In early 1971, Frank Kavanagh made the trip across the river from Hamilton, Illinois to Jemison Chevrolet in Keokuk, Iowa where he ordered a new El Camino. He specified the 350 V8 and automatic transmission, power disc brakes and power steering. Frank and his wife, Dorotha, owned and operated Kavanagh’s Garage for decades. Frank knew how to take care of a car and he babied the El Camino.

      The El Camino was rarely driven (it only had a few hundred miles added after 1988). Anything placed in the bed was carefully laid on padding, and  it was always garaged. Both a tonneau cover and topper covered the bed at different times to protect the mint condition bed. After Mr. Kavanagh’s death in 1998, the car’s title was transferred to his wife and sold at auction after her passing in 2005.

      This El Camino has had little detailing or cleaning performed since purchase from the Kavanagh estate in 2006. That is testament to the exceptional care the El Camino received from Mr. Kavanagh!

   1971 El Camino

 

    Original — Unrestored 

 

 

      25,510 actual miles

 

 

This Build Sheet was in the driver’s seat back. Two more are still in the car in each front fender!

Here’s the license plate application dated March 5, 1971. It was found in the Owner’s Manual.

l 25,510 actual, original miles

l Original paint is untouched

l Mint original interior

l Original belts, hoses, shocks

l Spare tire is new and never on ground

A lubrication sticker shows just 25212 miles in 1988.

One of the best unrestored El Caminos anywhere. No detailing, no touchup, paint not even polished. 25k miles but could pass for 2000 miles. Glass, chrome, stainless all near mint perfect.