It was Earl, Jordan says, who suggested, "taking the Chevrolet passenger-car sedan and making a deluxe pickup out of it."īut Jordan says that his 1952 drawing had no direct connection to the original El Camino he had already been named chief designer in the Cadillac studio by the time the 1959 Chevrolet styling program got under way. Jordan recalls that the design sketch resulted from a discussion with GM's legendary design chief, Harley Earl. One of Jordan's early renderings for GM showed a 1952 Chevrolet passenger car with an integrated pickup box. "Chuck" Jordan, and he was destined to retire from GM in 1992 as its fourth vice president of design. The Cameo Carrier's genesis can be found in design exercises executed in the early 1950s by a talented and enthusiastic young stylist in the GM truck design group. Two-tone paint, smooth V-8 power, an automatic transmission, a relatively luxurious interior, power assists, and more were among its attractions. Although a truck in every sense, the Cameo offered an unprecedented array of car-like features. (GM's export organization offered a Chevrolet utility as late as 1952, and GM's Australian Holden model line continues to feature a distinctly El Camino-like "ute.")Ĭhevrolet's truly stylish Cameo Carrier pickup, introduced in mid 1955, also helped pave the way for the El Camino. These Aussie "utes" typically combined the styling of a five-window coupe body with an integrated pickup box. GM, Ford, and other automakers manufactured and marketed "utility" coupe-pickup models in Australia as early as the mid 1930s. There are antecedents to the Ranchero and El Camino, however. The 1937-1939 Studebaker Coupe-Express and Hudson pickups of the 1930s and 1940s are also excluded, due to their distinctly separate cargo boxes. Nor do coupe models equipped with a pickup box in the deck opening, such as Chevrolet's own 1936-1942 Coupe-Pickup. Thus, early pickups based on passenger-car chassis don't qualify. We highly recommend that you examine the vehicle to check the accuracy of the information supplied.Before delving into origins, though, we need to address the question just what is a sedan pickup? For purposes of this article, consider it to be a utility vehicle built on a passenger-car chassis, with passenger-car frontal and cabin styling, and - this is key - a cargo box seamlessly integrated into the passenger-car design elements. Therefore, we are not able to guarantee the accuracy of the information and we cannot accept liability for loss or damage arising from misleading information or for any reliance on which you may place on the information contained on this website or our advertisements. Whilst Fusion Motor Company make a sincere effort to supply information that is accurate and complete, we are aware that errors and omissions may occur. Great lease rates and Financing also available on any of our inventory! Turn key with cold AC!! Rare El Camino at a great price. The car since restoration has only about 3000 miles on it. New tinted glass, new interior, brand new Magnaflow exhaust. Finished in a two-tone blue and black color scheme, the El Camino retains its stock rear end and bed, giving an attractive finish to well-restored vehicle. It has also been rewired and a retro-looking radio with a modern aux and Ipod capabilities. The car has been lowered three inches in the front and one inch in the back, resting on new US Mag chrome wheels and new Nitto tires. The transmission is an TH350 automatic rebuilt with a B&M shifter. On the front end, it has a vintage A/C unit with a polished compressor, a polished V belt system, and a aluminum Champion radiator with dual fans. The engine has approximately 1500 miles on it The car has power disc brakes in front with polished booster and master cylinder, slotted and vented rotors, drop spindles and new control arms, bushings, tie rods, tinted glass, exhaust system, and a Dakota Digital dash. The example offered here has underwent a recent restoration. There are few 1960 models than any other production year. Though the initial production run of El Caminos only lasted for two years, it was re-released in 1964 and produced again until 1977. The competition only lasted for one calendar year as Chevrolet outsold Ford by double the units. Designed by Chevrolet as a more luxurious utility coupe, El Caminos were originally introduced to the marketplace in 1959 to directly compete with the recently released Ford Ranchero.
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