Happy 50th Birthday, El Camino!
1959 Chevy El Camino
Yesterday was a milestone that won't be celebrated with a special edition, or a new fender badge, or some stripe package. Yesterday was the 50th Anniversary of the Chevy El Camino. As Hemmings points out in its post acknowledging the milestone, the El Camino was preceded by the Ford Ranchero by two years. But when people think of car-based pickups, it's "El Camino" that pops right to mind as a generic descriptor -- like Band-Aid and Vaseline. It's kind of a pity that GM's waiting for the '10 model year to reintroduce the concept, and as a Pontiac, no less. What a missed opportunity. 2010 Pontiac G8 ST? Sounds so generic. 2009 Chevy El Camino? Yeah. That would've been cool. Maybe even worth a 50th Anniversary Edition badge, you know?
Happy Birthday, El Camino.
[Source: Hemmings]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
anoldbikeguy 10:28AM (10/17/2008)
As a kid, my friends and I always thought that we would love to have an El Camino when we were able to drive - just something about it was cool.
I was able to finally indulge this in the early eighties when, as one of a series of 'winter beaters' that kept my pride and joy locked safely in the garage for the winter, I was able to find a 1975 El Camino for the princely sum of $850!
It was a one owner, bare bones model - in line six (250ci I believe) with a three on the tree, 93K miles and it had the cool rally wheels. Loved that caruck! No doubt my favorite out of six winter beaters I owned throughout the late seventies/early eighties. Very roomy bench seat, three across no problem and handy for moving stuff - a little dicey in the snow, but with weight in the back, not much different than most similar sized vehicles back then. Alas, my ex-wife HATED it - didn't want to be seen and it and hounded my until I sold it. I wish I had sold her sooner and kept the Camino!
Reply
WRX09 10:53AM (10/17/2008)
That picture looks so sweet and innocent. Certainly a time that is gone forever.
Reply
EXP Jawa 11:23AM (10/17/2008)
You're right - not at all like the one in the Honda Fit blowfish commercial...
Torrent 4:37PM (10/17/2008)
As much as I love new tech, I wish I was back in the fifties. Such a great time for cars.
garth 11:25AM (10/17/2008)
Chevy had some very good unique designs during that period from 1955-1959.
Also 50 years ago most car manufactures still had individual styling...unlike the pathetic universal clone styling you see so often today.
Reply
The Talking Hamburger 11:30AM (10/17/2008)
Sometime in the 80s, my late father traded his used Ford F150 truck for a '69 El Camino, thinking it might be collectors-worthy someday. Not long after he found out his particular Chevy wouldn't cut that kind of mustard, he didn't get upset or panic: He simply painted it yellow and aqua green, then added it to his ServiceMaster fleet. It proved to be an interesting conversation starter toward potential new clients.
Reply
Thorax 6:22PM (10/17/2008)
I miss my parents 81' Conquistador V6 with the camper. Of course I added a twin size mattress for " naps". It got 21 mpg and was actually very reliable.
Reply
Seanross 12:10PM (10/17/2008)
Maybe GM waitin for The Camino 75th or 100th Birthday :)
Or will they still be around by then? :/
Reply
J M C 3 5:41PM (10/17/2008)
One would think El Camino's time has come again since big pick ups are being abandoned in favor of higher milage vehicles.
Reply
jamie 12:34PM (10/17/2008)
Don't hold your breath, but I am sure Maximum Bob has changed his tune now, and wishes (is planning) to add a Chevy El Camino to the line-up.
Marketers agree that Chevrolet El Caminos would outsell Pontiac G8 STs 2 to 1. Come on Bob, do the right thing.
Reply
Nightcrawler 1:32PM (10/17/2008)
I can never decide whether these type vehicles are half car half truck with all the advantages of both, or half car half truck with all the disadvantages of both. But I tend to think the latter.
Reply
EXP Jawa 2:08PM (10/17/2008)
It could probably be argued either way. I think a lot of Aussies will tell you it's the former. I drove a '66 Ranchero in high school (its been in storage for the last decade and a half though) and thought it was great combination of car friendliness and truck utility. Of course, I don't recall ever carrying any significant cargo with it either...
As a Ranchero owner, though, I have to say that "El Camino" is not my first thought when someone brings up car-based pickups...
IOMTT 3:12PM (10/17/2008)
I would love a vehicle like an El Camino or Ranchero over a small truck. Would be perfect for the homeowner. However, needs to be priced competitively with a small pickup. That would be the challenge.
Reply
dukeisduke 3:17PM (10/17/2008)
The '59 looks really good in red. The blue one in the picture with the HMN article has '65 Chevy wheelcovers on it.
Reply
RockStoneSteel 4:02PM (10/17/2008)
That '59 shown here is quite the beautiful car. It's unfortunate the auto companies can't, or refuse, to do something so shapely and proportional now.
If they could exactly reproduce the looks of that '59, but with a modern drivetrain, they would have an incredible winner on their hands.
Reply
Cardude 5:59PM (10/17/2008)
Happy birthday to one of the coolest cars ever! Those 1959 models were really beautiful, come to think of it, all the El Caminos right up to the last (cry!) 1987 models were good looking cars. This was a good concept, it needs to be revived, but first we need a modern body on frame car platform to build it on. Come on GM, make it happen!
Reply
Brandlesmith 2:51AM (10/18/2008)
Happy Birthday, El Camino! Hee haw!
Reply
hidden_hunter 7:25PM (10/18/2008)
The Ranchero wasn't the first one either, Ford Australia was in the thirties with the ute which was created to get around taxes :o
Reply