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why was the el camino discontinued

by Edyth Schiller Published 3 years ago Updated 3 years ago

After the 1984 model year, El Camino production was moved to Mexico, and in 1987, the El Camino was discontinued thanks to outstanding sales of the Chevrolet S-10 pickup.

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When did the Chevy El Camino get discontinued?

After the 1984 model year, El Camino production was moved to Mexico, and in 1987, the El Camino was discontinued thanks to outstanding sales of the Chevrolet S-10 pickup.

Is the El Camino making a comeback?

Since General Motors stopped production of the El Camino, rumors of its return have been well-publicized on the internet, but they go back longer than that. General Motors actually attempted to bring the El Camino back in 1992. An El Camino concept car was drawn up and unveiled, but it never saw the factory floor.

Why did General Motors make the El Camino?

General Motors needed to tap into the utility vehicle market that was dominated by Ford, so they brought back the El Camino. The Chevrolet El Camino was rereleased in 1964 and the second time proved to be the charm. The second-generation Chevy El Camino enjoyed its best run in the market since it was first launched.

When did the El Camino come out in the US?

GM flirted with coupe-type trucks such as the Chevrolet Cameo Carrier and the GMC Suburban Carrier in 1955, but they went all-in with the El Camino for the 1959 model year. The El Camino was built on a modified Brookwood station wagon platform. The first generation didn't last long.

When did the El Camino come out?

When did Holden discontinue the GTO?

When was the Monaro sold?

Will the El Camino ever come back?

Many car aficionados are speculating around the rumors involving a new El Camino in 2020. However, even though there are a number of 2020 Camino SS fanmade mock-ups and prototype models available online, there is no confirmed decision to actually build the iconic car. Many believe the car rebuild is a total hoax.

What took over the El Camino?

Matt Spencer's SDCM restaurant group - which is behind local concepts Kettner Exchange, Devil's Dozen Donuts, Firehouse, The Grass Skirt, Good Time Poke, Waverly Restaurant & Lounge, and Vin De Syrah - has taken over ownership of Little Italy's 13 year-old El Camino cantina from original founders Mauricio Couturier and ...

When did they stop making the Chevy El Camino?

1987In 1968, the more powerful SS engine made the El Camino into one of the iconic muscle cars of the late 1960s and 1970s. In 1987, Chevrolet dropped the El Camino from its lineup for good.

Did Ford make a car like the El Camino?

In Argentina, a utility version of the locally produced Ford Falcon was also called Ranchero. The original Ranchero sold well enough to spawn a competitor from General Motors in 1959, the Chevrolet El Camino.

Is there a modern El Camino?

Chevrolet discontinued the El Camino back in 1987 and has no plans to revive it. To fill the void, Casados Design, a metal working shop based in Alabama, is building its own modern-day version of the Chevrolet El Camino. The custom ute is based on a 2010 Chevrolet Camaro, which has been extensively modified.

Should I watch El Camino or better call Saul first?

Does Better Call Saul tie in with the event of El Camino? Well the short answer is no, for the most part the two spin-offs don't really tie in with each other. Whereas El Camino takes place after the events of Breaking Bad, Better Call Saul is primarily a prequel and so there isn't an overlap in terms of time period.

How much is an El Camino worth?

Concours or mint condition vehicles are very expensive. For a 1960 El Camino, values can bounce from under $10,000 to an easy $30,000 if not more. For 1964 to 67, values range from around $15,000 to $40,000, averaging at about $25,000. For 1968-69 models, average values can rise to about $30,000-40000.

What was the best year for El Camino?

The most valuable El Camino, is the 1965 model with the 350-horsepower, 327ci 4bbl L79, with a #1 value of $50,200. Despite being at the intersection of muscle car and pickup, two hot segments of the collector car market, the El Camino has remained a relatively affordable entry point.

Did Cadillac make an El Camino?

The El Camino was the first Cadillac with four headlights. Only one car was made. GM would revive the El Camino name in 1959 for its Chevrolet car-pickup hybrid.

What was better El Camino or Ranchero?

