History 1959 pointiac El Catalina prototype

Once the designers had a basic parts list they began the process of fitting them all together.

They started by mounting a Chevrolet El Camino cabin shell and pickup bed to a Catalina Safari station-wagon chassis as the foundation for their concept, then grafted the El Camino window uppers to the Catalina doors to fit the Chevy’s roof structure.

They blended in the Catalina’s finned quarter panels and a Safari tailgate, then mounted the Catalina’s front sheet metal and trim to complete the exterior. The tri-tone red, white and silver interior came straight from the Catalina, giving the finished concept an upscale quality backed by its powerful 389/300 HP V8 engine, 4-speed Hydra-Matic transmission and a complement of accessories including power steering and brakes, air conditioning, power seat and windows, and tinted glass. A Sportable pushbutton radio, under-hood utility light, and seat belts were also added.

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Level out that rake and sign me up for one

 

I'll take one also.

 

WOW you cold drop that off at my house anytime! How great that Looks! Gary

 

Pontiac would have sold thousands of those....

 

"They started by mounting a Chevrolet El Camino cabin shell and pickup bed to a Catalina Safari station-wagon chassis as the foundation for their concept, then grafted the El Camino window uppers to the Catalina doors to fit the Chevy’s roof structure.
They blended in the Catalina’s finned quarter panels and a Safari tailgate, then mounted the Catalina’s front sheet metal and trim to complete the exterior."
Is this the recipe to build one???

 

This was exactly what I was thinking as I scrolled down through the pictures.

 

Hey SM,
What a nice car/truck. The Pontiac guys back then were hunting for something to match the popularity of the Chevy El Camino car/truck versions. If this had come out, GM would have lost a few sales numbers on the Chevy side, but not in the 1000s. We all can see the early Nomad/Safari competition version back in the late 50s. It is all GM body panels, drive lines and what ever else. But, the bottom line is profit and the big GM crunchers could see incoming and outgoing time, money and builds. They decided to keep this one under wraps. That is too bad.

Jnaki
It is hard to get used to those little upright "V" fins, when we are all so accustomed to seeing the big swoopy wing/fins on the 59 Chevy El Camino.

 

The only thing that could make it sweeter would be tri-power and a 4 speed!


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Maybe even a SD 421....

Just dreaming.....
Pics taken with my old cheesy cell phone....

 

The Camino's sat like that too. Maybe even higher at the back....

 

I believe the thinking was that they would sit level when loaded.

 

Only one prototype ever made. Maybe we will see a recreation made of this. Just like the 1953 cadillac le mans prototype they made but I believe the body was all fiberglass on the caddy but I think they made 3 or 4 of them.

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Guess I'm in the minority, I think the El Camino looks much better.

 

Pretty cool. I'd have to do a 421 SD and a 4 speed...

 

I love the front better than the El, but I prefer the El taillights, fins & rear panel. Still very cool regardless!

Here is a homemade one I took to Barrett Jackson Palm Beach for a customer a couple of years ago!

God Bless
Bill

 

She's a beaut Clark. I would love to see one of those and yes it needs trips and a 4 speed.