When it’s all said and done, nothing about this vehicle fits the phrases “truck” or “utility.” The way it tucks under the wing, and curves to match the fender further emphasizes the outrageous styling . I had higher expectations from GM- It seems to me their tail lights of thar era typically interlocked with the sheetmetal, and tucked the mounting hardware into the nooks and crannys of the tail light lenses. I’m not talking about the dents in the trim, but rather the way the assembly appears to be slapped up against the sheet metal, and then mounted to the car using exposed screws. In this shot, I’m fascinated by the crudeness of these tail lights. Whether you take in the ’59’s shape from a distance, or step in close, you’ll find a detail or curve you missed on the initial viewing. In case you haven’t picked up on it, for me the styling overwhelms all other aspects of this truck. The ’59 Chevy was the second year of the X-Frame, quad headlights, and the big block 348, but I see no reason to discuss these details. Looking at my Miata parked in the Camino’s gun sights, I marvel that the world has room for two vehicles so diverse in design and purpose, yet both are (essentially) a two person transportation device.
The thing is so damn single minded in it’s pursuit of style strictly for the sake of style. I’m no fan, but at the same time, I’m delighted it exists. I will say this- Sighting down the side of a ’59 El Camino, you’ll never mistake it for any other vehicle. This Jet Age styling may have made sense to a youth growing up in the sixties, but since it came out two years before I was born, I lack the ability to relate. That may be the best approach to understand these trucks.
In another posting, Paul reviewed the ’59 El Camino using the perspective of his younger self. Given the exuberant styling of the time, the utilitarian aspects of these vehicles were overshadowed by the deeply drawn sheet metal panels draped around the pickup box. Thanks to the Chevie’s “batwing” styling, it may be the most impractical pickup body ever built. In 1959, both Ford and Chevy offered these “pickups” with their full sized station wagons providing the platform.
59 el camino tail light full#
Eighteen months later, I’ve finally found one on the streets of Long Beach, and gathered enough pics to justify a full write up.Ĭhevy brought out the El Camino in response to Ford’s Ranchero, a model Ford first offered in 1957. However, the article also noted I didn’t find any of the original Elkys, built in ’59 & ’60. (first posted ) Back in October of 2013, I posted “ The El Caminos of Los Angeles.” That article included 20 different El Caminos photographed over a two week span, demonstrating that the streets of LA were littered with these American utes.
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