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Apr 26th, 2026 | | AD Chevy Trucks  Over 6,000 pictures Brad Allen has an awesome collection of Chevrolet factory pictures that he has set up from film strips. Check them out!
Lots of work on Brad's part ... pure enjoyment (and references) for you!
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| | | | Joined: Nov 2006 Posts: 3 Junior Member | | Junior Member Joined: Nov 2006 Posts: 3 | What was the first year Chevy had the El Camino style vehicle? Saw a 53' for sale, something doesn't seem right. Did have the DeLux trim/molding. Original or modified? | | | | | Joined: May 2006 Posts: 8,351 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: May 2006 Posts: 8,351 | The El Camino was first made in '59, though there were prototypes done in either late '54 or early '55 based on the '55 wagon with a TF truck roof. That run lasted to '60. It came back in '64 on the Chevelle platform until the last production in '87/'88.
The '53 you saw is most likely a custom made from a 2 door wagon.
While we're on the subject, do we accept El Camino, Corvair trucks, and the early ChevyVan as Stovebolts? I've always wondered about that.
Bill Burmeister
| | | | | Joined: Nov 2006 Posts: 3 Junior Member | | Junior Member Joined: Nov 2006 Posts: 3 | Hello Longbox55,
Thanks for the quick response. I'll try to get back over there and shot a few pictures of it. It was raining, and wife and I were riding roads, looking for old tractors and trucks. Not sure if it was a 53', 51 thru 54' cars all look about the same.
Thanks again,
Don | | | | | Joined: Jul 2005 Posts: 595 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Jul 2005 Posts: 595 | is it a ute by chance? pic's | | | | | Joined: Mar 2005 Posts: 197 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Mar 2005 Posts: 197 | Longbox55: I vote the following: El Camino - Yes, Corvair and Chevy Van - No
Neil
1940 GMC 1/2 Ton
| | | | | Joined: Nov 2006 Posts: 87 Member | | Member Joined: Nov 2006 Posts: 87 | There were a lot of 6 cylinder vans and technically, the Corvairs were sixes too. Maybe the Corvairs should be called wanna be mini bolts and the vans should be referred to as the love bolts. Hey, I lived through the sixties.
Toxictiki
'59 Apache 3100 panel (235)
'51 Chevy Fleetline Deluxe (216)
'48 Binder KB-1 (flathead 6)
'77 Cadillac DeVille (425 donor)
"Once I was 'Chairman of the Bored' then I bought a Stovebolt."
| | | | | Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 29,771 Kettle Custodian (pot stirrer) | | Kettle Custodian (pot stirrer) Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 29,771 | I have heard tales of a Chevy show vehicle called El Camino which was a pickup with the Cameo-style fiberglass bedsides, and a 53 Corvette front clip. It was supposed to be destroyed, but rumor has it a GM executive saved (stole) it, and it turned up as a barn find years later. Dunno, it might just be one of those outhouse rumors!
Jerry
"It is better to be silent and be thought a fool than to speak and eliminate all doubt!" - Abraham Lincoln
Cringe and wail in fear, Eloi- - - - -we Morlocks are on the hunt!
There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow man; true nobility is being superior to your former self. - Ernest Hemingway
Love your enemies and drive 'em nuts!
| | | | | Joined: May 2006 Posts: 8,351 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: May 2006 Posts: 8,351 | Never heard of a Chevy show car like that, but there was a Cadillac show car that was called el Camino. As I recall it was a convertible that had some sort of removable clear bubble top. I beleive it was one of those Harley Earl "I'm going to drive it after the show" cars, like the original Le Sabre and the Buick Y-Job.
Bill Burmeister
| | | | | Joined: May 2006 Posts: 8,351 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: May 2006 Posts: 8,351 |
Bill Burmeister
| | | | | Joined: May 2006 Posts: 8,351 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: May 2006 Posts: 8,351 | My bad, I didn't test the link first.
Bill Burmeister
| | | | | Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 507 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 507 |
"If it ain't Steel it ain't Real" "Earth the insane aslyum for the rest of the Universe" 41 1/2-ton, a work in progress 68 Shortbed stepside 327/325hp/700R4
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