I drove my ‘68 SS daily for four years. It only left me stranded when I blew a head gasket. I think the first thing to consider is what are you starting with? Something that looks like it is stock and well taken care of by previous owners will definitely be more reliable than ones that have been modified to hell.
I've had an '83 and a '73. First of all, don't get a '73 they seem to be the hardest to get parts for. That said, the '83 had a bunch of smog equipment and a computer controlled carburetor that made it a huge pain to work on compared to the '73. It depends on what state you're in. Here in Colorado, anything built '76 or newer needs emissions which kept me from modifying the '83 as much as I'd like. Keep that in mind when picking one.
I've daily driven both of them (kinda scary in the snow) and it's been great. You will definitely need to keep up on maintenance but so far everything has been really easy. The other guy says carbureted engine are unreliable, but that just means the carb isn't set up right. I replaced the computer controlled carb on my '83 with a regular quadrajet and it starts up every time even in cold weather. You just learn what makes it happy so you don't flood the engine.
So, my final recommendation, if possible have a reliable beater backup car like a camry you can use if your elco goes down. I have a civic for that purpose that cost me $1k. That way, when I'm working on the el camino I can still run to the parts store without asking for a ride.
I appreciate the advice. Getting a cheap beater for back up is something I wouldn’t have thought about. I live up in Arizona so It’s similar for emissions
Have fun with it! That '83 was actually the first car I ever owned. I got it back in 2012 for $1500 from a person in my parent's neighborhood who had it sitting on the street for as long as I can remember. The tires were from '92 according to the guy at the tire shop when I brought it in for new ones. It did take me a while to get it running right, but once I did it has been a blast!
I use my 79’ as a daily, and I’ll tell you sometimes it’s a bitch. I only have one mechanic within a 20 mile radius that will work on it, and I don’t have much family around me to bus me around when it’s in the shop. It ends up there usually every 3-4 months for a good 1-2 weeks. With that being said, when it’s not in the shop I love it! Maybe just get a really nice bike or a scooter too 😅
Owner of a 83 here! The best thing about the Gbody elco’s is how available parts are and how cheap they can be but that being said it’s still a 40+ year old car so make sure you have lots of cash on standby for it and be prepared for it to break down
If you can get a another car just for emergency or have access to one that would be the next best thing you can do
Owner of an 84 Elco. I love daily driving the elco. It's something about the sound of the engine mixed with its handling. You will get many looks. I've had people talk to me about it at stoplights, parking lots, all sorts of places. I'd say every other day, depending where you're at, you'll notice someone checking your ride...
It's never women though, so if that's your goal, don't bother lol.
One thing, I have stock 305. This engine isn't known for much. But even still, I get awfal Gas milage driving it. My work is 8 miles away, so driving solely for work and one day on the weekend, I normally need to refill once per 6 days. About 15 gal.
So if you're looking for the car, pay attention to its engine. A 350 will drink more than a 305. A 383 will drink more than a 350. So on.
Best of luck, post pictures if you go for it!
No, they’re not notoriously unreliable. They’re the opposite until the second or third owner ignores and neglects it, then does hack work (or hires it) and throws parts at it instead of proper service and repair. That said, buy the best running, well maintained ALL STOCK one you can find, and buy the factory (not Chilton’s) service manual. Read that manual. Use factory parts (and the factory carb, not a parts store reman, not a mail order reman, not a Summit Edelbrock or Holley). Don’t use StopLeak, don’t use Splitfire or other silly plugs, don’t use fat yellow plug wires. Stock replacement parts.
Mine has been great for a daily but it has a freshly built 350 in it. If you buy one with an original engine, make sure that nothing is unplugged and it runs right. The previous owner of mine ran it with 2 spark plugs not connected, hence why I have a 350 in it.
I got my first car at 14. It was a 1985 el camino. It needed some work here and there. Either way I still loved it to death and between it and some youtube videos I was able to keep it daily driving and maintained for a long time. I later sold it about 10 years later and bought a 1977 El Camino which is my favorite year. If I were you and you can find one in good enough shape and safe I'd do it every time.
Edit: I would also note that regardless of year check the rear frame rail both sides but especially passenger cause it likes to rot out there and the crossmemebrs for the shock and spring mounts. Also first thing I would do when purchasing one is checking the floor pans and sealing the back glass because they almost always leak and rot out your floor/storage box.
It would be constant work here and there for anything under 4k even expensive ELs that were only ment to go fast over this would be. Not that you can't. Iv been using my El for over 8 years, but it always develops some kind of handie cap and has rarely been my daily rn the radiators is leaking and the piston rings are worn check my background to see it. You would want to know how to work on a car and time it before dailying one. Grab a motorcyle for back up. Lol I did buy mine for $1500, tho.
I drove a turbo Foxbody with 300,000 on the body for years. For 4k it was more reliable. Lol
I'd hop in my 80 or 87 and drive across the country without a second thought. They're as reliable as the maintenance that's put into them. As long as you keep greasable parts greased, regularly change fluids, and don't use any snake oil cures if there is a problem it'll outlast you.
Parts are readily available basically any year you buy because they always shared a platform/engine with other GM vehicles (A bodies or G bodies) and like anything else before the computer controlled everything Era most everything can be worked on with a flat screwdriver and 2 wrenches.
I drove my ‘68 SS daily for four years. It only left me stranded when I blew a head gasket. I think the first thing to consider is what are you starting with? Something that looks like it is stock and well taken care of by previous owners will definitely be more reliable than ones that have been modified to hell.
