In today’s label-driven marketing, the El Camino would be considered a crossover – a vehicle built on a car chassis while offering truck utility. Such was not the case when Ford introduced the concept with its Ranchero in 1957. It was a pickup truck in fancy clothes; really, nothing new when you consider a Ford Model A was available with a pickup bed in the late 1920s. The Studebaker Coupe Express was a similar notion, too. Nonetheless, Ford is largely given credit for introducing the “ute” with the Ranchero.

Chevrolet responded two years later in 1959 with the El Camino built on the full-size Chevy chassis. GM produced the car for just two years when it disappeared after 1960, only to reappear in 1964 on the all-new mid-size Chevelle chassis where it remained throughout the rest of its lifetime. Built on the 119-in. Chevelle wagon chassis, the El Camino afforded ½-ton carrying capacity with car-like comfort and convenience. Options mirrored the rest of the Chevelle line-up, including high-performance Super Sport equipment like the “big block” 396 and 454-cu. in. V-8s during the Muscle Car era.

Although incorporating much the same structure under the skin, the El Camino received updated sheet metal for 1966 just like its Chevelle sibling. Unlike the 1964–1965 rendition, styling was much less angular and boxy than previous models. Two models were available, standard and Custom. A total of 34,724 were produced for the model year, including 24,337 Customs like this example.

Wearing Tuxedo Black over a red vinyl bench seat interior, this El Camino is equipped with a 327-cu. in. V-8. The trim tag/vehicle identification number indicates this El Camino to be equivalent to Malibu trim, which identifies it to be a Custom model. It sports an SS grille and hood, and options include power steering and brakes, automatic transmission, AM radio, and Rally wheels fitted with blackwall tires. An under dash tachometer is installed to the left of the steering column. It joined the Guyton Collection in November 1998. This will serve as an ideal vehicle for Cars & Coffee events or local cruise nights.