The team next turned to the soon-to-be introduced Chevy II compact, which would be built on a conventional rear-drive chassis. Called the Trailblazer - a name that would return at Chevrolet decades later - it quickly came to naught.
(Besides, Ford also had a more direct competitor for the Rampside in the Econoline.) The dealers wanted another El Camino.Īccording to Skowronski, the planning team initially flirted with a somewhat El Camino-like concept featuring dual Corvair engines. The short-term solution offered by Chevrolet - the 1961 Corvair Rampside pickup, with its rear engine and bi-level load floor - was simply too different to compete against the small, but thoroughly conventional, Ford. They were also aware, of course, that Ford was still very much in the game with the new compact Ranchero, which was selling well. They had liked the extra sales provided by the half car/half truck. Some Chevrolet dealers were disappointed with the El Camino being dropped for 1961. Skowronski's very first assignment: help Chevrolet Truck Sales Manager James Conlon and his product planners research a replacement for the 1960 El Camino. When Eugene "Geno" Skowronski reported to work at Campbell-Ewald Advertising, Chevrolet's ad agency, on September 8, 1960, it was the start of a career that would span more than three decades and include dozens of new-vehicle introductions. However, your author did locate a member of the original concept team who well remembers the story of how the intermediate El Camino came to be. The exact chronology of events and who did what to bring the El Camino revival to market have become murky with the passage of time.
However, when Chevrolet unveiled a new El Camino in 1964, Ford was immediately put on the defensive. The Falcon Ranchero consistently rang up around 20,000 sales per model year from 1960 to 1963. Meanwhile, Ford was busy transforming the Ranchero into a much smaller offering based on its new-for-1960 Falcon compact. Chevrolet responded with its like-sized El Camino in '59, but would build it that way for only two model years. See more pictures of Chevrolet cars.įord, of course, had fired the first round in the sedan-pickup battle with its Ranchero, built from 1957 to 1959 on the full-size Ford platform. You're much more likely to find something that isn't rusted beyond repair.The 1965 El Camino combined the moderate size of a car with the performance of a truck. It will add some expense and paperwork, but it may be worth your while to target the Southwestern US. I'm sure you are aware of the challenges that face older cars in cold climates when it comes to rust. It's also very common for motors/trans to have been swapped at some point, so verify with your eye what is actually in the vehicle.įinally, I see that your budget is in CAD.
If you do a lot of highway driving, you'll want one with an overdrive transmission. Particularly, you want to be familiar with the common engine/transmission options. Have a look at the following link and read through the sections on the different generations. 4th gen may be a option, but those only had a 4 year run during heavy smog regulations & are less common. For reference, a nicely restored 1st, 2nd, 3rd gen will usually be double your budget or more. Parts availability and cost-of-ownership is not bad. Assuming you want one that is basically ready to drive and not a project: 5th gen "G body" El Camino, 1978-1987.
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