Look What I Found: A Gay Caballero – NTTAWWT
I don’t think I’ll make a series out of it but this is the second time this summer that I spotted a car in a car show parking lot that wasn’t what it first appeared to be. When you go to an American Motors Owners meet, you expect to see some uncommon cars, so I wasn’t surprised to see what I at first thought was a mid 1980s Chevy El Camino parked off to the side. When I got close enough to read the trucklet’s badging I realized that it was even more uncommon. It had a Spanish name like the El Camino but it came from different GM division than Chevrolet.
For the most part, GMC dealers got there own versions of Chevy trucks but it wasn’t until 1971 that GMC got a version of the El Camino, which had been a part of Chevy’s lineup since the late 1950s (except for ’61-’64). At first the GMC ute was called the Sprint but for the 1978 model year the car was renamed Caballero, Spanish for horseman, cowboy or gentleman depending on context and locale. Like the El Camino, the Caballero is essentially a Chevelle/Malibu with a load bed instead of a back seat and a trunk. To make that bed a practical size, the GM utes were built on the Chevelle station wagon’s 117″ wheelbase, 9″ longer than the sedan’s.
This ’86 is an Amarillo model, a mid level trim line equivalent to the El Camino’s Conquista package, which mostly consisted of two tone paint and a badge above the glove box. All that Spanish is appropriate for this vehicle, which was made in Mexico. GM switched production for the El Camino & Caballero to south of the border for the 1985 model year, where they were made until the model was discontinued after the ’87 MY. This is a fairly rare car, at least compared to its Chevy cousins. Only 2,795 GMC Caballeros were made for the ’86 model year, compared to 21,508 El Caminos. Because the exposed bed is integral to the rest of the body, utes tend to rust quicker than comparable sedans. After more than 25 years, those 2,795 Caballeros have to have had their numbers significantly reduced by the tin worm. It’s not as rare as the SD396 Beaumont (think Canadian SS396 Chevelle with a Pontiac nose and a GTO dashboard) that I saw a few weeks earlier at a concours, but still rare enough to collect and treasure, and the current owner and his family certainly treasure the car.
As you can see from the stuff inside the car, it’s still being used regularly. During the summer the owner uses it as a daily driver, saying that the 4.3 L V6 powered Caballero gets acceptable mileage and that the bed still comes in handy.
It’s not in perfect condition, there are some chips and scratches, but it’s a solid original car (the wheels are stock Chevrolet, but they came from a Monte Carlo) that I’m pretty sure will get passed on to the kids who accompanied their dad to the AMC show. His grade school daughter told me that she’ll drive it when she’s old enough. Dad beamed.
An oddball car at an oddball car show. The other day I asked if young people will embrace the car collecting hobby. What do you think the chances are that a kid who gets driven to an American Motors car show in a GMC Caballero will end up driving something as boring as a Camry?
More photos at Cars In Depth.
Ronnie Schreiber edits Cars In Depth, a realistic perspective on cars & car culture and the original 3D car site. If you found this post worthwhile, you can dig deeper at Cars In Depth. If the 3D thing freaks you out, don’t worry, all the photo and video players in use at the site have mono options. Thanks for reading – RJS
Ronnie Schreiber edits Cars In Depth, the original 3D car site.
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Longtime ElCamino and Caballero owner here. I bought a SuperSport brand new in 1978 when the new down sized body debuted in late 77.LM1 350 with a four gear. Three pedals and a bench seat.1978 was the only year for that combo. I was probably the very first dude on the 3rd stone to race one in Solo2. Damn good with it too I might add. I could only run locally because of Francis' cousins whinning about the 117" wheelbase being to long according to the SCCA rulebook.BTW clearify your statement. This Caballero or any other 78-87 CarTruck doesn't run on the wagons 108 inch wheelbase. I had to wait 20 years to be the only man to run a G-Body in a Solo2 National event. Ok Ronnie. Strap on your Nomex. Everything you wrote about this truck is incorrect. First off this aint no 1986. I'm guessing, no I'm saying this truck is from the year of Orwell. 1984. Unless the guy did a lot of customizing. First off those wheels are from a 86-88 MonteCarloSS. Go to one of the FanBoy sites or check out the pics on AutoTrader or eBay and even a blind guy can tell the differences between the years.That front spoiler was owner added.Wrong mirrors,wrong radio,wrong back window moldings,wrong gauges.....and wrong engine.84 would still be Chevy 229 or Buick 231. Heck maybe there is a SBC or heaven forbid a 5.7 diesel under the bonnet! Amarillo a mid level trim package? What was the upper level? Oh and I bet this wasn't even screwed together in Ramos Arizpe. Maybe Arlington TX? I bet now you're wishing you would have stayed with an ethnic joke. Hey here's a joke that will get your panties in a bunch. Q:What do you call Texans? A:Mexicans on their way to Oklahoma! You know it's funny when you go to a car show and not even the owner knows what they have. One of my current rides is a 80 GMC Diablo with a 305 and 4 gear. No production numbers exist but if I had to guess I'd say GM built less than 40 with this powertrain in the Caballero.How did I pull that figure out of my Tocus? I took one percent of the 4,000 and change Caballeros GMC kicked out in 1980.Now that's rare! Now maybe you'd like to humor me and rewrite your story. I know it would be more interesting(and entertaining) the second time around.
This is cool. My father recently purchased an 85 Caballero Amarillo. The previous owner repainted it and left off most of the badging. Can someone help me with a good source for where to buy these? Also, the Amarillo emblem on the dash is missing. Were the hand rails on the bed (that are in these pictures) were they factory installed on an 1985? Sorry for all the questions, I'm new with this cars and want to help my dad get his back to factory! Thanks all!