History The American Ute: '57 Ranchero and '59 El Camino

Ranchero with a Chevy mill.

 

already driving a 57 fairlane, I'd take the chevy

 

Now has a 390 with air

 

I favor the '57 Ranchero. Just got mine about six months ago and slowly starting to make progress on it.

 

I used to have a huge urge for a 59 Elky. A couple of years ago I got a 57 Ranchero. The urge is now gone and I'm sticking to the Ranchero

 

As a die-hard '57 Ford guy, I'll take the '59 Elky thanks

 

Here is some in formation and pictures about the Utility coupes, Should prove ford did not invent this type of vehicle. 1927 is the oldest Chevrolet UTE I could find a picture of, but I believe Eralier UTEs were made by Holden before that. Also included are 3 pictures of the 1938 Pugeot with a retractable top, This is were Henry Ford got the Idea for his Retractable Hardtop in 1957. He was known to have visited the Pugeot Factory and museum in 1939.

 

Or a 59 ranchero... I like the Elcamino's a lot had a 1960 that came from texas but I think they have more of a feminine look to them- the ranchero's are ugly and make a better looking "car-truck" but they make awesome kustoms... I'm partial! This is mine-

If I had a 57 ranch I would weld in 57 desoto headlights for sure- quads rule.

The best thing about a car-truck is their utilitarian advantage over a car. I haul everything and anything across the country in this thing. Its so much fun to drive and rare enough that its sometimes the only Ranch at an event...

Tuck

 

The two publications mentioned by Bobdawg, are both excellent if you want to get your head around the whole "UTE" thing.
We have a rich history of unique ute body styles through the years. Some look a bit goosey, others can be quite stylish.
I know this was supposed to be about the American ute, but as soon as i read the Ford lies i had to weigh in and backup Bob.
Im pretty sure as soon as 'cars' were available in Australia, a ute was too. Dodge arrived in the country in 1916, the earliest I could find was a picture of a "Buckboard Utility" from 1918. A newspaper article from 1917 describes a new Dodge shipment including American bodies and chassis units intended for local bodies.
I once owned a 1919 Hupmobile Ute, tried but failed to get a 1932 Chevrolet Roadster Ute, but still own a 1937 Dodge Roadster Ute
1919 Hupmobile R Model. Built by Evers Motor Co.
. The Rolls is about 1929, body is custom made locally.
1934 Chevrolet Roadster Ute
1934 Bedford Coupe Ute, body by Holden.
1934 Ford coupe utility.
1937 Chevrolet.



FORD invented the Ute?....Wrong.

Ford also claims to have built the first all steel bodies in Australia in 1936.........Wrong.
T.J.Richards, who built all the Dodges and Plymouths prior to Chrysler Australia starting up in 1951. Built all steel bodies from 1935 and offered up all steel Dodge and Plymouth bodies 12 months later once Dodge heads visited and gave the ok. and were still being available before Ford.
Holden also Built The first Fords in Australia, this was prior to the building of a plant in Geelong in 1925. Examples can still be found with Holden body tags fixed to the lower left cowl.



Just for the hell of it. A few Holdens, '67 HK, '66 HR.

 

Dodgy - Take it easy on the mods, dude. Thanks for your post, we're a bunch of information junkies.
The cutoff is 1965, so the pics of the '66/7 Holdens are OT by a few years.

 

Another vote here for the Chevy. These guys lowered the car the easy way.

 

The 59 elcamino has always been my favorite.

 

Being a GM guy I would favor the 59 ElCamino for its style and flow.
I was always fascinated with the Australian Utes which kind of inspired me on my 56 Custom ElCamino build. The US version of the Ranchero and the ElCamino gave the Ute type vehicle a little more style.
In 2011 a guy in Detroit tracked me down with his "one of" Crown Vic conversion. We had a great time comparing our builds and cruising Woodward.

 

I had a 57 Ranchero. I loved that car, should have kept it. I vote 57 Ranchero no hesitation. 1st and best.

 

Fine, I'll stick this in instead!


Vote 1- 1959 Chevrolet El Camino,...... JUST LOOK AT THEM!


I would like one of these though.

 

What the......Get those filthy pumpkins outa there!

 

Ok, here's one that's nice and clean. Dig the bumper guards.

 

ooh yeah!
The white one would be spectacular if it had a red interior...am I right?

 

From an automotive design point of view........little cousin?

 

Where is Jack Simmons when we need him?

 

What's ironic, is I currently own a '57 Ranchero, but STILL prefer a '59 El Camino. Used to have a '59 Elky as a matter of fact but sold it back in '08. They have gotten way out of touch for me price wise.. Even total basket cases are getting thousands now. So I "settled", a little.

 

I prefer the El Camino. This is not my car but I sure like it!

 

One of these days....

 

59bones....Looks to be a great builder..get you butt in gear and go to work on it.

 

One of 2 GM built Pontiacs

 

Here is my choice from maybe 35 years ago. 57 Ranchero with 58 Edsel front group.

 

The Ranchero seemed to be more of a work horse compared to the El Camino.
Contractors,nurseries, landscapers were all in the Rancheros realm, where as the
El Camino was more elegant more suited for the wife hauling a few groceries in the bed.
Both are nice but I'll take the Ranchero just for being a bit more practical as a truck.

 

Hello,

Ever wonder why El Caminos and Rancheros run with their tailgates down?
Baker Automotive El Camino

pure power creates a taildragger look...
The tailgate down for smooth air flow and not a bug catcher tailgate effect, despite being on a ¼ mile run.
The flow goes over the top and down into the bed, only to continue straight out of the flat rear tailgate surface.


Jnaki

When my wife and I were doing our annual coastal road trips to the Northern California hot spots, we did not worry about the tailgate being up the whole way in our 65 El Camino. There were no long stretches of highway for fine high speed runs. Very winding, curving, up/down roads were the mode of the day. But, when we came back down the long inland Highway 395, We did lower our tailgate and had already strapped our suitcases in the old motorcycle tie down rings, securely.

That Highway395 was definitely a high speed open highway with plenty of barren deserted areas and whatever scenery. So, a fast throttle was he mode of the day. Tailgate down of course.

film by Bob Goggle 59 El Camino 335 hp 4 speed S/S Class vs Supercharged 57 Ford Sedan


Again, it is personal choice and on long road trips with straight ahead highway driving. A bed cover would certainly help in the good streamlining and in this day/age, better gas mileage. Or, one could just lower the tailgate and tie down the items still in the back bed.
YRMV

 

The truth about the tailgate down myth is kinda wrong. Talked to actual GM engineers and aerodynamically are actually designed to be run tail gate up. It helps with rear downforce and actually cleans up aerodynamics. Who would have thunk it?