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Here is a year-by-year guide to help you easily identify any El Camino, Sprint, or Caballero. Only the most obvious characteristics of each year are listed. 1959: The first El Camino was based on Chevy's full-size two-door wagon platform, sharing the car line's radical styling. Chrome body side spear spans entire length of car Upper grille air "snorkels" with turn signal lamps at each corner Bat wing rear fins Cat's eye (also called tear drop) taihights Bel Air side trim Biscayne-grade interior appointments 119-inch wheelbase 1960: Second (and final) year for the original El Camino. Minor revisions toned down previous year's wild styling.   Same basic body as 1959 Rear quarter panel sculpturing withjet-like chrome trim above rear wheel well New hood with "Chevrolet" in block letters on leading edge Flatter rear fins Two round taillights on each side of tailgate Redesigned grille with horizontal bars and oval center emblem looks  more conventional than previous year 1964: All new mid-sized El Camino, based on the Chevelle car line, is marketed as a "personal pickup." Clean styling, sporty good looks, and lots of options make it a sales success.   New mid-sized platform shared with Chevelle series Squarer styling than 1959-1960 "Chevelle' nameplates on front fenders 115-inch wheelbase 1965: Second year of the second generation El Camino receives minor trim updates.   Revised grille with finer mesh pattern and Chevy bow-tie emblem in center "Chevrolet" name in block letters on front of hood Wire wheels optionally available Previous year's "Chevelle" nameplate removed from font fenders Front bumper now slotted; parking lamps reside inside slots "V8" badges on models so equipped moved in front of wheel opening 1966: Updated styling for the Chevelle-derived El Camino's third year.   Styling less squared off than previous two years New horizontal bar grille with wraparound sides gives front end a slanted appearance Rear wheel openings made taller New wheel covers have recessed center section with bow tie; 10 blacked out indentations around perimeter of cover Blacked-out grille and "power bulge" hood used on new "SS-396" cars Front bumper slots made narrower; parking lamps are no longer housed in slotted  area, having been moved to bumper comers 1967: Final year for the second generation El Camino. Extensive restyling freshens design.   Wide, horizontal bar grille spans entire front end Hood restyled to match contours of grille Forward slanting front fenders Wraparound taillights Slimmer front bumper Parking lamps moved back to front bumper cutouts Wheel covers now have five blacked-out indentations "El Camino" nameplate added to driver side front edge of hood 1968: Third generation El Camino debuts. Truck sports all-new muscle car-inspired styling and revised platform shared with Chevelle. The most appearance options and performance equipment offered up to this time.   Longer 116-inch wheelbase Wide, wraparound mesh grille extends into front fenders Horizontal "Chevrolet" emblem in center of grille "SS" model uses blacked-out grille and "SS" badge Dual headlights housed in squared metal bezels Front bumper slot behind license plate "Flying Buttress" B-pillar with steeply slanted design distinguishes trucks in all years 1969: Second year for third generation design show few trim changes.   Larger center slot in front bumper Parking lamps housed in slotted area of front bumper Horizontal bars divide finned grille into three sections Chevrolet emblem in center of grille Blacked-out grille on SS models "El Camino" script on left upper fender 1970: Flying Buttress design continues for third year. Major design changes bring the El Camino into the 1970s.   Front clip restyled with a more upright and rounded grille Headlights recessed into bright bezels; two lamps on each side Parking lamps are now round Larger front bumper with protruding center to match contours of grille New instrument panel with rectangular speedometer and gauges; circular gauges on SS 1971: El Camino sports another front-end reshuffle. Gmc gets its own version of the El Camino, called Sprint.   