Pickup at the rear and the elegant sedan at the front! It was difficult to refer to any particular type, but the fact that it was exceptionally powerful was a reality. Introduced in 1959 this groundbreaking automobile became an American farmers’ darling.
Source: Mecum Auctions
This was a unique and inimitable vehicle that appeared in the late fifties when manufacturers were experimenting and looking for something unique and attractive. As a result, sworn rivals Ford with its Ranchero, and Chevrolet with its El Camino, had become super popular in the American market. These models were warmly welcomed, as the average American liked the versatility of these elegant pickups. At the front, it was like a passenger car, and at the rear -a real pickup truck, with the ability to carry cargo. But the most remarkable feature was its power. As the growing interest in powerful vehicles was in full swing, this model became a real star. Later, in the mid-60s, when muscle cars were in vogue, the Ford Ranchero was based on the Ford Fairlane, and Chevrolet El Camino – on its native Chevelle SS. Not surprisingly, the stylish and unusual design, good handling, and reasonable price increased its popularity.
Source: Pixels
In the late 50s, Chevrolet introduced its new mode, against the rough “shoebox” Ford Ranchero. Compared to the rival it was very handsome, stylish, and even elegant. Everything about it was perfect, even the name, which translated from Spanish meant ” a road”, a very sounding name far from the image of the farm truck. In those days, pickups were generally at the height of fashion, and almost all manufacturers made them. However, among the crowd of very similar automobiles, El Camino stood out. Based on the Impala, the pickup inherited its sporting spirit. Double saloon, passenger cabin fitted into the contours of the body and the spacious trunk. In addition, the vehicle featured branded tail lights in the form of a cat’s eye and trunk wings. The vehicle was equipped with 6-cylinder engines ranging from 135 to 335 hp. The top speed was 135 miles per hour, and acceleration to 100 miles was reached in 14 seconds. Unfortunately, during the first two years, only 35 thousand pickups were sold, and the company decided to stop production. In 1964 it was resumed, already based on the Chevelle. The new automobile became wildly popular, selling almost as many automobiles as in the first two years of production based on the Impala. This was the heyday of muscle cars, and the new automobile became a popular platform for tuning fans. The base model received 6-cylinder engines with a capacity of 122 and 150 hp, widely popular among farmers and housewives striving to buy stylish yet practical automobiles. In the 70s, most Americans looked at El Camino as a sports coupe with a very large open trunk. The package included seven 8-cylinder engines ranging from 200 to 375 hp.
Source: Mecum Auctions
The first-generation model of the El Camino had a design inspired by the Impala and Bel Air. This resulted in the production of highly extravagant pickup trucks in 1959-1960. Interestingly, 1959 marked the final year of production for the Ford Ranchero, a competing vehicle, leading to direct competition between the two only in that year. Surprisingly, the audience quickly developed a fondness for the new El Camino model, with 22,246 vehicles sold in 1959, twice as many as the Ford Ranchero. The 1959 edition on a 119″ (3023 mm) wheelbase cruciform chassis was common among all full-size series. Its body was similar to the Brookwood 3-door station wagon but with half of the roof removed. The interior trim matched the budget Biscayne series, while the outer chrome cladding had better quality than the Bel Air series. Unlike typical cargo pickups, the El Camino had a corrugated steel platform instead of wood, although it had a smaller volume of about one cubic meter. The payload capacity varied from 300 to 520 kg depending on the powertrain. The 1959 El Camino was available with any Chevy engine offered that year. Most buyers preferred the base 6-cylinder Blue Flame 235 with 135 hp or the V8 Turbo-Fire 283 with 170 hp. However, some opted for the 5.7-liter V8 Turbo-Thrust 348 engine with three 2-barrel carburetors, which delivered 315 hp (1959) and was paired with a 4-speed manual gearbox. There was also a mechanically injected 4.6-liter V8 283 with either 250 or 290 hp available exclusively in 1959.
Source: Barrett-Jackson
The protagonist of the famous TV series “My Name Is Earl”, rode a battered red 1959 El Camino.
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