The American public simply didn’t want to drive an El Camino that couldn’t perform.Īt least the folks at Chevrolet offered a lot of exquisite colors. In 1977, over 90% of Chevy's Caminos were equipped with V-8s. The engines were downsized to make them less powerful and make it appear to the government that Chevrolet was a socially responsible auto manufacturer.

It also sported two-tone paint, which looked pretty cool). (The Conquista trim level accounted for almost 55% of all El Camino sales in 1977. The 1977 El Camino came in three models - the base El Camino, the El Camino Classic with an SS option, and the El Camino Conquista. They could ride in style but wouldn't enjoy any muscle car power they were used to experiencing. The result is that owners expecting the El Camino to streak down the highway were sorely disappointed by the pitiful 350 V8. In addition, the width of the El Camino was widened, and the car was made heavier to help it ride firmer on the road. (The powerful 454 V8 - four-barrel had been tossed in 1975). To address these societal concerns, the auto manufacturer tweaked the 77 Camino by scrapping the 400 V8 in favor of the pitiful 350. There was a lot of fear about energy dependency and the power over the economy that was prevailing through the newscasts Americans were watching every evening. For a time, the government entertained an additional tax on families who continued to drive large vehicles or offered tax incentives for buyers of more fuel-saving cars. In addition, many families responded to smaller, more fuel-efficient cars embracing higher mpg standards. The years following the Viet Nam war turned many flower-powered young people into focusing their anti-war powers on things like gas-guzzling and heavily polluting muscle cars. In addition, the government had mandated catalytic converters a couple of years before, which made cars more cumbersome but less polluting). The gas shortages of the oil embargo a few years before were still very much in the minds of everyone, mostly the EPA. In anticipation of the 77 model year, Chevrolet was feeling the pinch between developing more fuel-efficient vehicles without losing the glamour of its muscle car reputation. ‍ What Were the Battle Lines Affecting the El Camino? What made the 1977 El Camino a treasured icon but the last of a rare breed? What were some of the specs and features that made it such a desired car? What was the issue, and what was going on in the minds of Chevrolet? Well, read on while we explore the ins and outs of the 1977 Chevrolet El Camino. The end of the muscle car era was on the horizon, and the 1977 El Camino was a casualty of the impending doom many manufacturers suspected was coming. Caught in a battle between producing what the public wanted and the outside pressures that government safety and mileage agencies were imposing, the company could not fight a divided battle. Unfortunately, the El Camino that Chevrolet offered proved a disappointment even though it was the company’s bestseller. Based on the Chevelle A platform since 1973, the car shared many of the same options as its muscle car brothers.

Buyers could choose from three engine choices an in-line six-cylinder, 307 V-8, or a 350 V8. The 77 El Camino was Chevrolet’s top seller, with 54,321 units rolling off the assembly line. America loved this quirky car, and it showed as buyers couldn’t wait to get their hands on them. By 1977, the last year before a redesign, the Camino has engaged the hearts and minds of the American auto-buying public. Determined to produce a coupe/truck to match rival Ford’s Ranchero, the El Camino provided the best of both worlds, a pickup truck that was part car, part truck, or a front-seat station wagon with a bed for hauling stuff. What are the specs and features of the 1977 Chevrolet El Camino?īy 1977, the El Camino had entered its fourth generation and had found its place solidly in the heart of the Chevrolet lineup. One of the most sought-after classic vehicles in any car collectors garage is the El Camino.

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