New grille with horizontal bars and protruding center section Bow tie emblem in center of grille Power Beam single headlights replaced previous year's dual lamps Front parking lamps wrap around fender comers Sprint shares body and all mechanicals with El Camino Sprint grille is the same as El Camino but with center-mounted GMC badge GMC nameplate graces both front fender on Sprints 1972: Minor tweaking makes this year the most refined of the Flying Buttress models. El Camino sets sales record in 1972.   Four horizontal chrome bars divide grille into three sections Parking lamps are now single lens units Chevrolet nameplate in lower left comer of grille replaces last year's bow tie emblem Sprint shares all trim changes with El Camino, including revised horizontal bar grille and onepiece cornering lights 1973: All new El Camino and Sprint are the largest and plushest vehicles ever to wear the names. For the first time, only V8 engines were used. 1973 sales results break the figure set the previous year; 1973 models are best-selling El Caminos of all time.   New styling follows "colonnade' hardtop design of the Malibu car line Egg crate grille protrudes in front of hood and wraps under each headlight El Camino nameplate in lower left area of grille Single headlights housed in bright metal bezels Bow tie emblem in center of grille 5-mph bumpers front and rear introduced this year, adding several inches to  car's overall length Amber parking lamps at each comer of front bumper Sprint uses blacked out version of El Camino grille with center GMC badge and  Sprint nameplate in lower left comer Turbine style rally wheels available on Sprint and El Camino 1974: Second year for "colonnade" style El Camino and Sprint. Minor detail changes made this year. V8 engines continue as only choice.   Grille split into six horizontal segments bisected by a vertical center bar; same  grille used on Sprint with GMC badge in center El Camino nameplate in same position on grille as previous year Classic model introduced; wears bright lower body molding Optional free-standing hood ornament introduced on El Camino Wheel covers with 48 simulated wire spokes look like wire wheels (optionally available) 1975: Third year of colonnade body style brings trim change and an engine shuffle.   New grille divided into 10 vertical sections, each having a mesh insert El Camino nameplate removed from grille Bow tie emblem at top center of grille Previous grille extensions under headlamps eliminated for cleaner look Height of front bumper reduced Six cylinder engine returns as base power   1976: Front-end redo freshens four-year-old design of Chevy and GMC.   New formal grille with honeycomb mesh divided by vertical chrome bar used on Classics and SS models El Camino grille consists of horizontal and vertical bars forming a cross-hatch  pattern Red bow tie grille badge on SS models; tan bow tie on other models Classics now wear stacked square dual headlights; single round lights used on  lower line models Base Sprint uses egg-crate grille; Classic and SS use mesh grille insert with  GMC badge   1977: Last year for "colonnade" body style.   Classic and SS grilles now sport vertical fins in place of previous year's honeycomb mesh Base model's grille changed to egg-crate design Single round lights on base El Camino; stacked dual lights on Classics and SS Optional stand-up hood ornament with "GMC" lettering available   1978: All new El Camino debuts with drastic restyling. GMC version now called Caballero.   Downsized El Camino now rides longer 117-inch wheelbase Truck body is nearly 12 inches shorter than 1977 Smooth styling shared with  Malibu car line is trimmer; 600 pounds lighter than previous year Upright chrome grille with egg-crate design is flanked by single headlights and  turn signal lights Caballero has GMC in upper left (driver side) comer of grille Reflectors mounted at extreme fender comers Front fenders have forward slanting rake Frontal area of cargo box under rear window has unusual curved wall Latch handle mounted inside tailgate for clean appearance Oblong tail lamps set into rear chrome bumper First ever V6 becomes base engine   1979: Downsized El Camino continues with minor trim revisions. Sales remain strong.   Grille now divided into eight horizontal segments, but continues to look similar to 1978 Royal Knight appearance package added; it includes Royal Knight decals on  front fenders and tailgate, and dragon hood decals Final year for 350-cid V8   1980: Few changes to third installment of this series.   Vertical finned grille is unique to 1980 Thermostatically controlled fans introduced this year   1981: Detail changes improve El Camino's package.   Grille changed to horizontal bars with bright upper and lower molding New wheel covers with turbine fin motif around a plain center disc are optional International symbols on dash controls added for the first time Available 55/45 split seat with folding armrest "Resume" function added to the optional cruise control Side lift jack replaces bumper jack All El Caminos and Cabaliero engines now equipped with GM Computer  Command Control module for better emissions compliance Trip odometer joins the options list Standard tires are P205/75R radials   1982: After many updates the previous year, 1982 models change little. El Camino sales down by almost ten thousand units from 1981; Caballero off by over one-third of 1981 total.   Another new grille debuts with cross-hatch pattern Dual headlights return for the first time since 1977 Turn signal lamps housed under headlights Wet-arm fluidic windshield washers Fixed mast radio antenna Three-speed automatic transmission becomes standard equipment in 1982 "Smart Switch" controlling wipers, headlight dimmer, turn signals, and cruise  control introduced   1983: Big surprise under the hood!    5.7-liter. Oldsmobile-built diesel V8 introduced   1984: More luxurious than ever.   Reclining bucket seats with adjustable head rests join options list Diesel engine option continues; poor reliability and sluggish performance make it an unpopular choice dropped at the end of the year "SS" package available from Choo Choo Customs is available on special order  through dealers. Package includes front air dam, power bulge hood, non- functional side pipes, and SS tape graphics on front bumper, doors, and tailgate   1985: GM shuffles manufacturing facilities. El Camino and Caballero production moved to Mexico for remainder of run.   Styling stays pat for another year Caballero gets new standard stainless steel wheel covers with brush finished center section and GMC lettering 4.3-liter V6 becomes standard engine for both El Camino and Caballero 56-amp Delcotron alternator made standard   1986: Mechanical change updates carryover components one more time.   New 4-speed automatic available with 4.3-liter V6; 3-speed automatic continues to be available with the V8 Standard wheel cover has five large cutouts around perimeter and black center  bow tie insignia   1987: GM's car/truck twins depart the auto scene at the end of the model year.   Revised instrument panel has high-tech look; black trim around gauges and air  conditioning vents wraps around sides of instrument panel housing. Previous  wood-grain trim above glove compartment is dropped; black trim panel (similar  to that on the instrument cluster) replaces it New steering wheel with wider horn bar and center section; has "El Camino" nameplate in the center and a black trim above it   Note: The 1982-1987 El Caminos and Caballeros are very difficult to distinguish at a glance because there were no major design changes during these years. In order to tell one year from another, it is necessary to look at detailed areas such as mechanical specifications and optional equipment to find the minor characteristics that separate one year from another. However, this also takes a trained eye.       Parts Sources  The following information may be useful to owners, potential buyers, or anyone with an interest in the Chevrolet El Camino, GMC Sprint, and GMC Caballero.    Choo Choo Customs 7801 Lee Highway Chattanooga, Tennessee 37421 (423) 899-4473 Ground Up Restorations Fax: 516-248-1061-24 hours Phone orders: 516-358-2277 Lauren Engineering 515 W. Valencia Drive Suite G Fullerton, California 92832 714-871-CARS Fax: 714-578-0729 The El Camino Store 57 B Depot Rd. Goleta, California 93117 Toll free: 1-888-685-5987 Trim Parts, Inc. Orders: 513-831-1472 Fax: 513-248-3402 Gaylord's Fiberglass Truck Lids & Accessories 6801 Paramount Blvd. Long Beach, California 90805 562-529-7543 Fax: 562-529-8180 E-mail: gaylords@pcmagic.net ECPARTS P.O. Box 2459 Citrus Heights, California 95611 Information: 916-722-2676 Cell phone: 916-995-1954 Fax: 916-722-4127 E-mail: webmaster@ecparts.net Original Parts Group 17892 Gothard St. Huntington Beach, California 92647 800-243-8355 International Orders: 714-841-5363 E-mail: opgi@netcom.com Year One P.O. Box 129 Tucker, Georgia 30085-0129 Orders: 800-YEAR-ONE or 800-932-7663 Fax: 800-680-6806 or 770-496-1949-24 hours