1976 · Chevrolet · United States
1976 Chevrolet El Camino SS: No 454, But Z15 Carries On
Colonnade-era El Camino; Chevrolet's 1976 data pages define the RPO Z15 SS option for the El Camino Classic. Team Chevelle's production totals give 44,890 El Caminos built, 5,163 of them with SS equipment.
United States · researched through 2026-09-22
This record's own key facts state that the January 1976 El Camino power-team chart lists no 454 at all: the largest engine that year is the 175-net-horsepower LT4 400, with the 140-horsepower LG3 305 as the standard V8, the smallest standard V8 displacement documented anywhere in this record's own engines section. Its overview field is empty for this year, so the key facts carry the year's introductory description on their own.
This record's own key facts also state that RPO Z15 SS for the El Camino Classic carried over largely unchanged, with 15x7 Rally wheels, GR70-15 radial white-lettered tires, SS emblems, and upper body-side and tailgate stripes. Chevrolet's price schedule for initial 1976 shipments lists the El Camino Classic V8 at $4,467.80, SS Equipment itself at $226.05 for the Classic with a V8 only, and the Conquista package at $128.00, all three figures drawn from the same published price schedule for initial 1976 shipments.
This record's own production rows carry two figures from a separate production-totals source, 44,890 El Caminos built for 1976 and 5,163 with SS equipment, and its own notes state plainly that no Chevrolet factory production report was found for this year, so both counts rest on the single production-totals source. Those same notes add that the SS figure had previously been held only as an unverified Wikipedia lead citing the very same page, a lead now resolved because that page has since been read directly.1
This record's own prices section documents four separate figures split by engine and trim: $3,874.80 for the six-cylinder base El Camino, $4,009.80 for the six-cylinder Classic, $4,332.80 for the V8 base El Camino, and $4,467.80 for the V8 Classic, all effective with initial 1976 shipments. Its engines section documents the 105-horsepower L22 250 six standard, the 140-horsepower LG3 305 standard V8 not for California registration, a 145-horsepower L65 350 optional, a 165-horsepower LM1 350 for California only, and the 175-horsepower LT4 400 requiring California emission certification.
This record's own transmissions section documents a standard three-speed limited to the 250 six alone, and Turbo Hydra-matic across every engine, standard with the 305 V8. Its options section runs to more than thirty individually priced line items beyond Z15 itself, from a $6 pair of dual horns up to a $471 air-conditioning package, each one sourced to the same factory information kit; the option list also documents six separate radial-tire choices by RPO code, one of them, QCY, marked as the base tire included with Z15.
This record's own paint section lists solid and two-tone colors by code, several two-tone combinations cross-referenced to a specific upper-body color code such as code 35's pairing with upper color 28. Its specifications section documents curb weights from 3,827 pounds for the six-cylinder Standard El Camino up to figures for the V8 Classic, and this record's own conflicts and unpublished leads sections are both empty for 1976, a gap it carries without substitution even though its own production figures rest on a single source rather than a separately sourced factory tabulation.
Fact sheet · 1976 · United States
The numbers
1976 Chevrolet El Camino — Colonnade-era El Camino; Chevrolet's 1976 data pages define the RPO Z15 SS option for the El Camino Classic. Team Chevelle's production totals give 44,890 El Caminos built, 5,163 of them with SS equipment.
Coverage: Partial — researched sections are shown; missing ones are not yet sourced. Researched through 2026-09-22.
Every figure is labeled with how sure we are. Reported means a manufacturer, registry, or reference figure we cite but have not reconciled against factory records ourselves. Disputed means credible sources disagree and both are shown. Rows are separately scoped; don't add them together unless the note says they make up a total.
Key facts
- The January 1976 El Camino power-team chart lists no 454: the largest engine is the 175 net hp LT4 400, with the 305 LG3 as the standard V8.
- RPO Z15 SS for the El Camino Classic carried over with 15x7 Rally wheels, GR70-15 radial white-lettered tires, SS emblems and upper body-side and tailgate stripes.
- Chevrolet's price schedule for initial 1976 shipments lists the El Camino Classic V8 at $4,467.80; SS Equipment (Z15), for the Classic with a V8 only, cost $226.05, and the Conquista package (D91) $128.00.
