![]() ![]() The full catalog of Chevy engine options was available, including the trusty 235 CID straight six and 283 CID V8s, and even the 348 CID V8 with three two-barrel carbs and 315 hp. In Australia, where the body style is affectionately known as the ute, the coupe-utility is as familiar as a koala or a kangaroo.īuilt on the same X-Built Safety Girder chassis as the Chevy passenger-car line, the ’59 El Camino borrowed much of its interior from the bottom-of-the-line Biscayne series, but featured Bel Air-style bright-metal exterior side trim with Snowcrest White accent paint. ![]() In truth, the basic Ranchero/El Camino concept-a comfortable passenger car with a cargo box on the back for light hauling duty-is nearly as old as the auto industry. Chevy sold more than 3,000 Coupe-Pickups in that first year, and the model remained in production through 1942. But before we give Ford all the credit, we pause to reflect that Chevrolet was offering its own Coupe-Pickup model (above) way back in 1936. When Chevrolet rolled out the 1959 El Camino on October 16, 1958, we can bet the company was inspired at least in part by the successful launch of Ford’s similar car-pickup hybrid, the Ranchero, in 1957. So it's safe to assume that the El Camino could cover the 1/8-mile in less than five seconds.When Chevrolet introduced the 1959 El Camino, the bow-tie brand launched a successful product run that would continue for nearly 30 years. It's a shame there's no quarter-mile run, but it should be able to pull low 8s and maybe even a 7.9-second run.Īnd get this, these are all-motor sprints during which the driver doesn't use the car's nitrous system. It doesn't win, but it pulls impressive fast runs at 5.14 and 5.16 seconds, with trap speeds at more than 135 mph (217 kph). Yet, it's lighter than the majority of modern sports cars available right now.īut is it fast? Hell, yeah! The footage below shows the El Camino doing a couple of 1/8-mile runs, both against quicker slingshot dragsters. While the factory car tips the scales at a massive 3,750 pounds (1,701 kg), this build comes in at only 2,800 pounds (1,270 kg). These heavy mods also made the two-door utility much lighter than the standard El Camino. The fact that it's not even noticeable suggests that he did a fine job preserving the El Camino's proportions. To do that, he cut six inches (152.4) out of the wheelbase and a similar amount out of the sides to make the car narrower. The owner decided to give it a slightly more compact stance. Still, there even more to this El Camino than it meets the eye. ![]() The tailgate has been welded shut for practical reasons. Things become a lot more interesting in the bed, which a chromoly frame also finished in bright orange and carbon-fiber wheel wells. The V8 exhales through short exhausts that poke out through the front fenders. It's connected to a Powerglide transmission, which routes all the oomph to a nine-inch Ford rear end. And it's not just a big mill we're talking about an all-aluminum, race-spec unit with all sorts of modern components. Then there's the massive, 10.4-liter big-block V8 under the hood. The first thing that catches the eye is the bright orange finish of all the parts that used to be chrome from the factory, a solid contrast against the black paint. But the owner, who is a retired welder, spent 18 months transforming it into the beast you're about to see below. This thing started life as a plain-looking El Camino.
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