1959 CHEVROLET EL CAMINO UTE !

 

The Classic 1959 Chevrolet El Camino Ute !

In typical Chevrolet vs Ford fashion – yes folks, it’s as old a tradition in the USA as it is here in Oz – the 1959 El Camino ute, was Chevrolet’s response to the 1957 and 1958 Ford Ranchero which was hugely successful ! In those days they were marketed as `pick-up’ trucks with the advantage of being  lighter and easier to handle than the big trucks of the day. We of course know them here as ute’s (short for Utility).

One thing in common between the rival companies, is that both the Ford Ranchero and the 1959 Chevrolet El Camino were based on a passenger car chassis; ie the sedans or coupes already in the manufacturer’s fleet. In the 1959 El Camino’s case, it was the Impala of the day that lent it’s chassis.

This meant that it was designed to combine big car comfort and performance with a pickup truck – hence a Ute !

The success of both utes of the day was due to the demand from country dwellers and farm folk who demanded some style and performance in their pick-up trucks! This is highly likely where the concept of `the truck as a work-horse, working hard during the day and doing it tough in the fields, then hosed down and cleaned-up for the big night on the town’ came from!

In 1959 though, the El Camino was a little rushed and although it’s performance and it’s typically Chevrolet wings and chrome style certainly hit the mark, the manufacturing process was a little lack lustre in comparison to Ford.

The result was that just over 22,000 units were built in the first year.

The good news though, is that they were all sold.

By 1961, the El Camino was dropped from the production line to be redesigned and returned in 1964 based on the Chevy Chevelle which lasted till 1977. 

From 1978-1987, the El Camino was based on the Chevy Malibu and more  recently, – good news for Australians – the El Camino’s return in the USA will be based on the Pontiac G8, which is of course what we all in Australia know as the powerhouse Holden Ute ! 

 

In 1959, the El Camino was available on 3 engines;

The example in our photography has the original 348 V8 engine fitted. Although the engine produced 250hp with a 4 barrel carburetor, it was quickly superseded by the long enduring 350 cu in (5.7L) engine and the 409 cu in (6.7 L).

The engine in our example has triple double-pump carburetors on a standard 348 cu in block producing 335 horsepower.

With a standard 4 speed manual gearbox, the performance of the utility is better than most sedans of the period, clocking 0-60mph times of around 7 seconds, an estimated top speed of 130mph (210kph) and a 14 second standing quarter.

Custom, deep dish 17″ Foose wheels replace the original 15″ steel wheels, but the chrome look and the 275/50/R17 rubber still pay respect to the lines and style of the ’59 classic so are a very sympathetic modern enhancement.

The El Camino was used in our XMas promotion featuring Sydney model, Alana Ray.


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General
specifications
Country of origin USA
Numbers built 22,246
Produced in 1959

 

Engine
Configuration 90º V 8
Location Front, longitudinally mounted
Construction Cast iron block and head
Displacement 5.702 liter / 348 cu in
Bore / Stroke 10.47 cm / 8.25 cm
Compression 950cc
Valvetrain
Fuel feed Triple double pump carburettors
Aspiration Naturally Aspirated

 

Drivetrain
Gearbox 4 Speed Manual
Drive Rear wheel drive

 

Performance
figures
Power 335 hp
Torque 355 ft lbs
BHP/Liter

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