Chevrolet El Camino

Which generation to buy first (1959–1960 vs 1964–1967 vs 1968–1972 vs 1973–1977 vs 1978–1987)

Buy 3 generation (1968–1972) if the question is maximum horsepower and maximum hp per litre. It is the only generation that lists 329 hp (6.5 MT, 6.5 AT) and 457 hp (7.4 MT, 7.4 AT). Even its small V-shaped 8, 5.0 MT / 5.0 AT, is 190 hp — 75 hp above the fourth-generation 5.0 MT / 5.0 AT (115 hp) and 45 hp above the fifth-generation 5.0 MT / 5.0 AT (145 hp).

Buy 3 generation (1968–1972) if the question is maximum horsepower and maximum hp per litre. It is the only generation that lists 329 hp (6.5 MT, 6.5 AT) and 457 hp (7.4 MT, 7.4 AT). Even its small V-shaped 8, 5.0 MT / 5.0 AT, is 190 hp — 75 hp above the fourth-generation 5.0 MT / 5.0 AT (115 hp) and 45 hp above the fifth-generation 5.0 MT / 5.0 AT (145 hp). Front brakes are listed as Disc; layout is Front, longitudinal; drive is RWD.

Buy 1 generation (1959–1960) if you want the strongest 5.7 in the file: 5.7 MT and 5.7 AT are both 335 hp / 246 kW from 5700 cc Gasoline, V-shaped 8 — 165 hp more than fifth-generation Gasoline 5.7 MT / 5.7 AT (170 hp), and 190 hp more than fourth-generation 5.7 MT / 5.7 AT (145 hp). Specific output is 58.77 hp/L, second only to the third-generation 7.4. The trade: front brakes are Drum, not Disc; the Automatics are 2-speed; body years are only 1959–1960.

Buy 2 generation (1964–1967) if you want the only Inline 6 engines and the only 4-speed manuals in later mid-size displacements. 3.2 MT is 120 hp (3200 cc, Gasoline, 6, Inline, Manual, 3 gears). 3.8 MT is 155 hp (3800 cc, Gasoline, 6, Inline, Manual, 3 gears) — 50 hp more than fifth-generation 3.8 MT (105 hp) at the same 3800 cc, or +47.6%. The V-shaped 8 pair 4.6 MT (197 hp, Manual, 4 gears) and 4.6 AT (197 hp, Automatic, 2 gears) sits 24 hp above first-generation 4.6 MT / 4.6 AT (173 hp) at the same 4600 cc. 5.4 MT / 5.4 AT (250 hp, 5400 cc) exist only here. Front brakes remain Drum.

Buy 4 generation (1973–1977) if you still want a 7.4 but will accept 245 hp instead of 457 hp. That is −212 hp, or 46.4% of the third-generation 7.4 figure, at the same 7400 cc (33.11 hp/L vs 61.76 hp/L). The 5.0 pair is the weakest 5000 cc Gasoline in the file at 115 hp. Front brakes are Disc. There is no Diesel and no 6-cylinder in this generation’s six versions.

Buy 5 generation (1978–1987) if you want the only Diesel, the only V-shaped 6, the longest production window (1978–1987), and a 5.0 that recovered 30 hp versus generation 4 (145 vs 115). Peak Gasoline power here is 170 hp on 5.7 AT and Gasoline 5.7 MT — 75 hp below generation 4’s 7.4, and 287 hp below generation 3’s 7.4. Front brakes are Disc. This is the generation people search as “1987 Chevrolet El Camino”; it is not the generation with the largest engines.

Chassis language that does not change the buy: every generation is Pickup single-cab, RWD, Front, longitudinal, front suspension Dependent, spring. Boost is not measured. Rear suspension, rear brakes, and wheels are not measured.

Specs table — every named version (hp, Nm, displacement, fuel, cylinders, layout, boost, gearbox, drive)

Nm and boost are not measured on all 29 rows. Cylinder layout is taken from the English labels in the data (V-shaped or Inline). Front brake label in the source for Disc-era cars is written Disc.