- Team Chevelle's production-totals page gives 44,890 El Caminos built for 1976, of which 5,163 carried SS equipment.1
Production
| What was counted | Count | Basis | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| El Camino, all series (total)1 2-door sedan pickup · not stated | 44,890 | built, model-year | Reported |
| What was counted | Count | Basis | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| El Camino SS (RPO Z15)1 El Camino Classic SS · 2-door sedan pickup · not stated This is the same figure this record previously held only as an unverified Wikipedia lead citing this same page; the page has now been read directly. | 5,163 | built, model-year | Reported |
Production is sourced to Team Chevelle; no Chevrolet factory production report was found for this year. Package contents and price are documented in the 1976 GM information kit.
Prices when new
| Model | Price | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| El Camino 1AC80, 3-passenger, 250-1 BBL six (L22) | $3,874.80 | manufacturer's suggested retail price; excludes destination charges, state and local taxes, license fees, options (prices effective with initial shipments of 1976 vehicles; page published January 16, 1976), 1975-09 |
| El Camino Classic 1AD80, 3-passenger, 250-1 BBL six (L22) | $4,009.80 | manufacturer's suggested retail price; excludes destination charges, state and local taxes, license fees, options (prices effective with initial shipments of 1976 vehicles; page published January 16, 1976), 1975-09 |
| El Camino 1AC80, 3-passenger, 305-2 BBL V8 (LG3) | $4,332.80 | manufacturer's suggested retail price; excludes destination charges, state and local taxes, license fees, options (prices effective with initial shipments of 1976 vehicles; page published January 16, 1976), 1975-09 |
| El Camino Classic 1AD80, 3-passenger, 305-2 BBL V8 (LG3) | $4,467.80 | manufacturer's suggested retail price; excludes destination charges, state and local taxes, license fees, options (prices effective with initial shipments of 1976 vehicles; page published January 16, 1976), 1975-09 |
Prices are the nominal dollars of the day, not adjusted for inflation.
Engines
| Engine | Factory rating | Availability | Built |
|---|---|---|---|
| L22 · 250 1-bbl L6 250 cu in · 1-barrel | 105 hp @ 3,800, 185 lb-ft @ 1,200 (SAE net) | standard six; M15 3-speed or M40; California with emission certification | Not yet sourced |
| LG3 · 305 2-bbl V8 305 cu in · 2-barrel | 140 hp @ 3,800, 245 lb-ft @ 2,000 (SAE net) | standard V8 with Turbo Hydra-matic; not for California registration | Not yet sourced |
| L65 · 350 2-bbl V8 350 cu in · 2-barrel | 145 hp @ 3,800, 250 lb-ft @ 2,200 (SAE net) | optional; Turbo Hydra-matic; not for California registration | Not yet sourced |
| LM1 · 350 4-bbl V8 350 cu in · 4-barrel | 165 hp @ 3,800, 260 lb-ft @ 2,400 (SAE net) | optional; Turbo Hydra-matic; available in California only | Not yet sourced |
| LT4 · 400 4-bbl V8 400 cu in · 4-barrel | 175 hp @ 3,600, 305 lb-ft @ 2,000 (SAE net) | optional; Turbo Hydra-matic; California with emission certification | Not yet sourced |
Ratings are the manufacturer's advertised figures under the standard shown (SAE gross before 1972, SAE net after). They are not dyno results, and gross and net ratings can't be compared directly.
