Art & Inspiration <<<< Friday Art Show 4/1/22 >>>>

Last week it was Oldsmobile ......this week Ford. Colorized and painted from an old black and white photo.

 

Hi guys. I'm pretty old, but I still remember my first english lesson. The first english sentence I had to read was : "Where is Brian?" If you want the answer, he was in the kitchen, hahaha. Sure I would have prefered answering : "He's driving his hot rod".

 

Hello,

Having owned an El Camino from 1964 to 1976, I came to know it inside and out. It required little in the way of repairs. I found out that it was made on a Wednesday at the factory I visited in Fremont, California in 1965.

It was my first car and I was able to order some stuff for the car as what I really wanted from the factory, I could not order for the El Camino. On a Chevelle sedan, I could get everything I wanted, but that year, not much was available for the El Camino. Had I waited one more year, in 1966, I could have ordered exactly what I wanted in an El Camino. My friend ordered one with a 396, 4 speed, A/C and Positraction.

But, my Chevy history goes back to the 348 motor and it was a big jump from the 58 Impala to the 59 El Camino which I wanted, but could not afford it. That year El Camino came with a 335 hp 348 motor, A/C, 4 speed, and Positraction on a special order sheet. It was the same thing as a normal 59 Chevy sedan. So, what was wrong with GM to not allow a 65 El Camino to have the same thing as a Chevelle Malibu sedan 6 year later?

Jnaki

The 59 El Camino had the great styling from the fins to the grille and the side style was pretty good for the times. We saw a black 59 El Camino rip apart the SS class during the hot stock car wars in those early days.

From :05 to :08 the 335 hp El Camino stomps the supercharged 57 Ford in a match race.

The supercharged 57 black Ford was in our competition class and they were tough battles each time. see (You Tube channel ... 57 Ford vs 58 Impala) But, he chewed off more HP than he could handle... 335 hp El Camino = top of the food chain... !

So, if I had a choice, I knew the limitations of a standard size El Camino from 1959 to 1966. The interior space was for two comfortably and three was a crowd. The back area was almost unlimited. The fix was in the new design for any custom car guys to cut, replace and install for a different way to have more room in the cab and that would not limit too much bed space.

A while back a neighbor had a Cadillac Pickup Truck that had a complete rear cab panel open up to get access to the bed. 4x8 plywood is now fair game. But, the idea stuck with me for a custom creation for an old, stylish, 1959 El Camino modification that would be a little easier as the ribbed sheet metal panel is readily available.

If modifying a 59 El Camino is not in the cards, other truck rear cab panels are also around to make a full opening option for trucks. A custom application is in the cards for those new/old style hot rod builders.

“Mid-gate panel, foldable door between cargo bed and cab, includes removable and stowable rear window”

The GM factory had some designers make an open rear cab panel for access to the bed of the Cadillac pickup. But, as trick as sliding or folding doors are, this one is a simple lift up station wagon rear door panel that locks into the floor. Now, if you want access to the rear bed and its supplies, direct access.

In 1959, an 11 foot longboard would have been able to fit flat on the floor if it was allowed to go into the passenger seat of the extended cab.


A custom, extended cab 1959 El Camino for all those looking for the next old/new project.

 

Great work Bob. So many cool cars all over the place in this shot.
Later,
Dick

 

What's not to love about this?
Later,
Dick

 

Talk about a tight squeeze. Love it!
Later,
Dick

 

[email protected]

 

Not a hot rod or custom but of the era.


I decided to fill sketchbook pages with quick random pen sketches based on vintage photographs.

 

Compiling a collection of our car show T-shirts and artwork for the 50 anniversary of our club, Triple Cities Street Rods (Binghamton NY).
I've been a member for 48 of those 50 years and have done the T-Shirt artwork for our car show for all those years...here's a couple more...

 

Model A's from me today; Davkin, really like those sketches.

 

Highway "61"

 

Sign I did a few years back!

 

Outstanding as usual...

 

Atlantic Nationals, Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada - July 2015

 

Those are way cool rides ....great captures Ken.

 

Dick, Ken, thank you both......much appreciated.

 

[
Did any 57Chevys come with chrome tips instead of rubber on the grille? I thought my dad told me the California ones did.

 

Uh oh...someone forgot to cut up that Deuce Tudor