5 generation (1978–1987), 7 versions

Two rows share the name 5.7 MT. Distinguish them by power and fuel: 105 hp Diesel versus 170 hp Gasoline. The Gasoline 5.7 MT matches 5.7 AT at 170 hp; the Diesel 5.7 MT matches 3.8 MT at 105 hp despite 1900 cc more displacement.

4 generation (1973–1977), 6 versions

3 generation (1968–1972), 6 versions

2 generation (1964–1967), 6 versions

1 generation (1959–1960), 4 versions

Engine arithmetic: what stepping up displacement actually buys

Inside 5 generation. 3.3 MT (94 hp / 3300 cc = 28.48 hp/L) to 3.8 MT (105 hp / 3800 cc = 27.63 hp/L) buys +11 hp for +500 cc, and loses 0.85 hp/L — the larger 6 is not the more efficient 6. 3.8 MT to Gasoline 5.0 MT (145 hp) buys +40 hp for +1200 cc (29.00 hp/L). 5.0 MT to Gasoline 5.7 MT (170 hp) buys +25 hp for +700 cc (29.82 hp/L). The Diesel 5.7 MT (105 hp) is 65 hp below the Gasoline 5.7 MT at the same 5700 cc — you pay 1900 cc over 3.8 MT and get the same 105 hp. Automatic vs Manual at 5.0 and Gasoline 5.7 does not change horsepower: 5.0 AT = 5.0 MT = 145 hp; 5.7 AT = Gasoline 5.7 MT = 170 hp. The gearbox choice here is 3-speed Automatic versus 3-speed Manual, not extra power.

5.0 Gasoline across generations (same 5000 cc, V-shaped 8, RWD). 3 generation 5.0 MT / 5.0 AT: 190 hp (38.00 hp/L). 4 generation 5.0 MT / 5.0 AT: 115 hp (23.00 hp/L) — −75 hp, −39.5%. 5 generation 5.0 MT / 5.0 AT: 145 hp (29.00 hp/L) — +30 hp versus generation 4, still −45 hp versus generation 3. If the badge says 5.0 and you want the most hp, the third-generation pair is the buy; the fourth-generation pair is the one to avoid on power.

5.7 Gasoline across generations. 1 generation 5.7 MT / 5.7 AT: 335 hp (58.77 hp/L). 4 generation 5.7 MT / 5.7 AT: 145 hp (25.44 hp/L) — −190 hp. 5 generation Gasoline 5.7 MT / 5.7 AT: 170 hp (29.82 hp/L) — +25 hp versus generation 4, −165 hp versus generation 1. A fifth-generation 5.7 is not a first-generation 5.7.

7.4 Gasoline, 3 generation vs 4 generation. 7.4 MT / 7.4 AT drop from 457 hp to 245 hp (−212 hp, −46.4%) at unchanged 7400 cc. Generation 4 still has the strongest engines of its own years (245 vs 145 on 5.7, a +100 hp step). Generation 3’s 6.5 MT / 6.5 AT at 329 hp already beat generation 4’s 7.4 by 84 hp with 900 cc less.

6-cylinder path. Second-generation 3.2 MT (120 hp, Inline) is 26 hp stronger than fifth-generation 3.3 MT (94 hp, V-shaped) despite 100 cc less. Second-generation 3.8 MT (155 hp, Inline) is 50 hp stronger than fifth-generation 3.8 MT (105 hp, V-shaped). If the brief is “six cylinders, more hp,” generation 2 wins on these figures; generation 5 is the only place the six is V-shaped.

Performance, mpg, dimensions, weight — all not measured

0–100, top speed, city / highway / combined consumption, CO2, eco class, kerb weight, gross weight, ground clearance, fuel tank, and wheels are not measured for every El Camino version in this file. Weight per horsepower cannot be computed. Searches for “1970 Chevrolet El Camino dimensions,” “1966 Chevrolet El Camino dimensions,” “1986 Chevrolet El Camino dimensions,” and “1969 Chevrolet El Camino weight” cannot be answered with a number from this catalogue. Front suspension is Dependent, spring everywhere; rear suspension is not measured.

