Performance utility · 3 seats

1979 GMC Caballero

Performance utility powered by 1979 GMC Caballero engine family.

Engines and Induction summarized from reviewed factory and marque references.

Body Three-passenger coupe utility on a 117.1-inch wheelbase

Trims Standard, Laredo two-tone, or Diablo appearance package

Engines 200 or California 231 V6; optional 267, 305, or high-altitude 350 V8

Transmissions Three-speed manual, four-speed manual, or three-speed automatic by engine

Production 6,412 reported Caballeros

Story

1979 GMC Caballero

The 1979 Caballero family combined two-door, three-passenger coupe utility with a double-wall pickup box with standard Caballero, Caballero Laredo, Caballero Diablo, federal and California power teams configurations. This page keeps those factory choices together without treating an engine, stripe, badge, or trim package as a separate car identity.

Engines and transmissions

The federal L26 200 V6 was standard, with optional L39 267 and LG4 305 V8 paths plus a high-altitude LM1/NA6 350. California substituted an LC6 Buick 231 V6 and used a separate 305 calibration. Engine RPO and market changed transmission, axle, output, induction, and emissions details, so the VIN, stamps, castings, controls, axle, dates, and records must remain one coherent power team. Transmission, induction, cooling, exhaust, axle, emissions equipment, and dates must match the selected engine path.

Chassis and brakes

The shared 1AW80 perimeter-frame chassis used unequal-length front control arms and a triangulated four-link live rear axle, with coil springs at both ends. Standard air-adjustable rear dampers supported the 800-pound payload. Vacuum-assisted 10.5-inch front discs and 9.5-by-2-inch rear drums were standard; F41, axle ratio, limited slip, wheels, and tires remained order-specific. Brake, steering, spring, damper, axle, ratio, wheel, and tire equipment varied by configuration and must be reconciled to factory and car-specific records.

Body, trim, and proof

Start with VIN or serial, body tag, title, shell, and ownership history. Then reconcile drivetrain, chassis, protected finish, cabin, trim, dates, and records. Replaceable badges, stripes, wheels, or a swapped engine cannot establish factory configuration.

Specs

Car type: Performance utility
Seats: 3
Body: Two-door, three-passenger coupe utility with a double-wall pickup box
Engine: 1979 GMC Caballero engine family
Horsepower: 94 to 165 SAE net hp across final reported federal and California calibrations
Torque: Configuration-specific factory rating follows engine, induction, emissions equipment, and transmission
Carburetion: Two-barrel carburetion on the L26, LC6, and L39; four-barrel carburetion on the LG4 and high-altitude LM1

Equipment

117.1-inch wheelbase and 201.6-inch overall length
35.5-cubic-foot double-wall pickup box with 800-pound payload
Standard, Laredo, and Diablo appearance paths
Six federal, California, and high-altitude engine/calibration paths
Standard power front discs and air-adjustable rear dampers

Linked Parts

Price history

Values

Nominal dollars from original price sheets, auction archives, and approved value references.

Original Price

Base MSRP $5,378

1979 GMC Caballero 1/2 Ton Pickup (1979)
Secondary exact-year base MSRP before destination, Laredo or Diablo content, drivetrain, and other options; a dated GMC schedule or serial-specific invoice controls one car.
1979 GMC Caballero 1/2 Ton Pickup values

Values move with paperwork, originality, options, condition, venue, and body style. High bids and guide values are labeled separately from completed sales.

Reference records

Options, Colors & Components

Source-backed details for trim, chassis, production, and authenticity.

Engine Details

RPO L26 200 V6 200 cu in; two-barrel; 94 SAE net hp at 4,000 rpm and 154 lb-ft at 2,000 rpm · Standard outside California; three-speed manual or automatic · engine assembly / specification
RPO LC6 231 V6 231 cu in Buick V6; two-barrel; 115 SAE net hp at 3,800 rpm and 190 lb-ft at 2,000 rpm · California-only automatic path · engine assembly / specification
RPO L39 267 V8 267 cu in; two-barrel; 125 SAE net hp at 3,800 rpm and 215 lb-ft at 2,400 rpm · Outside-California four-speed manual or automatic path · engine assembly / specification
RPO LG4 305 V8 305 cu in; four-barrel; 160 hp federal or 155 hp California in final reported calibrations · Four-speed manual outside California or automatic; emissions-market-specific · engine assembly / specification
RPO LM1 with NA6 350 V8 350 cu in; four-barrel; 165 SAE net hp at 3,800 rpm and 260 lb-ft at 2,400 rpm in final reported calibration · High-altitude, outside-California, automatic-only path · carburetor / specification

Transmission

Factory transmission RPO MM3 three-speed fully synchronized floor-shift manual with the federal L26 200 V6
Factory transmission RPO MM4 four-speed fully synchronized floor-shift manual with the federal L39 267 or LG4 305 V8
Factory transmission RPO MX1 three-speed automatic across the published engine paths