The GT was the most powerful Ranchero, and the 460 put out 365 hp on a conservative estimate. The El Camino, on the other hand, had a slightly smaller engine: a 7.4-liter 454 CID V8 engine, which was rated at 425-450 hp and 500 lb-ft of torque.

Was the Ranchero or El Camino first?

First generation (1959–1960) The El Camino was introduced for the 1959 model year two years after the Ford Ranchero.

What is a Subaru Brat?

The Subaru BRAT pickup was a small, light utility pickup truck sold in the US from 1978 to 1987. As a response to the market demand of the times for car-like pickup trucks, Subaru vehicles produced the BRAT (Bi-Drive Recreational All-Terrain Transporter) for an audience that wanted something a little different.

When did Chevy stop making El Camino?

Despite being discontinued in 1987, the Chevy El Camino has become highly collectible in recent years. So what made Chevy stop making them?

Why did Chevy pull the El Camino?

So after over three decades on the market why did Chevy pull the El Camino? The answer has a lot to do with changing government regulations. In 1975 congress passed a new set of laws regulating the minimum fuel economy of trucks and cars.

What is an El Camino?

The El Camino is a part of a class of cars known as utility coupes or utes for short. First popularized in Australia in the 1930s, the utility coupe was created for drivers who wanted a car that was comfortable and easy to drive like a sedan but had the utility of a work truck.

Why are utility coupes considered passenger cars?

Because utility coupes counted as passenger cars they were held to a much higher standard than light trucks (1/2 ton). In the 1980s, when fuel prices returned to normal, truck buyers were willing to accept slightly lower fuel economy regular trucks in exchange for more power. While utility coupes have continued to be popular in many other countries the only two utes available in the U.S since 1987 have been the Subaru Brat and Baja.

What engine does an El Camino have?

With its powerful I6 or V8 engine, the El Camino could tow and carry heavy loads as well as some full-size trucks. As the years went on, the El Camino followed the trends of the times, in the early 60's they had fins, in the 70s they were longer and in the 80s they traded power for fuel efficiency.

When was the El Camino first used?

The El Camino is a part of a class of cars known as utility coupes or utes for short. First popularized in Australia in the 1930s.

Did the US market understand the Harlequin?

The US market didn’t quite understand the silliness and the appeal of the Harlequin.

When was the El Camino made?

The Chevrolet El Camino is a coupé utility vehicle that was produced by Chevrolet between 1959–60 and 1964–1987. 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. Introduced in the 1959 model year in response to the success ...

What year was the El Camino?

The 1967 El Camino followed the Chevelle's styling facelift with a new grille, front bumper, and trim. Air shocks remained standard equipment on the El Camino, allowing the driver to compensate for a load. The 1967 model year also brought the collapsible steering column and options of disc brakes and Turbo Hydramatic 400 3-speed automatic transmission. It was the second year the 396 (L35, L34, and L78) could be had in the El Camino (both 13480 300 Deluxe base and 13680 Malibu series). Since the L35 396/325 hp engine was the base for the SS396 series, the number of L35 engines reported sold by Chevrolet in 1967 (2,565) were sold in one of the two El Camino series, which were the only other series the engine could be ordered in. Since the L34 (350 hp (261 kW)) & L78 (375 hp (280 kW)) were available in either El Camino series as well as the two SS396 body styles, there is no way of knowing how many of these optional engines went to which body style. Chevrolet does report 17,176 L34 and 612 L78 engine options were sold in 1967 Chevelles, but there is no breakdown of body styles. The TH400 3-speed automatic was now available as an option (RPO M40) with the 396 engine in both the SS396 series and the 396-equipped El Caminos. The 3-speed manual transmission remained the standard transmission with a heavy duty (RPO M13) also available along with the 2-speed Powerglide and either M20 wide ratio or M21 close ratio 4-speed transmissions. Although there was no actual factory El Camino Super Sport until 1968, many owners have "cloned" '67 SS396s using 1967 Chevelle SS396 badges and trim.

How much horsepower did a 1972 El Camino have?

