El Camino

Vehicle details

The El Camino was Chevrolet’s passenger-car-based pickup introduced for sale in autumn 1958. Using the new full-size passenger-car structure and running gear, it replaced the rear passenger body with a cargo area to serve personal transport and hauling in one vehicle. This passenger-car-based pickup combined a two-door, three-seat cabin with an open cargo bed. A large rear window and low bed sides expressed both passenger-car styling and light-hauling utility. The base V8 for 1959 was a 283-cubic-inch overhead-valve engine. A two-barrel carburetor supported 185 gross horsepower, with a three-speed manual driving the rear wheels. Automatic transmissions and more powerful V8 specifications were also available. A 119-inch wheelbase and wide body supported generous cabin dimensions and a long rear section. A drop-down tailgate provided bed access. With a shape closer to a passenger car than a conventional truck, it occupied a distinctive position between personal transport and working vehicle, establishing the first production El Camino family.

Production years

1958–

Illustrated model year

1959

Body

Pickup

Powertrain

Petrol