CRATE 350 V8, AUTO, R134A A/C, PWR FRNT DISCS, PWR STEER, SUPERCLEAN CONQUISTA!!

We sell a lot of El Caminos here at Streetside Classics, and most are solid, clean cars like this 1983 Chevrolet El Camino Conquista. Not trying to be anything other than a well-preserved old car, it offers plenty of power from a 350 cubic inch V8, an upscale interior, and that fantastic practicality for which El Caminos are rightfully famous.Repainted in 2011 in what appears to be its original two-tone blue color combination, this very stock-looking Elky reminds us that they weren't all SS models. Someone did a great job on the finish work, because there aren't many 25-year-old cars that clean up this well, and it's pretty obvious that this was never a working-class truck. It does show a few signs of use, but that's inevitable on a vehicle that's built to drive, but you can tell that it has been someone's special hobby car for weekend use only for quite a long time. The two-tone blue will look good forever and doesn't have that dated look that some early '80s cars offer, and with bright bumpers, stainless trim around the fender arches, and a set of bed rails, there's plenty of eye candy to make it appealing. And speaking of the bed, it's protected with a rubber mat so you can still put heavy stuff in there, and the lift-up vinyl tonneau cover essentially makes it the world's largest weatherproof trunk.Cloth upholstery makes this El Camino luxury car comfortable and a whole host of luxury options means you can use it every day and not feel like you're driving an old car. The woodgrained steering wheel appears to be the only notable deviation from stock, but it is a welcome change that warms up the interior nicely. Options include A/C, a tilt steering column, cruise control, and a remote driver's mirror. We're guessing that almost everything inside has been replaced at some point, including the seat covers, door panels, dash pad, and carpets, simply because it looks too good and too fresh to be circa 1983. The radio is a newer AM/FM/CD head unit that fits neatly in the original slot and a woodgrained applique on the dash makes this particular El Camino feel upscale. Heavy-duty floor mats protect the carpets and there's a custom speaker box tucked behind the seats.At some point, this Elky received a heart transplant, now running a 350 cubic inch crate motor that's a neat fit and provides considerably more power than the original 305. An Edelbrock 4-barrel carburetor and matching aluminum intake surely add some horsepower and give it great throttle response without turning it into something that's too high-strung to drive. A few dress-up pieces make it look a little better than stock and it's always nice to see the factory hardware being reinstalled, because it retains the original wiring, hoses, and A/C system (now using R134a refrigerant). The transmission is a familiar TH350 3-speed automatic feeding a 10-bolt rear end, which seems to have highway gears inside because this is an effortless high-speed cruiser. A single exhaust system has a muted sound that suits this refined El Camino just fine and one glance at the undercarriage will convince you that this car has never spent any time in the snow. Factory Rally wheels look sporty and carry 205/75/14 Yokohama rubber that rides and handles great.Not a rare car, not a big horsepower piece, but you don't often see an El Camino this clean, this well sorted, and this ready to use without a big price tag. Take this one home today!