The 1972 El Caminos wore single-unit parking and side marker lights on their front fenders, outside of a revised twin-bar grille, but little changed. For 1972, horsepower measurements were switched to the "net" figures as installed in a vehicle with all accessories and emission controls hooked up. Engine offerings included the 110 hp (82 kW) 250-6, a 307 V8, a 175 hp (130 kW) 350-cubic-inch V8, and big block V8s of 402 and 454 cubic-inch displacements. The 402-cubic-inch (still known as a 396) produced 240 hp (179 kW); the 454 managed to put out 270 hp (201 kW) under the net rating system. Super Sport equipment could now be ordered with any V8 engine, including the base 307-cubic-inch version. All 1972 El Caminos with the 454 ci engine have a "W" as the fifth digit in the VIN, and the 454 was only available with Super Sport trim.

How many L35 engines were sold in 1967?

Since the L35 396/325 hp engine was the base for the SS396 series, the number of L35 engines reported sold by Chevrolet in 1967 (2,565) were sold in one of the two El Camino series, which were the only other series the engine could be ordered in.

What engine did the 1965 El Camino have?

The 1965 El Camino received the same facelift as the 1965 Chevelle, with a more pronounced V-shaped front end, and a higher performance L79 version of the 327 engine rated at 350 hp (261 kW) that was also available in Chevelles. Most of the other engines were carried over from 1964, including the 194 and 230 cubic-inch Turbo Thrift sixes, the 195 hp (145 kW) 283 cubic-inch Turbo-Fire V8 and 327 cubic-inch Turbo-Fire V8s of 250 and 300 hp (186 and 224 kW).

How many El Camino were made in 1959?

A total of 22,246 El Caminos were produced for 1959. That bested the count of 21,706 first-year Rancheros made in 1957 and the 14,169 Ford sedan pickups built in direct competition for the 1959 model year. But 1960 would be a different story.

How big is the El Camino?

210.9 in (5,357 mm) The El Camino was introduced for the 1959 model year two years after the Ford Ranchero. According to Chevrolet stylist Chuck Jordan, GM Harley Earl had suggested a coupé pickup in 1952.

When did the El Camino stop being made?

After the 1984 model year, El Camino production was moved to Mexico, and in 1987 , the El Camino was discontinued thanks to outstanding sales of the Chevrolet S-10 pickup.

What year was the last El Camino?

A fifth-generation 1979 El Camino. This would be the last generation produced. The fifth and final generation saw a smaller, sleeker El Camino with sharper styling and a single headlight design. V6 engines were available for the first time, and from 1982 through 1984, diesel engines sourced from Oldsmobile were also an option.

What year was the second generation El Camino?

Second Generation (1964 - 1967) A second generation 1964 El Camino. With the Ranchero still selling well, Chevy brought back the El Camino on the proven Chevelle platform. The second-generation variant leaned more toward practicality but also had the option of packing a 327 cubic inch small-block V8 rated up to 300 hp in 1964.

What year did the GMC Sprint come out?

With 1971 came government mandates requiring lower-octane unleaded fuel, which resulted in reduced performance and power with the rest of GM's vehicles. A rebadged El Camino called the GMC Sprint also debuted, which featured the same transmission and engine as the El Camino.

What was the El Camino?

The El Camino was a direct challenge Ford's Ranchero, a utility coupe dominating a previously untapped market. GM flirted with coupe-type trucks such as the Chevrolet Cameo Carrier and the GMC Suburban Carrier in 1955, but they went all-in with the El Camino for the 1959 model year. The El Camino was built on a modified Brookwood station wagon ...

When did Chevy make the El Camino?

Chevrolet debuted an El Camino concept in 1995 based on the full-size Caprice station wagon, but production was cancelled thanks to the rise of the SUV. All we can do now is wait patiently for a possible future with an El Camino, and ponder the all-important question: Is it a car, or a truck? If you asked Chevy, they'd tell you it's whatever you want it to be.

Is the El Camino a 4 door sedan?

In alignment with its popularity, the El Camino grew in its third generation and was built on a 4-door sedan wheelbase. Despite its larger size, it was lighter than the previous generation thanks to lighter construction and a front-end restyle with quad stacked headlights. This is the generation where the El Camino made ...