Transmissions
| Transmission | Availability | Built |
|---|---|---|
| M15 · 3-speed manual (standard) | 250 six only | Not yet sourced |
| M40 · Turbo Hydra-matic | every engine; standard with the 305 V8 | Not yet sourced |
Options and packages
| Code | Option | Price | Installed |
|---|---|---|---|
Z15RPO |
SS Equipment (El Camino Classic with V8 only; D35 sport mirrors, SS emblems, upper body striping, special instrument cluster, ZJ7 15 x 7 rally wheels, GR70-15/B white-lettered radial tires), black striping Z15/19A or white striping Z15/11A | $226.05 | Not yet sourced |
L65RPO |
350-2 BBL V8 (not California; includes M40) | $30 | Not yet sourced |
LM1RPO |
350-4 BBL V8 (California YF5 only; includes M40) | $85 | Not yet sourced |
LT4RPO |
400-4 BBL V8 (includes M40) | $148 | Not yet sourced |
M40RPO |
Turbo Hydra-matic (included with V8) | $260 | Not yet sourced |
G92RPO |
High-altitude axle ratio | $13 | Not yet sourced |
G95RPO |
Highway axle ratio | $13 | Not yet sourced |
G80RPO |
Positraction | $51 | Not yet sourced |
YJ9RPO |
Exterior Decor Package, El Camino without vinyl roof (not with Z15) | $44 | Not yet sourced |
YJ9RPO |
Exterior Decor Package, El Camino with vinyl roof | $19 | Not yet sourced |
AU3RPO |
Power door locks | $62 | Not yet sourced |
N41RPO |
Power steering (standard with V8) | $136 | Not yet sourced |
A31RPO |
Power windows | $99 | Not yet sourced |
C60RPO |
Four-Season air conditioning (requires M40) | $471 | Not yet sourced |
UA1RPO |
Heavy-duty battery | $16 | Not yet sourced |
AK1RPO |
Custom color-keyed belts, bench seat | $12 | Not yet sourced |
AK1RPO |
Custom color-keyed belts, bucket seats | $11 | Not yet sourced |
VE5RPO |
Deluxe bumpers front and rear | $29 | Not yet sourced |
V30RPO |
Front bumper guards | $18 | Not yet sourced |
YF5RPO |
California emission certification | $50 | Not yet sourced |
U35RPO |
Electric clock | $19 | Not yet sourced |
D91RPO |
Conquista (Classic only; not with vinyl roof or Z15) | $128 | Not yet sourced |
D55RPO |
Console (Classic with bucket seats and V8) | $71 | Not yet sourced |
D24RPO |
Color-keyed litter container | $6 | Not yet sourced |
19KRPO |
Cargo box tonneau cover, black | $89 | Not yet sourced |
11KRPO |
Cargo box tonneau cover, white | $89 | Not yet sourced |
UF7RPO |
Econominder gauge package | $45 | Not yet sourced |
K76RPO |
61-amp Delcotron generator | $27 | Not yet sourced |
A01RPO |
Soft-Ray tinted glass, all windows | $49 | Not yet sourced |
U05RPO |
Dual horns | $6 | Not yet sourced |
ZJ9RPO |
Auxiliary lighting, El Camino | $31 | Not yet sourced |
ZJ9RPO |
Auxiliary lighting, El Camino Classic | $26 | Not yet sourced |
B37RPO |
Color-keyed floor mats, 2 front | $8 | Not yet sourced |
D33RPO |
LH remote-control outside mirror | $14 | Not yet sourced |
D35RPO |
Sport mirrors (included with Z15) | $27 | Not yet sourced |
D68RPO |
Sport twin-remote mirrors, without Z15 | $46 | Not yet sourced |
D68RPO |
Sport twin-remote mirrors, with Z15 | $20 | Not yet sourced |
D34RPO |
Visor vanity mirror | $4 | Not yet sourced |
D64RPO |
Illuminated visor mirror | $26 | Not yet sourced |
B84RPO |
Body side moldings (not with D91 or Z15) | $38 | Not yet sourced |
B93RPO |
Door edge guards | $7 | Not yet sourced |
BX8RPO |
Front fender, body side and tailgate moldings (not with Z15) | $42 | Not yet sourced |
|
Two-tone paint | $40 | Not yet sourced |
V01RPO |
