In the decade plus since I started this blog I have worked on three separate El Camino posts. I’m finally publishing one today.
“There’s nothing quite like it.”
In its final year, the Chevrolet El Camino received few changes. The standard engine remained the LB4 145 bhp 4.3 liter/262 ci V6 with electronic fuel injection. The LG4 150 bhp 5.0 liter/305 ci V8 with a four-barrel carburetor was a $440 option, but it’s unclear whether it made much of a performance difference—0-60 likely came in about 11 seconds. Both engines were paired with a three-speed automatic transmission, with an available four-speed automatic ($175).
Period fuel economy ratings for the four power combinations tell an interesting story:
| 4.3 liter V6 | 5.0 liter V8 | |
| Three-speed automatic | 18 city/22 highway | 15 city/17 highway |
| Four-speed automatic | 18 city/23 highway | 16 city/22 highway |
The short form seems to be that, if you had to have the V8 and you wanted to do some highway driving, you should really get the four-speed automatic. With a 17.7-gallon gas tank, the best-case range was about 305 to 325 miles with a 10% reserve—the V8/three-speed combination was more like 230 to 255 miles.
The 1987 El Camino’s base price was $10,013—about $29,400 in today’s dollars, which is almost what a base 2025 Chevrolet Colorado pickup truck goes for. Standard exterior and mechanical equipment included power steering, power front disk/rear drum brakes, and P205/75R14 black sidewall all-season steel-belted radial tires (a size still available) on painted wheels with bright full wheel covers. Inside, a full-width cloth front bench seat with a pull-down center armrest, cut-pile carpeting, and a lighted glove box were standard.
Considered a separate model, the $10,344 El Camino SS Sport Decor added a choice of eight lower body accent colors emphasized by a pin-striping decal, a large front air dam, matching dual aero-type mirrors with a left-hand remote, black quarter window moldings, and painted Rally wheels.
Packages, Options, & Production Numbers
The $238 Conquista package included two-tone paint separated with bright moldings, along with a Conquista decal on the tailgate.
The SS Choo Choo package was available. Choo Choo Customs started with regular El Caminos fitted with Rally wheels and sport mirrors and replaced the stock El Camino fascia with a polyurethane nose similar to the one found on Chevrolet’s Monte Carlo SS Sport Coupe. Decals were placed on the tailgate, doors, and nose, and a specific plaque was added to the dash.
Exterior and mechanical options include Soft-Ray tinted glass ($120), halogen headlamps ($25), a limited slip differential ($100), a sport suspension ($16), and a 22-gallon fuel tank ($29). Inside, reclining front cloth bucket seats ($147 and available with a $110 console), a Comfortilt steering wheel ($125), electronic speed control ($175), air conditioning ($775), power door locks ($145), and power windows ($210) were available. Six different radios were available, ranging from an AM radio ($122) up to an AM stereo/FM stereo with cassette, seek and scan, search and repeat, graphic equalizer, and clock ($579). A well-equipped El Camino could easily get to $12,900 or so—about $37,900 in today’s dollars.
With 15,589 sold, the El Camino was a mere 1.3% of Chevrolet’s production in 1987. This wasn’t actually far off from 1986’s numbers, but was a pronounced decline from the halcyon days of the early 1980s—Chevrolet had sold 40,932 El Caminos in 1980.
The View From 2025
I’ve liked this El Caminos since they debuted. El Caminos have always been attractive to collectors, and the eighties versions are no exception. These trucks often appear for sale in the Hemming’s Motor News classifieds, on eBay Motors, and on Bring a Trailer. According to Hagerty‘s valuation tools, a 1987 El Camino Conquista with the V8 in #1/Concours condition is $29,400, with a more normal #3/Good condition truck going for $10,200. The SS and SS Choo-Choo versions are worth more, but not much more.
Make mine Silver Metallic over Dark Maroon Metallic, please. That makes it a Conquista.
Other 1987 Chevrolets I have written about include the Caprice Classic coupe and the Chevette CS hatchback sedan. Other Chevrolet trucks and SUVs covered in Eighties Cars include the 1983 S-10 Blazer SUV, the 1985 C20 Suburban Silverado SUV, the 1985 K5 Blazer SUV, and the 1985 S-10 pickup truck.
Last updated October 2025.
Eighties Cars 