El Caminos

By Robert Snowden

According to Chevrolet stylist Chuck Jordan, GM’s Harley Earl had recommended and lobbied for a coupe pickup as early as 1952. By 1957, the Ford Motor Company was producing the ever popular Ranchero. The combination of lost sales to the Ranchero and declining sales of the Cameo Carrier was enough to kick start the production of the all-new 1959 El Camino. The ’59 El Camino featured passenger car styling with lightweight truck capacities. The new El Camino featured a Bel Air exterior look with a Biscayne style interior. A major selling point for the new car/truck was its all-steel bed.