it came from the aftermarket. You could get cloth or vinyl in an El Camino.
As with anything, you’d want to get a close look underneath it before deciding to buy, but with just 89,000 miles, $6,750 (not including the buyer’s premium) seems like fair money. Like a lot of good deals you find at classic car auctions, this one crossed the block last Thursday with a super-low lot number of T16, just the fourth car sold that day.
So what do you think: For seven grand, would you pick it or pass it up?
If I was a Chevy guy that liked El Caminos I’d most likey jump all over it.
But I’m not a Chevy guy and I hate El Caminos worse than I do Camaros so pass.
Pass … While it is likely a good value at that price, there are other vehicles that I’d rather put the money toward.
Since my son just LOVES El Caminos I’d probably grab it and go on the hunt for a Laguna nose to retro-fit and a set of tires that do not resemble pizza cutters.
Consider that I am a huge Colonnade fan myself and all things start to come into perspective.
I love it! $7k is definitely worth it.
I think thats a fair price. I actually bout a brand new with 3 miles, from Brown and Brown Chevrolet in Mesa Az. It was loaded and even had a beautiful blue color with a white top. I loved that car. My 1st new car. Came home for the weekend from Camp Pendleton in the Marines. I paid $6600.
I would jump all over that. I had one in the cream / copper two tone…383 SB with quite a few goodies…tonneau, built 350 auto…deep dish alums w/Cooper Cobra RWL 60 series….thrush exhaust…highway cruiser with tall gears…could bury the crazy 110 speedo in second gear…high 14’s with full dress & reese hitch…just a fun cruiser…sold it in ’88…sold again in ’92 to someone in the Buffalo area…I was in Pittsburgh with it. Love to have it back!! Later built an 85. small body..black…needed to sell it for health reasons at the time….the new owner completed the rebuild with all my parts….nice & a little faster that he older one.
Its a score, I love colonade cars and if it wasnt for the road salt Id drive it every day. You cant go wrong,its mint and no car payments.
pass. Add in the sales commission, some transportation and some minor repairs and you have well over $8k invested. NEVER going to get your money back on that one. Not the style that folks desire. And El Caminos are not as easy to sell as you may think. I know…I try to earn a living selling old vehicles.
nice elco, reasonable price, not my favorite but someone did OK, used to sell collectables, some cars you sell are not for investment value, most people just want a nice car without getting in to deep
nice elcamino reasonable price, not my favorite but someone did OK, used to sell collectables, some cars you sell are not for investment value, most people just want a nice car without getting in to deep
OK deal, used to sell collectables, not everyone buys a car for investment, most just want a nice a nice ride without getting in too deep
sorry about multiple comments, thought they were not getting through, please delete a couple of them, was just impatient