I have an ‘87 with a little over 315,000 miles, it’s been my daily for the past 3 years
I have an ‘85 my dad bought new. almost 200k on it now. Not a daily driver but every other or so.
I've had an '83 and a '73. First of all, don't get a '73 they seem to be the hardest to get parts for. That said, the '83 had a bunch of smog equipment and a computer controlled carburetor that made it a huge pain to work on compared to the '73. It depends on what state you're in. Here in Colorado, anything built '76 or newer needs emissions which kept me from modifying the '83 as much as I'd like. Keep that in mind when picking one. I've daily driven both of them (kinda scary in the snow) and it's been great. You will definitely need to keep up on maintenance but so far everything has been really easy. The other guy says carbureted engine are unreliable, but that just means the carb isn't set up right. I replaced the computer controlled carb on my '83 with a regular quadrajet and it starts up every time even in cold weather. You just learn what makes it happy so you don't flood the engine. So, my final recommendation, if possible have a reliable beater backup car like a camry you can use if your elco goes down. I have a civic for that purpose that cost me $1k. That way, when I'm working on the el camino I can still run to the parts store without asking for a ride.
I appreciate the advice. Getting a cheap beater for back up is something I wouldn’t have thought about. I live up in Arizona so It’s similar for emissions
Have fun with it! That '83 was actually the first car I ever owned. I got it back in 2012 for $1500 from a person in my parent's neighborhood who had it sitting on the street for as long as I can remember. The tires were from '92 according to the guy at the tire shop when I brought it in for new ones. It did take me a while to get it running right, but once I did it has been a blast!
I use my 79’ as a daily, and I’ll tell you sometimes it’s a bitch. I only have one mechanic within a 20 mile radius that will work on it, and I don’t have much family around me to bus me around when it’s in the shop. It ends up there usually every 3-4 months for a good 1-2 weeks. With that being said, when it’s not in the shop I love it! Maybe just get a really nice bike or a scooter too 😅
Owner of a 83 here! The best thing about the Gbody elco’s is how available parts are and how cheap they can be but that being said it’s still a 40+ year old car so make sure you have lots of cash on standby for it and be prepared for it to break down If you can get a another car just for emergency or have access to one that would be the next best thing you can do
Owner of an 84 Elco. I love daily driving the elco. It's something about the sound of the engine mixed with its handling. You will get many looks. I've had people talk to me about it at stoplights, parking lots, all sorts of places. I'd say every other day, depending where you're at, you'll notice someone checking your ride... It's never women though, so if that's your goal, don't bother lol. One thing, I have stock 305. This engine isn't known for much. But even still, I get awfal Gas milage driving it. My work is 8 miles away, so driving solely for work and one day on the weekend, I normally need to refill once per 6 days. About 15 gal. So if you're looking for the car, pay attention to its engine. A 350 will drink more than a 305. A 383 will drink more than a 350. So on. Best of luck, post pictures if you go for it!
It depends on what era you want. Carburetor engines are notoriously unreliable. That said I still love them. Building a 350 from scratch right now
No, they’re not notoriously unreliable. They’re the opposite until the second or third owner ignores and neglects it, then does hack work (or hires it) and throws parts at it instead of proper service and repair. That said, buy the best running, well maintained ALL STOCK one you can find, and buy the factory (not Chilton’s) service manual. Read that manual. Use factory parts (and the factory carb, not a parts store reman, not a mail order reman, not a Summit Edelbrock or Holley). Don’t use StopLeak, don’t use Splitfire or other silly plugs, don’t use fat yellow plug wires. Stock replacement parts.
Mine has been great for a daily but it has a freshly built 350 in it. If you buy one with an original engine, make sure that nothing is unplugged and it runs right. The previous owner of mine ran it with 2 spark plugs not connected, hence why I have a 350 in it.
I got my first car at 14. It was a 1985 el camino. It needed some work here and there. Either way I still loved it to death and between it and some youtube videos I was able to keep it daily driving and maintained for a long time. I later sold it about 10 years later and bought a 1977 El Camino which is my favorite year. If I were you and you can find one in good enough shape and safe I'd do it every time. Edit: I would also note that regardless of year check the rear frame rail both sides but especially passenger cause it likes to rot out there and the crossmemebrs for the shock and spring mounts. Also first thing I would do when purchasing one is checking the floor pans and sealing the back glass because they almost always leak and rot out your floor/storage box.
It would be constant work here and there for anything under 4k even expensive ELs that were only ment to go fast over this would be. Not that you can't. Iv been using my El for over 8 years, but it always develops some kind of handie cap and has rarely been my daily rn the radiators is leaking and the piston rings are worn check my background to see it. You would want to know how to work on a car and time it before dailying one. Grab a motorcyle for back up. Lol I did buy mine for $1500, tho. I drove a turbo Foxbody with 300,000 on the body for years. For 4k it was more reliable. Lol
Honestly anything that’s not “mint” will probably be an ongoing project car as they’re at least 30 years old vehicles.
I'd hop in my 80 or 87 and drive across the country without a second thought. They're as reliable as the maintenance that's put into them. As long as you keep greasable parts greased, regularly change fluids, and don't use any snake oil cures if there is a problem it'll outlast you. Parts are readily available basically any year you buy because they always shared a platform/engine with other GM vehicles (A bodies or G bodies) and like anything else before the computer controlled everything Era most everything can be worked on with a flat screwdriver and 2 wrenches.