What is measured on the chassis side: front brakes Drum on 1 generation and 2 generation (10 versions); front brakes Disc on 3, 4, and 5 generation (19 versions). If the buying rule is “Disc at the front,” skip 1959–1967. Gear counts that actually differ: 4-speed Manual only on 2 generation 4.6 MT and 5.4 MT, and 1 generation 5.7 MT. 2-speed Automatic only on 1 generation 4.6 AT and 5.7 AT, and 2 generation 4.6 AT and 5.4 AT. All later Automatics are 3-speed.

Which version to choose (decision list)

Maximum horsepower: 3 generation 7.4 MT or 7.4 AT — 457 hp / 336 kW, 7400 cc, Gasoline, 8, V-shaped, RWD. Manual vs Automatic does not change the hp figure. This is also the highest hp/L (61.76).

Same 7.4 idea, later years, Disc brakes, less power: 4 generation 7.4 MT or 7.4 AT — 245 hp. You give up 212 hp versus the 1968–1972 7.4.

Strongest 5.7, shortest years, Drum brakes: 1 generation 5.7 MT (335 hp, Manual, 4 gears) or 5.7 AT (335 hp, Automatic, 2 gears). Prefer 5.7 MT if you want the 4-speed; prefer 5.7 AT if you want 2-speed Automatic at the same 335 hp.

Middle V8 unique to 1964–1967: 5.4 MT (250 hp, Manual, 4) or 5.4 AT (250 hp, Automatic, 2). 250 hp is 5 hp above generation 4’s 7.4 (245 hp) with 2000 cc less (5400 vs 7400).

Best 5.0 in the file: 3 generation 5.0 MT or 5.0 AT at 190 hp. Do not assume a later 5.0 is stronger: generation 4 is 115 hp, generation 5 is 145 hp.

Daily fifth-generation Gasoline without chasing 7.4: 5.7 AT or Gasoline 5.7 MT at 170 hp. 5.0 AT / 5.0 MT at 145 hp give up 25 hp. 3.8 MT at 105 hp gives up 65 hp versus the Gasoline 5.7. 3.3 MT at 94 hp is the catalogue minimum — 76 hp below the Gasoline 5.7, 11 hp below 3.8 MT.

Only Diesel: 5 generation 5.7 MT at 105 hp (78 kW), 5700 cc, Diesel, 8, V-shaped, Manual, 3, RWD. Same hp as 3.8 MT, 18.42 hp/L. Choose it for fuel type, not for power.

Six-cylinder with more hp than the late 6s: 2 generation 3.8 MT (155 hp) or 3.2 MT (120 hp), both Gasoline, Inline, Manual, 3, Drum front brakes.

4.6 as a compact V8: 2 generation 4.6 MT / 4.6 AT at 197 hp beat 1 generation 4.6 MT / 4.6 AT at 173 hp by 24 hp (same 4600 cc). Generation 2 4.6 MT is the 4-speed; generation 2 4.6 AT is the 2-speed Automatic.

Reliability / problems: this file has no failure rates, recalls, or rust scores. What can be said from specs: later cars (3–5 generation) list Disc front brakes; 1–2 generation list Drum. Diesel appears once. Every version is RWD Pickup single-cab. Boost is not measured, so there is no turbo/supercharger split to shop.

Chevrolet El Camino SS / 2026 / for sale / price: SS trim, 2026 product, sale listings, and prices are not in this data. The power ceiling that people attach to “SS” searches in this catalogue is the third-generation 7.4 pair at 457 hp, not a separate named SS row.

Bottom line. Rank generations by peak hp: 3 (457) > 1 (335) > 2 (250) > 4 (245) > 5 (170). Rank a same-name 5.0 the same way: 190 > 145 > 115. Rank a same-name Gasoline 5.7: 335 > 170 > 145. If those inequalities match what you want from the truck, the version names above are the buy; if you need 0–100, mpg, or weight, those figures are not measured here.