Happy 50th Birthday, 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]