When did the El Camino stop?

There were four different iterations of the El Camino during those 23 years old and what started off as icon slowly became an afterthought, up until it was eventually discontinued in 1987. Fans of the El Camino have been calling for a brand new El Camino for over a decade.

When did the El Camino come back?

The Chevrolet El Camino was rereleased in 1964 and the second time proved to be the charm. The second-generation Chevy El Camino enjoyed its best run in the market since it was first launched.

What platform was the El Camino built on?

The first generation El Camino was built on the Brookwood station wagon platform, it was more of a pickup truck than it was a sedan. GM changed things up in the second generation El Camino. General Motors built the El Camino on the Chevelle platform. General Motors cranked up the power and put a 327 cubic inch small block V8 engine inside ...

How many El Caminos were sold in the first year?

In its first year, Chevrolet sold 22000 El Caminos but the demand for the utility vehicle didn't last long. In its second year, the El Camino didn't do so well, a considerable drop in sales led to the El Camino's eventual downfall.

What is the most powerful engine on an El Camino?

The most powerful engine to ever go onto an El Camino was an LS6 454 cubic inch engine that produced an incredible 450 horsepower.

How long was the second generation Chevy El Camino?

The second-generation El Camino's reign was over a span of 23 years, and in that time it underwent a series of changes.

Will the 2020 El Camino ever see the light?

The 2020 El Camino Might Never See The Light... Here's Why. It has been long since the last El Camino drove off GM's factory floor, and with all the false rumors about a potential return, only a legacy remains. The Chevrolet El Camino is one of the most unique cars to have ever come out of the General Motors factory floor.

What year did Chevy make the El Camino?

On October 16, 1958 , Chevrolet begins to sell a car-truck hybrid that it calls the El Camino. Inspired by the Ford Ranchero, which had already been on the market for two years, the El Camino was a combination sedan-pickup truck built on the Impala body, with the same “cat’s eye” taillights and dramatic rear fins. It was, ads trilled, “the most beautiful thing that ever shouldered a load!” “It rides and handles like a convertible,” Chevy said, “yet hauls and hustles like the workingest thing on wheels.”

How many people died in the 1996 World Cup?

A stampede of soccer fans before a World Cup qualifying match in Guatemala City kills 84 people and seriously injures more than 100 on October 16, 1996. The Guatemala national team was set to face off against Costa Rica on a Wednesday night in Guatemala City. Approximately 60,000 ...read more

Who designed the Ford ute?

In response, Ford engineer Lewis Brandt designed a low-slung sedan-based vehicle that was a ritzy passenger car in the front, with wind-up windows and comfortable seats and a rough-and-tumble pickup in back. The ute was a huge hit; eventually, virtually every company that sold cars Down Under made its own version.

How long did the Long March last?

Known as Ch’ang Cheng—the “Long March”—the retreat lasted 368 days and covered 6,000 miles, more than twice the distance from New ...read more

When did the El Camino come out?

This would be paralleled in 1957 when Ford would release the Ranchero here in America. Two years later, in 1959 , the El Camino would debut. While GM designer Harley Earl is best remembered for his work on the Corvette, the El Camino was his baby, too. It was an idea he’d apparently had since 1952.

When did Holden discontinue the GTO?

Unfortunately, the GTO was discontinued the same year I graduated high school, in 2007. Lutz had a surprise for me, and everyone else who loved the GTO. As it turns out, the Australians never stopped loving coupe utilities. In fact, they were just as large a part of Australia’s automotive culture as trucks are here. Over there, they called them “utes.” Holden even used that as the official name for their version starting in the year 2000.

When was the Monaro sold?

From 2004 to 2007, the Monaro was sold here as the Pontiac GTO. Instead of Mustangs and Camaros, though, it faced off against cars like the BMW M3. It was the thinking man’s muscle car, and throughout high school, it was my dream car. I even wrote my senior English research paper about the GTO’s history, starting back in 1964. The reborn GTO, along with repeated viewings of Mad Max, are entirely responsible for my love of Australian cars that continues to this day.

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