Heavy-duty radiator | $27 | Not yet sourced |
U63RPO |
AM pushbutton radio | $75 | Not yet sourced |
U69RPO |
AM/FM pushbutton radio | $137 | Not yet sourced |
U58RPO |
AM/FM stereo radio | $226 | Not yet sourced |
UM1RPO |
Stereo tape system with AM radio | $209 | Not yet sourced |
UM2RPO |
Stereo tape system with AM/FM stereo radio | $324 | Not yet sourced |
U76RPO |
Windshield antenna | $16 | Not yet sourced |
D73RPO |
Cargo box side rails | $65 | Not yet sourced |
|
Vinyl roof cover (not with D91) | $65 | Not yet sourced |
A42RPO |
Six-way power seat (bench seat only) | $124 | Not yet sourced |
|
Strato-bucket seats, swing-out type (Classic only) | $102 | Not yet sourced |
|
Vinyl trim (additional charge) | $20 | Not yet sourced |
K30RPO |
Cruise-Master speed control (V8 only) | $73 | Not yet sourced |
N33RPO |
Comfortilt steering wheel (M40 only) | $52 | Not yet sourced |
N31RPO |
Sport steering wheel | $16 | Not yet sourced |
F40RPO |
Heavy-duty suspension, without GR70 radial tires | $18 | Not yet sourced |
AV3RPO |
Cargo box tie-downs | $13 | Not yet sourced |
P01RPO |
Full wheel covers (not with Z15) | $30 | Not yet sourced |
N95RPO |
Wire wheel covers (not with Z15) | $89 | Not yet sourced |
ZJ7RPO |
Rally wheels (included with Z15) | $60 | Not yet sourced |
CD4RPO |
Intermittent wipers | $28 | Not yet sourced |
QDRRPO |
GR78-15/B steel-belted radial white stripe tires | $37 | Not yet sourced |
QDURPO |
HR78-15/B steel-belted radial blackwall tires (V8) | $38.05 | Not yet sourced |
QELRPO |
HR78-15/B steel-belted radial white stripe tires (V8) | $78.05 | Not yet sourced |
QBXRPO |
GR70-15/B radial blackwall tires with sport suspension (V8) | $49.05 | Not yet sourced |
QCXRPO |
GR70-15/B radial white stripe tires with sport suspension (V8) | $84.05 | Not yet sourced |
QCYRPO |
GR70-15/B radial white-lettered tires with sport suspension (base with Z15) | $100.05 | Not yet sourced |
Paint
| Code | Color | Built |
|---|---|---|
19 |
Black; two-tone upper 13 | Not yet sourced |
35 |
Blue, Dark (Metallic); two-tone upper 28 | Not yet sourced |
28 |
Blue, Light (Metallic) | Not yet sourced |
65 |
Buckskin; two-tone upper 50 | Not yet sourced |
50 |
Cream | Not yet sourced |
57 |
Cream Gold; two-tone upper 11 | Not yet sourced |
36 |
Firethorn (Metallic); two-tone upper 37 | Not yet sourced |
40 |
Green, Lime (Metallic); two-tone upper 11 | Not yet sourced |
49 |
Green, Dark (Metallic); two-tone upper 11 | Not yet sourced |
37 |
Mahogany (Metallic); two-tone upper 36 | Not yet sourced |
72 |
Red, Medium; two-tone upper 11 | Not yet sourced |
67 |
Saddle, Medium (Metallic); two-tone upper 50 | Not yet sourced |
13 |
Silver | Not yet sourced |
11 |
White, Antique | Not yet sourced |
vinyl BB |
Vinyl roof, Black (all) | Not yet sourced |
vinyl DD |
Vinyl roof, Dark Blue Metallic (11, 13, 28 or 35 only) | Not yet sourced |
vinyl UU |
Vinyl roof, Light Buckskin (all except 13, 28, 40, 57 or 72) | Not yet sourced |
vinyl FF |
Vinyl roof, Dark Firethorn Metallic (11, 13, 36, 37 or 65 only) | Not yet sourced |
vinyl YY |
Vinyl roof, Mahogany Metallic (11, 13, 36, 37, 50, 65 or 72 only) | Not yet sourced |
vinyl QQ |
Vinyl roof, Silver Metallic (11, 13, 19, 35, 36, 37 or 72 only) | Not yet sourced |
vinyl WW |
Vinyl roof, White (all) | Not yet sourced |
Color names are the factory's. We don't show color swatches, because a screen color is no guide for a restoration.
