Hello. I am new to this forum and the El Camino. I am a Chevy enthusiast though. Anyway, I'll get right to it. I have located an 81 El Camino Conquista Royal Night. The truck has been setting up for at least 15 years. It is brown in color. The body is in good shape. I found a small dent in the driver side wheel well, and the front bumper seems to have been shifted over to the drivers side by 1-1 1/2". There is no rust, but it would need to be repainted. The interior is in really good shape as well only needing a good detailing. There are no cracks in the dash. The conquista emblem looks great and so does the bow tie centered on the steering wheel. It has the wood grain accents which I'm guessing are fake, but they look great too. The engine compartment is where the mess is located. It looks like the owner wad attempting to work on it and just gave up. But again, other than the mess there are no problems aesthetically and no rust. So, my questions are; What is an estimated value for this vehicle as is? If motor, brakes, a/c, need major work, say $2000 worth would this still be a wise purchase from a strictly making money point of view if I could get it for $500. I'm really considering fixing it up as a first car/ truck for my son, but I don't want to loose out if he decides he doesn't want it. Thanks in advance for any input whatsoever.
g body value questions
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Re: g boby value questions
If you end up having to flip it I would say no but it also depends on what part of the country you are in. If the engine needs major work you will go over the 2K budget very quick. Brakes also depending on what it needs you can put anywhere from a couple hunded to nearly 1K if everything including lines needs replaced. Also depends on how much of the work you and your son can do.
If you end up having to flip it I would say no but it also depends on what part of the country you are in. If the engine needs major work you will go over the 2K budget very quick. Brakes also depending on what it needs you can put anywhere from a couple hunded to nearly 1K if everything including lines needs replaced. Also depends on how much of the work you and your son can do.
Re: g boby value questions
I will do the work myself. I was thinking of putting a $1500 350sbc in instead of the 305. I have a friend who can help with the a/c. So really only parts and a lot of time. So maybe $3000 tops. I live in Louisiana, and there are a lot of people here who really love El Camino's. Value?
I will do the work myself. I was thinking of putting a $1500 350sbc in instead of the 305. I have a friend who can help with the a/c. So really only parts and a lot of time. So maybe $3000 tops. I live in Louisiana, and there are a lot of people here who really love El Camino's. Value?
Re: g boby value questions
Yeah, value has been discussed, and it really ends up just being what someone is willing to pay for it. My feeling is along the lines of the previous posters. It's hard to get a car like this, put the money into it to make it presentable and nice, and then make a profit, or even retain all of the investment. The original plan with my car was to do it strictly on a budget. Even at this rate, it wouldn't be worth as much as I put into it. Now that I've gone a little further and started improvements without an eye towards budget, it's worth probably half of what I have into it. But I didn't build it to retain money or make a profit, I built it because I wanted to, and what I have now is a car I love.
With the El Camino, I seriously doubt you'll have a good investment money-wise. BUT, maybe the time spent with your son fixing the car up is something that you'll both enjoy and you'll make some good memories. Entertainment, in the form of auto restoration. From this angle, it's hard to imagine it being a bad investment.
Yeah, value has been discussed, and it really ends up just being what someone is willing to pay for it. My feeling is along the lines of the previous posters. It's hard to get a car like this, put the money into it to make it presentable and nice, and then make a profit, or even retain all of the investment. The original plan with my car was to do it strictly on a budget. Even at this rate, it wouldn't be worth as much as I put into it. Now that I've gone a little further and started improvements without an eye towards budget, it's worth probably half of what I have into it. But I didn't build it to retain money or make a profit, I built it because I wanted to, and what I have now is a car I love.
With the El Camino, I seriously doubt you'll have a good investment money-wise. BUT, maybe the time spent with your son fixing the car up is something that you'll both enjoy and you'll make some good memories. Entertainment, in the form of auto restoration. From this angle, it's hard to imagine it being a bad investment.
Re: g boby value questions
It seems to me that people are paying decent money for El Camino's of the same era. This one is in good shape, and has to be at least somewhat rare. Does anyone know were I can find trim package specific production numbers? Based on what I have seen through research, it should be worth between$1000-3000 to the right enthusiast. If I was going to sell it, I would do so without dumping money into it. From past experiences I know that once you start repairs, or modifications, chances are that the value of the vehicle will only marginally go up from an outsiders perspective, but will be worth a lot sentimentally for me. I have been a car lover since childhood, and most likely will always be one. My son likes the truck. Now I just have to convince the ol' lady. Anyway, thanks.
It seems to me that people are paying decent money for El Camino's of the same era. This one is in good shape, and has to be at least somewhat rare. Does anyone know were I can find trim package specific production numbers? Based on what I have seen through research, it should be worth between$1000-3000 to the right enthusiast. If I was going to sell it, I would do so without dumping money into it. From past experiences I know that once you start repairs, or modifications, chances are that the value of the vehicle will only marginally go up from an outsiders perspective, but will be worth a lot sentimentally for me. I have been a car lover since childhood, and most likely will always be one. My son likes the truck. Now I just have to convince the ol' lady. Anyway, thanks.
Re: g boby value questions
$500 sounds like a good buy for the basic vehicle. A good vehicle for you and your son to work on together, relatively safe for him to drive, and small enough that he can't cram 12 of his friends inside
Like said above, you can part it out for way more than $500. I'd say a no-brainer!
$500 sounds like a good buy for the basic vehicle. A good vehicle for you and your son to work on together, relatively safe for him to drive, and small enough that he can't cram 12 of his friends inside
Like said above, you can part it out for way more than $500. I'd say a no-brainer!Thanks for the post. That's what I needed to know. now I can feel comfortable about buying a vehicle.
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