Today’s truck is a 1959 Chevrolet El Camino that is finished in Frost Blue with a matching interior.
The concept of a car with a utility bed was nothing new for 1959. Australia had been doing it since the automobile was introduced (called ‘Utes’). American cars in the late 1920s, but more prevalent in the 1930s had kits that could be fastened to a coupe or sedan body to give it more utility. When Ford had sales success with their Ranchero, Chevrolet needed an answer! The El Camino was introduced for the 1959 model year and returned for 1960. Based on the station wagon chassis, it rode like a car but was classified as a truck. They even shared the sheet metal of the car lines and had nothing in common with the trucks, other than a utility bed. I have heard them described as neither a good car nor a good truck but, not half bad as a combo. They were powered by an inline 235 6-cylinder or an optional 283 or 348 V8 with as much as 335 bhp. The El Camino actually outsold the Ranchero in 1959 but, sales slipped for 1960 and Chevrolet dropped the El Camino for the 1961 model year. Even the casual observer will notice the unique ‘cat-eye’ tail lights of the ‘59 models. While the El Camino may not have been a sales success for Chevrolet at that time, it became the universal term for a car/truck! Also, look at the offerings in the auto market, today. How many manufacturers offer a 4-door pickup in the utility vehicle market segment? Quite a few! El Camino was just 50 years ahead of its time! 😎 David D. Floyd
Thank you for riding along. Frank
