Cookie Use Policy and Affiliate Link Info
This site uses cookies and continued use of the site acknowledges your acceptance of this policy. For details, visit the Classic Cars Online US About Page.
As an FYI: Affiliate links are used in several places around the site as part of the site’s advertising efforts, and while ads are what keeps our ‘doors open’, clicking the links does not in any way impact the cost of items you might purchase from advertisers.
The first gen 1959 Chevrolet El Camino is considered a coupé pickup because it merged the lines of a car with the utility of a farm truck, and it was a design with a lot of history behind its making.
The History Behind the Creation of the 1959 Chevy El Camino
Long before there was a sporty coupe pickup with great fins and an edgy stance: long before anyone had ever looked at a tough little car-truck and whispered the name El Camino, there was an Australian woman who wanted a nice church ride that could haul some pigs, too.
The story behind the creation of coupé pickups, like the ’59 El Camino, goes back to the early 1930’s, when the wife of an Australian farmer wrote a letter to the Ford Australia company asking for a vehicle that would be suitable to take to church on Sunday and then haul hogs to market on Monday. Then, a few years of development and competition led us to the delivery of the first generation Chevy El Camino hitting the streets.
’59 El Camino Specs
With an overall length of 210.9 inches and a wheelbase of 119 inches, the front engine, rear wheel drive ’59 Chevy El Camino stood 56.4 inches tall and came in the buyer’s choice of two series.
The 1959 El Camino 1100 series was the six cylinder model while the 1200 series delivered the power of a V8 engine.
Engine Options for the ’59 El Camino
Seven different engine options were offered in the 22,246 Chevrolet El Caminos produced in 1959:
- The 1-bbl 235 ci engine that delivered 135 horsepower
- The 2-bbl 283 ci V8 that offered drivers 185 hp
- The 4-bbl 283 ci V8 that provided 230 horsepower
- The 4-bbl 348 ci V8 with its 250 hp delivery
- The 3×2-bbl 348 ci V8 that offered 280 hp
- The 4-bbl 348 ci High-Lift Cam V8 that provided 300 horsepower
- The 3×2-bbl 348 ci High-Lift Cam V8 and its 315 hp delivery
1959 El Camino Transmission Options
A total of five different engine transmission options were offered in the 1959 El Camino models, including: a 3-speed manual, a 3-speed overdrive manual, a 4-speed manual, a 2-speed PowerGlide automatic, and a 3-speed TurboGlide automatic.
By Laure Justice
Resources:
Part of the reason Classic Cars Online US exists is to help connect classic car buyers and sellers, and we’ve added several ways for you to connect – pick your favorite, or join us in all four places: (1) sign up for the newsletter on the upper right side of this page, or 2) visit the Classifieds page here on the site, (3) visit and like this site’s Facebook page, (4) the Best Classic Cars for Sale Online page or (5) join the Classic Cars Online: Classic Cars for Sale group if you are looking to buy or sell classic cars such as the classic 1959 Chevrolet El Camino.
Written by Laure
Classic Cars Online US
- The Studebaker Company: A Journey from Wagons to Wheels
- Revolutionizing the Road: Unveiling the 1932 Studebaker President and Commander
- The Art Deco Revolution: How 1930s Automotive Design Embraced Luxury and Modernity
- Unveiling the Pontiac Chieftain: A Journey Through Its Iconic Generations
- The Iconic 1960 Chevy Bel Air: Evolution, Design, and Enduring Legacy
- The Timeless Elegance of the 1960 Chevy Bel Air: Exploring its Interior and Exterior Features
- The Enduring Charm of the Chevy Bel Air: A Classic Evolution
- Exploring the Iconic 1962 Chevy Nova: Specs, Features, and Historical Significance
- The Evolution of Chevrolet Nova: Exploring Generations, History, and Impact
- The Evolution of the Chevy Nova