According to Chevrolet stylist Chuck Jordan, GM Harley Earl had suggested a coupé pickup in 1952. The El Camino was introduced for the 1959 model year two years after the Ford Ranchero. Van Nuys, California, United States, ( Van Nuys Assembly) Norwood, Ohio, United States, ( Norwood Assembly) Lakewood, Georgia, United States, ( Lakewood Assembly) Janesville, Wisconsin, United States, ( Janesville Assembly) īaltimore, Maryland, United States, ( Baltimore Assembly)įlint, Michigan, United States, ( Flint Assembly) The original El Camino and Ranchero would compete directly only in the 1959 model year. In 1959, Chevrolet responded with the El Camino to compete with Ford's full-sized Ranchero. of an automobile platform based coupé utility. In 1957, Ford introduced the Ranchero, and established a new market segment in the U.S. The body style did not reappear on the American market until the release of the 1957 Ford Ranchero.īoth the coupé utility and the similar open-topped roadster utility continued in production, but the improving economy of the mid- to late-1930s and the desire for improved comfort saw coupé utility sales climb at the expense of the roadster utility until, by 1939, the latter was all but a fading memory. General Motors’ Australian subsidiary Holden also produced a Chevrolet coupé utility in 1935, and Studebaker produced the Coupé Express from 1937 to 1939. Bandt went on to manage Ford's Advanced Design Department, being responsible for the body engineering of the XP, XT, XW, and XA series Ford Falcon utilities. Ford designer Lew Bandt developed a suitable solution, and the first coupé utility model was released in 1934. įord Australia was the first company to produce a coupé utility as a result of a 1932 letter from the wife of a farmer in Victoria, Australia, asking for "a vehicle to go to church in on a Sunday and which can carry our pigs to market on Mondays". The concept of a two-door vehicle based on a passenger car chassis with a tray at the rear began in the United States in the 1920s with the roadster utility (also called "roadster pickup" or "light delivery") models. Renamed Caballero in 1978, it was also produced through the 1987 model year. GMC's badge engineered El Camino variant, the Sprint, was introduced for the 1971 model year. Production resumed for the 1964–1977 model years based on the Chevelle platform, and continued for the 1978–1987 model years based on the GM G-body platform.Īlthough based on corresponding General Motors car lines, the vehicle is classified in the United States as a pickup. Introduced in the 1959 model year in response to the success of the Ford Ranchero coupé utility, its first run, based on the Biscayne's B-body, lasted only two years. Unlike a standard pickup truck, the El Camino was adapted from the standard two-door Chevrolet station wagon platform and integrated the cab and cargo bed into the body. Thank you for looking.The Chevrolet El Camino is a coupé utility vehicle that was produced by Chevrolet between 1959––1987. Call or e-mail if interested, or to make a reasonable offer. The car also comes with the original 1980 El Camino sales brochure that highlights all the options you could order in 1980. This Royal Knight remains in excellent condition, a true testament to 1980's styling from GM. The car runs and drives exceptionally well, and sounds great doing it (see video). Original components include the original 4-speed automatic transmission, independent coil springs, hypoid rear suspension, power brakes, power steering, and dual exhaust. At that time, the car underwent frame-on restoration with new floor pans and an Edelbrock carb, intake, cam, and headers were also added. The car came from the factory with 5.0L/305ci V8 but was upgraded in 2008 with a rebuilt bored. This example is finished in Light Camel Metallic, the original factory color, which was one of 14 color options for 1980. The Royal Knight trim package ran until 1983, so just four years of production. In 1980, the only design feature that changed was the vertical grill upgrade. Only 2,815 Royal Knights were made that year. The SS Royal Knight offered the majestic hood decal, large front air dam, Rally wheels, painted sport mirrors, proud side striping, and Royal Knight identification on front fenders and tailgate color-keyed to the chosen factory color. In 1979, the name was officially changed to Royal Knight and it was offered as the top trim package to the Super Sport line. The Royal Knight was initially released in 1978 as the Black Knight, which lasted for just one year due to a lawsuit for using that name (around the time of the Black Panther civil rights movement). We are pleased to present this unique 1980 Chevrolet El Camino SS Royal Knight for consideration. See all photos and video on main website: Garage Kept Motors.Offered here is a one rare car, or truck, or both actually.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |