Chevy El Camino Facts
Produced by General Motors, the Chevy El Camino is a two-door coupe vehicle with a cargo bed behind the passenger cabin. The original purpose of the launch of the El Camino in 1959 was to compete with Ford’s Ranchero, a popular vehicle during the late 50's.
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Initial Launch and Discontinuation
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The first El Camino--launched in 1959--came out a couple of years after the Ford Ranchero; both were based on a station wagon design. El Camino sales were initially very stagnant, selling far less than Ford's Ranchero, Only 22,246 were manufactured in the El Camino's first year of production. The more conservative 1960 model of the car sold just 14,163 vehicles, which led to Chevrolet discontinuing El Camino production.
Re-Introduction
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El Camino was reintroduced in 1964; this time it was modified to be similar to the Chevrolet Chevelle, sharing many of its design characteristics. In 1965, modifications to the car’s exterior were made, and it got a front end that was similar to other larger Chevrolets. New versions of the trim and grill, along with a modified bumper, were added to the El Camino’s exterior in 1967. Air shocks continued to be a standard feature of the car, providing for sufficient load compensation. Disc brakes were also included in the car design the same year.
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350 V-8 Engine
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In 1968, a new version of the El Camino was introduced based on the station wagon. The new El Camino featured four doors and a covering over the cargo bed. In 1969, the legendary Chevrolet 350 V-8 was put into the El Camino, giving it muscle car power.
El Camino Classic
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The El Camino Classic was produced in 1974 and had features previously seen in the Malibu Classic--such as upgraded door panels and notchback seats with vinyl or cloth armrests--continuing the trend of yearly style redesigns that Chevrolet continued until the 1978 model.
Four Models
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In 1978, the fifth generation of El Caminos with a longer wheel base was produced. During the 10-year period from 1978 to 1987, buyers could choose from four models of El Camino: Royal Knight, Conquista, Super Sport and El Camino.
El Caminos Today
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Although their production was discontinued in 1987, El Caminos still maintain their popularity as a classic car. They are very popular among car collectors and often make appearances during car shows that feature muscle cars.
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