Old
trucks come in all varieties
like the Ford Ranchero and Chevrolet El Camino
The Ford Ranchero came to being just after the launch of
the 1957 model year, in December of 1956 and was the
first such vehicle produced in the United States.
Although this type of combination car/truck never existed
before in America a similar model was being produced by
Ford of Australia since 1936.
The Ford
Ranchero was so successful that General Motors decided
to assemble a copy of it and launched the Chevrolet El
Camino in 1959.
Initially
the Ranchero was based on the full size Ford sedan
platform. It looked like a truck, with a two-seater cab
and a cargo bed but the main difference was that the
cargo bed was integrated in the body and not separated
like on a pickup truck. But it was a car and it rode
like a car.
The Ford
Ranchero is rare not only as all
old trucks
are rare but
also because such vehicles do not exist anymore. Today's
small trucks are real trucks with a frame and a cargo
bed specifically made for cargo. This cross-over type of
vehicle, a car transformed into a truck with a cargo bed
integrated to the body isn't made in America anymore.
You can find this kind of small truck still being
assembled in other countries, but not here, except for
the Subaru Baja which is not entirely American, but a
Japanese design.
 |
The idea
Ford had behind the Ranchero was of a comfortable truck
that was ideal for the ranchers and cowboys of the
American Southwest where the Mexican influence was
significant. Hence the Spanish name Ranchero (Rancher). |
Ever since
it came out it was hailed as a great idea and it sold
very well. More than 500.000 Rancheros where made from
1957 to 1979 when the last model came out of the
production line. Today they are well loved, like all old
trucks.
A version
of the Ford Ranchero was also produced in Canada under the
Mercury brand name. Some of them had big and powerful
V8 engines.
A proof of the success of the Ford
Ranchero was the birth of the Chevrolet El Camino in
1959, two years after the Ranchero came on the market.
The first El Camino was based on the full size model of
the two door Chevrolet Biscayne Brockwood station wagon.
|
Production
started in 1959 and stopped one year later because sales didn't make the brass happy at GM. But the
El Camino came back in 1964 and was produced without
interruption until 1987. The most popular model was
based on the Chevelle Malibu platform and some hot
models were put on the market like the SS 396.
Old trucks like the Chevrolet El Camino
have the advantage of parts availability. You can find
anything you need for a |
1970 Chevrolet El Camino
For Sale: $13,500
at
DealsOnWheels.com |
Chevrolet and you can restore
any particular one of these old trucks to their original
condition or make it even better than it was.
To this day
most people refer to the Chevrolet El Camino as a “car”.
But the legislation in the United States treats this
vehicle as a truck and it is licensed as a truck.
Although
half a million Ford Rancheros were sold and in spite of
the fact that it was one of the most popular models made
in America today it is hard to find one of these old
trucks around. There
are great restorations and you may find one for sale
here and there but they are rare nonetheless. And rare
means expensive.
The
classic Chevrolet El Camino, on the other hand, is found
everywhere. Many of them are daily drivers and are well
kept.
Once in a while a rumor is fed through the grapevine
telling of the rebirth of the Chevrolet El Camino. In
fact, General Motors produced a concept vehicle in 1995
which was called El Camino and was based on the
full-size Chevrolet Caprice station wagon. But it never
materialized and we are still waiting for the new El
Camino.
The Ford
Ranchero would certainly be welcomed back too!
Links with more information about the
Ford Ranchero:
DearbornClassics.com
http://www.ranchero.us
http://auto.howstuffworks.com
http://www.hotrod.com
Links with more information on the
Chevrolet El Camino:
MuscleCarClub.com
http://www.ecparts.net
http://elcaminocentral.com
AutoMart.com
