Chevrolet El Camino
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- "El Camino" redirects to this article, but the term is also used to refer to one of the roads known as El Camino Real.
In Mexico, it was sometimes badged and sold as the Chevrolet Conquistador
First generation (1959-1960)
The first El Camino was produced for the 1959 model year (two years after the Ranchero) and was based on that year's Chevrolet Impala. The car's development was rushed, and it was not as successful as the Ford, with 22,246 built the first year. The 1960 model tracked the changes on the Impala, with an extensive restyling. Sales were down at 14,163 and Chevrolet decided to discontinue the model. In total, 36,409 first generation El Caminos were produced.
Second generation (1964-1967)
Four years later, with Ford's Ranchero still selling well, Chevrolet reincarnated the El Camino, based on the new Chevrolet Chevelle platform. That 1964 model was basically identical to the Chevelle forward of the B-pillars, but Chevrolet considered the vehicle a practical, utility model and the Chevelle's most powerful engines were not available.
1965 saw the availability of performance versions of the 327 engine with some 350 hp. 1966 brought added a 396 in³ engine to the lineup rated at 325-375 hp. The 1965 327 would run low 15s in the 1/4 mile (at some 90 mph), while 1966 to 1969 models were easily into the mid- to upper-14s. The El Camino followed the Chevelle's styling update for 1967, with a new grille, front bumper, and trim. Air shocks were introduced, allowing the driver to compensate for a load.
Third generation (1968-1972)
1968 introduced a longer El Camino, based on the station wagon/4-door sedan wheelbase. A new, high performance Super Sport SS396 version was launched, alongside the Chevelle version. 1969 models were very similar, but 1970 saw the availability of a new SS396 which actually displaced 402 in³ (although all emblems read 396). Chevrolet's largest and most-powerful engine of the time was also put into a select few El Caminos. The LS6 454 in³ engine, rated at 450 hp and 500 ft·lbf of torque, gave the El Camino 1/4 mile times in the upper 13 second range at almost 105 mph.
The 1971 model saw reduced power and performance, along with the rest of Chevrolet's line, as lower-octane unleaded fuel was mandated, and emissions controls began to be felt. Single headlights replaced double for 1971, and the grille came now to a point. Little changed but still lower power outputs for 1972.
A rebadged El Camino called the GMC Sprint debuted in 1971.
1973-1977: 4th generation
For 1973, the car was restyled again, matching changes to the Chevelle. It was the largest generation of El Camino, but thanks to lighter construction, it weighed less than the previous generation. A front-end restyle with quad stacked headlights was done in 1976, but otherwise it was the same car until 1978.
1978-1987: 5th generation
A new, smaller El Camino was unveiled in 1978, with more sharp-edged styling.With a single headlight design, until a later revision in 1982 that had a four headlight design on the same body style as previous years from 1978-1981. Since the Chevelle was no longer produced, the El Camino instead shared components with the Chevrolet Malibu and Chevrolet Monte Carlo. V6 engines (based on the Buick or Chevrolet 90-degree V6) were available for the first time, and from 1982 through 1984, Oldsmobile-sourced diesel engines.
After 1984, GM shifted El Camino production to Mexico for three more years. Production ceased after the 1987 model year, as sales of the Chevrolet S-10 were outselling its passenger car counterpart.
1984 to 1987 El Caminos (and its sister, the GMC Caballero) were produced in Ramos Arizpe, Mexico. Around 200 unsold 1987 El Caminos were sold as 1988 models.
The El Camino today
Many El Caminos are still used as daily drivers, and some are used in various racing venues. The Discovery Channel program Monster Garage once turned an El Camino into a Figure-8 racer (dubbed the "Hell-Camino"). The drift team Bubba Drift uses a 1986 El Camino as the only drifting car. It is one of the few drift cars that use an automatic transmission instead of a manual transmission.The titular character of "My Name is Earl" owns a fourth generation El Camino, although it has suffered damage and now has several replacement parts.
The El Camino is ostensibly the subject of the song "An El Camino is a Car," by the Bay Area indy-rock band Readyville.
On a production note, it has been constantly rumored for years now that GM may bring back the El Camino. GM already has a vehicle ready in Australia in the form of the Holden Ute, save for some minor changes necessary to make it available in the U.S. This may have been backtracked within the past couple of years, however, as the Subaru Baja—currently the only "pickup car" available in the U.S.—hasn't sold well at all and rumor has it that it may be dropped. In addition, the Pontiac GTO (which Holden builds & exports for Pontiac and is loosely related to the Holden Ute) hasn't sold well either. Only time will tell if the El Camino makes a comeback.
See also
- mini truck
- pickup truck
- ute
External links
- [Bubba Drift]
- [Chevy El Camino at Muscle Car Facts] — A year by year account of the car.
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