Options

Transmissions summarized from reviewed factory and marque references.Classic Muscle · Reference illustration

LAREDO Caballero Laredo appearance package factory · appearance · Twelve restricted two-tone combinations, bright body-side, tailgate, and pickup-box moldings, tailgate identification, protected finish, and records must agree.
DIABLO Caballero Diablo appearance package factory · appearance · Black-accented grille, air dam, hood flame graphic, door and tailgate identification, lower accent paint, sport mirrors, body-color Rally wheels, tires, protected finish, and records define the package.
L39 267-cubic-inch two-barrel V8 factory · performance · Outside-California engine with manual or automatic application; VIN, stamps, castings, induction, emissions, transmission, axle, dates, and records must agree.
LG4 305-cubic-inch four-barrel V8 factory · performance · Manual, automatic, axle, output, and emissions details differ by market; all power-team evidence must reconcile.
LM1-NA6 High-altitude 350-cubic-inch four-barrel V8 factory · performance · Outside-California high-altitude, automatic-only path; an installed 350 or displacement claim does not establish factory delivery.
MM4 Four-speed manual transmission factory · performance · Published with federal 267 and 305 paths; gearbox, clutch, pedals, controls, axle, engine, dates, and records must agree.
G80 Limited-slip differential factory · performance · Carrier, ratio, lubricant, power-team application, axle identity, dates, and records define one installation.
F41 Sport suspension factory · performance · Springs, dampers, stabilizer equipment, steering, wheels, tires, dates, and records must agree.
A51-D55 Bucket seats with available center console factory · comfort · Seat structure, upholstery, console, shifter, transmission, trim, and records must agree.
U14 Special instrumentation factory · comfort · Tachometer, voltmeter, temperature and oil-pressure gauges, clock, harness, senders, bezel, and records must agree.

Paint

11 White factory · solid
15 Silver Metallic factory · metallic
19 Black factory · solid
21 Pastel Blue factory · solid
22 Light Blue Metallic factory · metallic
29 Dark Blue Metallic factory · metallic
40 Light Green factory · solid
44 Medium Green Metallic factory · metallic
54 Light Yellow factory · solid
61 Beige factory · solid
63 Camel Metallic factory · metallic
69 Dark Brown Metallic factory · metallic
77 Carmine Metallic factory · metallic
79 Dark Carmine Metallic factory · metallic

Production

Rear Axle and Ratios summarized from reviewed factory and marque references.Classic Muscle · Reference illustration

1979 GMC Caballero total · 6,412 · reported

Authenticity

Brake Systems summarized from reviewed factory and marque references.Classic Muscle · Reference illustration

VIN and GMC Caballero body identity 13-digit 1979 GMC Caballero VIN, title, coupe-utility shell, body evidence, assembly details, and ownership history that agree · Upper-left instrument-panel VIN plate, title, body and frame evidence, cowl identification, assembly details, and ownership records · fraud detection
Engine, transmission, axle, and emissions path VIN- and record-supported L26, LC6, L39, LG4, or LM1/NA6 installation with its permitted gearbox, axle ratio, induction, emissions equipment, stamps, castings, and dates · VIN, engine stamps and castings, carburetor and intake, emissions label and equipment, transmission case and controls, axle, dates, and serial-specific records · numbers matching
Laredo or Diablo package Record- and protected-finish-supported package with the correct paint boundaries, moldings, graphics, grille, air dam, mirrors, wheels, tires, and identification · Invoice or build evidence, protected paint and graphic areas, body hardware, hood, doors, tailgate, grille, mirrors, air dam, wheels, tires, and cabin · trim correctness
Paint, roof, seating, and cabin Body-tag- and record-supported paint or two-tone combination, vinyl roof, seat type, upholstery code, console, instruments, steering, comfort equipment, and dated hardware · Body or cowl tag, protected finish, roof edges, seat frames and trim, instrument panel, console, wiring, controls, invoice, and build evidence · date correctness

Still Researching

production The reported 6,412 model-year total is not backed by a reviewed audited GMC ledger and has no trim, engine, transmission, axle, paint, interior, plant, date, export, or survivor splits.
paint colors Fourteen shared 1AW80 base colors and broad Laredo/Diablo treatments are documented, but no reviewed GMC matrix resolves every package, accent, vinyl-roof, cabin, plant, formula-revision, and production-date combination.
interior Factory material establishes seat forms, four cabin color families, and major options but not every upholstery code, package, exterior-color, supplier, and running-change combination.
authenticity markers Public model-year references cannot establish one survivor's born-with GMC shell, drivetrain, axle, chassis equipment, package, finish, roof, cabin, options, or component dates.