Interiors
| Code | Trim | Built |
|---|---|---|
JBB1 |
Black sport cloth bench; El Camino | Not yet sourced |
JUS1 |
Light Buckskin sport cloth bench; El Camino | Not yet sourced |
NBB1 |
Black knit vinyl bench; El Camino | Not yet sourced |
NDD1 |
Dark Blue knit vinyl bench; El Camino | Not yet sourced |
NUS1 |
Light Buckskin knit vinyl bench; El Camino | Not yet sourced |
NWB1 |
White knit vinyl bench, black accents; El Camino | Not yet sourced |
NWZ1 |
White knit vinyl bench, lime accents; El Camino | Not yet sourced |
NWY1 |
White knit vinyl bench, mahogany accents; El Camino | Not yet sourced |
PBB5 |
Black knit cloth notchback bench; Classic | Not yet sourced |
PDD5 |
Dark Blue knit cloth notchback bench; Classic | Not yet sourced |
PYY5 / PYY2 |
Dark Mahogany knit cloth notchback bench or bucket; Classic | Not yet sourced |
JUS5 |
Light Buckskin sport cloth notchback bench; Classic | Not yet sourced |
VBB5 / VBB2 |
Black vinyl notchback bench or bucket; Classic | Not yet sourced |
VDD5 / VDD2 |
Dark Blue vinyl notchback bench or bucket; Classic | Not yet sourced |
VUS5 / VUS2 |
Light Buckskin vinyl notchback bench or bucket; Classic | Not yet sourced |
VYY5 / VYY2 |
Dark Mahogany vinyl notchback bench or bucket; Classic | Not yet sourced |
VWB5 / VWB2 |
White vinyl, black accents, notchback bench or bucket; Classic | Not yet sourced |
VWD5 / VWD2 |
White vinyl, blue accents, notchback bench or bucket; Classic | Not yet sourced |
VWZ5 / VWZ2 |
White vinyl, lime accents, notchback bench or bucket; Classic | Not yet sourced |
VWY5 / VWY2 |
White vinyl, mahogany accents, notchback bench or bucket; Classic | Not yet sourced |
Specifications
| Measure | Value | Applies to |
|---|---|---|
| Curb weight, 1AC80 six | 3,827 lb | El Camino (Standard), standard equipment |
| Curb weight, 1AC80 V8 | 3,930 lb | El Camino (Standard), standard equipment |
| Curb weight, 1AD80 six | 3,857 lb | El Camino Classic, standard equipment |
| Curb weight, 1AD80 V8 | 3,960 lb | El Camino Classic, standard equipment |
| Wheelbase | 116 in | El Camino |
| Overall length | 213.2 in | El Camino |
Identification
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Also in 1976
- AMC AMX No AMX was sold in the United States for 1976. The Javelin ended after 1974, and the badge returned on the 1977 Hornet.
- AMC Gremlin X and Spirit AMX The last year of the V8 Gremlin. The 304 was cancelled at midyear after 826 installations, and the X package moved to Custom models only.
- Buick Riviera The GS name gave way to an S/R package, fitted to 1,619 of 20,082 Rivieras.
- Chevrolet Chevelle and Malibu SS The final Laguna Type S-3 year; the 454 no longer appears on the compiled engine list.
- Chevrolet Chevy II and Nova Last Nova SS year in the source production table. Enthusiast-compiled production: 334,728 cars; Super Sport 7,416.
- Dodge Dart GTS, Swinger and Demon The final year of the approved Dart chronology; MuscleCarClub reports 13,642 Dart Sports of all engines, and Flory says the Dart Sport 360 was dropped.
- Ford Maverick Grabber The Grabber was dropped and a Stallion paint-and-trim package took its place; no Stallion count was found.
- Ford Ranchero GT The Ranchero GT continued on the 1972-76 Ranchero; 4,942 GTs were built, per reference-site counts in the Standard Catalog lineage.
- Ford Thunderbird Sixth-generation personal-luxury Thunderbird; the record holds the production total and the luxury-group option prices only.
- Ford Torino The last Torino year: 193,096 built with no Sport model left, and Ford's 1,000 white-striped red 'Starsky and Hutch' Gran Torino replicas were the only performance-styled edition.
- Mercury Cougar Outside the muscle focus: 83,765 Cougars for 1976 per Wikipedia's table.
- Oldsmobile Cutlass, 4-4-2 and Hurst/Olds An appearance and handling option in this period; no Hurst/Olds was offered and no production figure was found.
- Plymouth Duster 340 and 360 The Duster's last year offered the 360 only with TorqueFlite and not in California, beside the new Feather Duster economy and Silver Duster decor packages; reference books disagree on production (26,688 or 34,681).
- Plymouth Road Runner The Road Runner became a Volare option package.
- Pontiac Firebird and Trans Am The first black-and-gold Trans Am, the last Trans Am 455, and a Firebird line past 110,000.
- Pontiac Grand Prix Quad headlamps and a 50th-anniversary year for Pontiac; the last Grand Prix 455.
- Pontiac Tempest and LeMans The 455 returns to the LeMans options list, a 260 V8 with a five-speed arrives for the Sport Coupe, and a Rally RTS Handling Package replaces the GT.