This 1959 Chevrolet El Camino is a super cool car/truck hybrid with
a mild custom look and is ready for some serious cruising! Starting
in the mid-1950s, with the debut of the Chevy Cameo, American
automakers started to release luxury pickup trucks that prioritized
style alongside utility. The first pickup truck aimed to compete
with Chevrolet's Cameo was Ford's Ranchero, which featured a novel
design known as a "Sedan Pickup" and debuted in 1957. The Sedan
Pickup is a combination of a car and pickup truck, with a car-type
passenger cab in front and a standard pickup box on the back.
Towards the end of 1958, the Cameo had fallen out of favor with the
rising style of the "Task Force" pickups and on October 16, 1958,
the 1959 Chevrolet Pickups debuted in dealer showrooms. Noticeably
absent in the '59 debut were the Cameo Pickups instead replaced
with a brand new Sedan Pickup model, the 1959 Chevrolet El Camino.
Touted as "More than a Car - More than a Truck," the El Camino was
essentially a combination of a truck and car; that is, a pickup
truck body on a passenger car's chassis. Up front, the '59 El
Caminos shared the same new-look grilles, hoods, and headlight
design of Chevy's 1959 passenger car models. The rear end treatment
also significantly resembled the '59 Chevrolet passenger cars,
complete with the swooping tailfins that surrounded the
teardrop-shaped "Cat Eye" taillight lenses. The side profile is
where the car-truck hybrid design was most evident, with the
passenger cabin resembling a '59 Chevrolet car with a cut-out for
the pickup truck box in the rear. The interiors were also more
beautiful than standard '59 Task Force pickups and from the factory
looked quite similar to the elevated look of a '59 Impala or Bel
Air. Under the hood on this '59 El Camino is a 283 Cubic Inch V8
engine fed by a single 2 barrel carburetor that together were said
to have produced 185 horsepower when new. The 283 V8 is backed by a
3 speed manual transmission that is shifted via a column-mounted
"three-on-the-tree" shifter. Exhaust exits the small block Chevy
powerplant via dual exhaust ports that generate a nice throaty
sound out the rear. This 1959 El Camino is a nicely optioned 50s
pickup truck! With power steering, squeezing in and out of a tight
parking space a the local car show or drive-in is a total breeze
and the overall driving experience is much improved. Further
simplifying challenging parking situations is a pair of dual
outside chrome mirrors, with the driver's side mirror doubling as
an auxiliary spotlight. All four wheels have been upgraded to 18
inch Ridler 606 rims, with 245/40R18 radials up front and 275/35R18
radials in the rear that give this truck a wonderful pro touring
look and much smoother ride. Refinished in an eye-catching two-tone
paint scheme consisting of Roman Red and Snowcrest White, this '59
El Camino has fantastic curb appeal. The steel pickup box is in
great shape as is the wooden slat bed, that complete the gorgeous
exterior appearance of this classic Chevy truck. The custom
interior of this '59 Chevrolet El Camino has a wonderful look! The
bench seat has been reupholstered in two-tone red and white vinyl,
as are the matching custom door panels and matching upholstered
package tray. The Roman Red painted dash, red tuxedo carpeting,
custom matching tuxedo red embroidered floor mats, and matching
steering wheel are in fantastic condition as well and retain a nice
stock appearance. You'll also be able to stay cool even on the
hottest summer days thanks to upgraded air conditioning and, should
you need it, you can crank up the heat on a cool autumn evening.
The instrument cluster is equipped with a 120 MPH speedometer,
temperature gauge, and fuel gauge, along with a clock and indicator
lights for the generator and oil pressure. The dash is finished
with a locking glovebox, ashtray, and retro-style upgraded
AM/FM/Cassette entertainment system. Whether you're buying your
first classic pickup truck or you're adding to your existing Chevy
collection, this 1959 Chevrolet El Camino would make an excellent
choice. Give Ellingson's a call today at 763-428-7337!
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