Chevrolet El Camino, 1959
Chevrolet El Camino I
Chevrolet El Camino I•
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Chassis No.: G59S206338
Auction: Monterey 2022
Auction date: August 20, 2022
Lot No.: S81
$95,000 | High bid
- Exterior: Coral/Beige
- Interior: Gray
- Rebuilt 348/250 HP V-8 engine
- Correct carburetor, distributor and generator
- Upgraded TH350 automatic transmission
- Rebuilt suspension
- Heavy duty radiator
- Power steering
- Power brakes
- Vintage tachometer
- Stock AM radio
- Correct Gray interior by S.M.S.
- Restored dash and instruments
- Chrome grille guard
- Backup lights
- Highly detailed chrome, glass and trim
- Standard wheels with small diameter hubcaps
- Refinished in the original Cameo Coral and Satin Beige
- Restoration and vintage 1985 photos included
- Winner at the 2021 Hot August Nights event in Reno, Nevada
- Calendar
It’s been said that the first car-truck vehicle was produced by Ford of Australia when, in 1932, the wife of a rancher wrote to the company expressing her interest in an all-in-one vehicle that could be used around the farm, taken to market and used to attend church services on Sunday. Ford thought it might be an idea worth pursuing and engaged their designer, Lew Bandt, to sketch out the concept. Known as the Ute in Australia, the idea created quite a sensation with various manufacturers following suit with their own versions. Back in North America, Chevrolet entered the market with the El Camino in 1959.
Based largely on the full-size Chevrolet Brookwood two-door station wagon, the El Camino featured the exterior trim of the Bel Air and the interior trim of the Biscayne, lending it a stylish yet purposeful overtone. The El Camino could be had with essentially any option the customer desired, including any drivetrain available from Chevrolet, which ranged from inline 6-cylinders to the mighty 348 CI V-8, with which this 1959 El Camino is equipped. This El Camino is refinished in its original color combination of two-tone Cameo Coral with a Satin Beige top and tailgate treatment.
It rolls on blackwall tires wrapping steel wheels painted Cameo Coral, with small-diameter hubcaps dressing up the otherwise work-rated look. Fitted with a chrome grille guard, the El Camino also features back-up lights, twin sideview mirrors, dual exhaust and highly detailed chrome, glass and trim inside and out. The 348/250 HP V-8 engine has been rebuilt and is fitted with the correct carburetor, distributor and generator, and it’s paired with an upgraded TH350 automatic transmission. A heavy-duty radiator keeps things cool, the suspension has been rebuilt, and the Cameo is equipped with power steering and power brakes.
The gray interior was done by S.M.S. and features a stock AM radio, column shifter for the automatic transmission and a bench seat with a split back for access to behind-the-seat storage. The dashboard and instruments were also restored. To be sold with restoration and vintage 1985 photographs, this El Camino took a win at the 2021 Hot August Nights event in Reno, Nevada.
