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
IIRC, the only difference is the name. Probably came off the same assembly line. I don’t think GM called it the gay caballero and that’s a phrase that probably resounds with us who are older. In other words, doubt any kids will mind driving it at all. If the daughter doesn’t want it, just send it to my house.
I have to believe that somewhere there’s a car collector that has both a GMC Caballero and a Dodge Dude.
http://www.dodgedude.com/
Yes, they came off of the same assembly lines. The only differences were the badges. I think they even used the same grille.
That looks more like an Armadillo edition.
Shouldn’t the Amarillo edition be painted yellow? ;)
Come to think of it, special Texas edition cars and trucks might make a nice topic for a post.
……….and, oddly enough, the Beaumont could sneak in on that topic,too!
In this case and context Caballero = gentleman.
Nice find!
Looks like all the car needs is a good interior detailing, and it’ll make it for the daughter to drive; perhaps new interior carpeting may be in order! (Though I thought I spied a little rust on the inside door posts–they need to stay on top of that!)
Was the driver riding side saddle?
And we call this “gay” because…?
It’s from a song popularized by Disney. Go to youtube and type in “Three Caballeros”
EDIT: And also from an old movie title it seems…
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Gay_Caballero
because some insecure white men still think gay jokes are appropriate…
They probably make Black jokes, Polish jokes and Rape jokes, too.
We only make blonde jokes nowadays. Got to live with the times, eh!
Give it a rest, The Gay Caballero was a movie. Folks are always looking for a way to be offended. Nice stereotype of white men, pot meet kettle.
Since I’m on of the the so-called “insecure white men” in question (actually, I’m Jewish so I guess if Arabs are “brown” or “people of color”, since Arabs and Jews are genetic cousin I guess I can claim to be beige, or at least swarthy, even though I’m really a redhead. If Elizabeth Warren can be a Cherokee, I can be a person of color) I’ll respond.
First, lighten up Francis.
Do you complain about the original Seinfeld NTTAWWT episode, since it’s essentially one long “gay joke”? The car is called the Caballero, there’s a phrase that probably predates the movie, “The Gay Caballero”, using the original meaning of gay, though in late ’40s Hollywood, where there were plenty of closeted gays, the title was probably ironic. If you asked 100 people who are my age what word goes with “caballero”, they’d probably say “gay”. It’s like seeing the word “hussy” without it being preceded by “shameless”. “Gay” and “Caballero” go together like ketchup and French fries, ham & eggs, and mashed potatoes and schmaltz (hat tip to Bryan Ferry & Roxy Music). Roxy was popular with gays, it was rumored that they used a transsexual model on one of their album covers. Does the fact that I like Roxy Music give me any cred with gay activists?
So I decided to use the familiar phrase (we like clever headlines around TTC) and realized that adding the Seinfeldian fillip fit perfectly.
Too bad the language scolds don’t agree.
As for your allegation that I probably make black jokes, Polish jokes and rape jokes, I’m tempted to say that I don’t joke about blacks, I joke about n***ers, just to annoy you, but I suppose that only Chris Rock or someone with as much melanin as he has can get away with that. It seems to me, though, that the “Black jokes, Polish jokes and Rape jokes” that you find so objectionable would have to somehow be disparaging of the ethnic group to be truly hateful. Since it was a joke about the word “gay”, and said not a thing about gays, lesbians, bisexuals, transgendered folks, or those who are just sexually confused, it was perfectly appropriate.
BTW, I heartily recommend Myron Cohen, a comedian who specialized in dialect humor.
Don’t worry about it. forraymond hasn’t been around in months or years and only showed up then to peddle the SJW narrative.
My fiancee’s grandfather has one of these, looks like an early 80s example. It’s not in terrible shape, but some idiot put a tonneau cover on it and there’s a crooked line of rusty metal snap-on buttons running down each side of the bed.
It drives and handles like hell. With old GM products it’s uncertain if it’s SUPPOSED to be behaving like that.
I had the station wagon version of this. I’m pretty sure the answer to both is yes.
Car companies should bring back the traditional station wagon and also the Ranchero/El Camino as an alternative to these trucks, SUVs and CUVs.
The market is searching for something like this but it isn’t really made.
I’ve been wanting a G-body El-Camino for decades, my wife says if I bring one home it’s instant divorce. I said at least then I’ll have something to carry my stuff in when I leave!
Given that now an average pickup truck is the size of a school bus, it may be time for ‘utes’ to reappear in the market.
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!
I sure don’t have the answers to your questions and don’t know if this is an 85. If this link comes through I just googled 85 gmc cabarillo amarillo. Obviously some here are not. Anyway, here is the link (I hope):
https://www.google.com/search?as_st=y&tbm=isch&as_q=85+GMC+Caballero+Amarillo&as_epq=&as_oq=&as_eq=&cr=&as_sitesearch=&safe=images&tbs=ift:jpg&gws_rd=ssl#as_st=y&tbs=ift:jpg&tbm=isch&q=85+GMC+Caballero+Amarillo+interior