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1959 Chevy El Camino Headed To Glendale Arizona Auction

The Chevy El Camino debuted for the 1959 model year as Chevrolet’s response to the Ford Ranchero. Sharing the B-Body platform and its Safety Girder X-frame with the Chevy station wagons, the El Camino would last just two model years before leaving the Bow Tie lineup. The El Camino would return for the 1964 model year, although it would take its underpinnings from the Chevy Chevelle station wagon. El Camino production would continue to share the Chevelle’s frame through the 1977 model year. Beginning with the 1978 model, the El Camino would be built on the revamped A-Body platform, sharing drivetrains and structure with the Chevy Monte Carlo. The El Camino would leave the Chevy lineup after the 1987 model year.

Side view of the 1959 Chevy El Camino heading to auction.

Our feature 1959 Chevy El Camino has a largely stock appearance, but this belies what is hidden underneath. The custom El Camino was built through a joint effort by Kell Kustom and Rick’s Fab Shop. It has been restored in its factory original Gothic Gold and Satin Beige courtesy of Scott Rods, the Elco is powered by a brutish 409 cubic-inch W-head Big Block that has been stroked to 481 cubes, and is fed by a pair of four-barrel carbs. Backing the early Rat motor is a four-speed 700R4 automatic transmission guaranteed to drop the revs when cruising on the highway. Power moves to the rear wheels through a nine-inch rear end, presumably from the Blue Oval folks. Four-wheel power disc brakes tend to stopping duties. The binders are hidden behind custom painted steelies with poverty caps, wrapped in blackwall radial rubber.

The engine compartment on the Chevy El Camino is a show-worth affair. The 409/481 is dressed in a chrome kit, the firewall has been cleaned up and painted Gothic Gold, and there are polished billet overflow tanks, and a Vintage Air air conditioning compressor feeds cold air to the passenger compartment.

Inside the Chevy El Camino is two-tone custom leather by Roy Keith Classics Upholstery. Dakota Digital gauges have replaced the originals, with a tach located at the bottom of the speedo, voltmeter, gas, oil, and temp gauges flanking on either side behind a painted and polished period Impala steering wheel. Vents are a billet flip-to-open design.

This slick custom 1959 Chevy El Camino will cross the Mecum Auctions Block at their Glendale, Arizona sale Friday, March 21st.

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Comments

  1. Beautiful! I remember going with my grandfather to pick up his ’59 Impala. Salesman gave me key chain with a ’59 embossed into it. Bring back an so camino, please.

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  2. Nicely done. My only complaint is the ugly gages. Should have used original appearing ones.

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  3. Very nice resto!
    To the author, it is NOT an early RAT!

    Reply
  4. Amazing!

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  5. “She’s real fine, my 409”

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  6. I bought a brand new 1986 El Camino. Biggest mistake i ever made. Asthmatic 305, coupled with a boat anchor turd 200R4 transmission. The best thing to happen to it was when it got totaled by my uncle that borrowed it.

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  7. I used to have a brick mason that did work for me and he bought a new 1972 El Camino to haul his scaffolding, walk boards, hand tools including trowels, jointers, folding tape measure, and mortar buckets. He even had a hitch on the back so that he could pull his gasoline powered mixer behind it. It was his work vehicle and it served him quite well with the 350 motor and 350 turbo-hydra-matic transmission.

    Reply

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