I have been writing about old cars for more than 20 years, so it is not often that I find a model I’ve never heard of—but a few days ago I came across something that was new to me. While searching the listings on AutoHunter, I saw a one for a GMC Caballero. I could tell as soon as I saw the photos that it was obviously a “badge-engineered” version of the El Camino, but I had never seen or heard of the GMC variant.
The GMC division’s Sprint was as described and something common across the entire GMC product line: a badge-engineered version of the Chevy El Camino. When the downsized platform for the El Camino was introduced in 1978, the Sprint was renamed the Caballero. I think the name change was good, as “Sprint” does not have a lot of impact, but “Caballero” sounds as cool as El Camino. In keeping with the Western theme, the car’s three trim editions were named Laredo, Amarillo, and Diablo. These were basically all trim and option packages (think different interiors, different wheels and a lot of decals).
Today’s AutoHunter Spotlight on ClassicCars.com is that car I found: a 1984 GMC Caballero located in St. Louis, Missouri. The auction for this unusual GMC ends on Tuesday, May 27, at 1:15 p.m. PST.
The car is painted in its original color of Briar Brown over a light brown cloth and dark brown vinyl interior. The seller says this Caballero is a garage-kept survivor with only two owners from new. To me, this statement means this example likely still has its original paint and original interior, something I like more than a restored car. To verify this, I would ask the seller about this in the auction listing comments section, but when I look carefully at the photos, it truly looks like an original example.
The one change from stock on the exterior is that instead of the factory GM wheels, this Caballero is fitted with nice-looking 15-inch American Racing Torq Thrust wheels with proper-looking Cooper tires. I don’t mind this, as these wheels have been around since this car was new and are way cooler than the stock ones.
The interior also looks to be in original condition, with a vast expanse of brown and tan plastic, vinyl and velour everywhere you look. It is an example of period GM booting, but all looks correct and original. I see no rips in the seats or cracks in the dash. It also still has its stock radio, which is very surprising—if my friends and I had our hands on this car in the 1980s, it would have a crappy power booster and poorly installed Jensen 6 x 9s to blast Ozzy.
Under the hood is the stock GM 305ci V8 with a four-barrel carburetor. It also looks completely stock and original and is very clean. The seller does note that the air-conditioning system has been upgraded to use R134, which is a good thing (you certainly want working air conditioning in a brown car).
I wanted to know more about this car, so I called my friends Alan Galbraith (founder of the Concours d’Lemons) and Tim Suddard (publisher of Grassroots and Classic Motorsports magazines) to ask them what they knew about the Caballero. They were both considerably less excited about the rebadged El Camino than I was, but Alan did say they are rarer than the El Camino and that it would be welcome at the Monterey Concours d’Lemons. So maybe the Caballero is not a blue-chip collector car, but it is not very common either.
If you are looking for something a little bit different, love the idea of the Wild West and the Caballero name evokes that in you, and want a collector car in original shape that is also useful for hauling stuff, then maybe make a bid or two on this Caballero—but do so soon, as the auction for this unusual GMC ends on Tuesday, May 27, at 1:15 p.m. PST.
Visit the AutoHunter listing for more information and a photo gallery
