October 16, 1958 – Chevrolet releases the El Camino
On this day in 1958 Chevrolet introduced its line up of vehicles for 1959. The El Camino sat among them, an all new car/truck hybrid that would compete directly with the Ford Ranchero that hit the market two years earlier. Chevrolet stylist Chuck Jordan reported that Chevrolet general manager Harley Earl had suggested a coupé pickup as early as 1952. It was a nod to the fact that GM had been producing the Ute, a car/truck vehicle, in Australia since the 1930s.
The origins of the mass produced coupe utility truck can be traced to a 1932 letter. An Australian farmer penned the note to Ford Motor Company asking for a vehicle she and her husband could drive to church on Sundays and haul pigs on Mondays. Her letter inspired Ford designer Lew Brandt to craft the 1934 coupe utility releas...
