El Caminos, Rancheros and Others

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This category is for the niche, the outlaws, the El Caminos, Rancheros and Others.  El Caminos and Rancheros have long been the red-headed stepchild of the auto industry. They're not really a car and they're not really a truck, so what are they? They are utility vehicles or Utes for our friends who are down under. They may not have had a clear identity, but these cars sold--and sold well. People loved them and what's not love? They are the mullet of vehicles, business up front and party in the back.

Fittingly, all the other vehicles that didn't fit into the Traditional Truck category will be found in this category.

1950's GMC 450 COE Cabover truck cab...these GMC COEs had wider front fenders than the typical Chevy/GMC COEs of this era which makes them a perfect candidate for the newer style truck frames with a wider track width...Perfect car hauler rat rod project or purchase a era correct frame and restore to original.
The 1950 GMC 450 COE came with a 302 ci straight six with 106 hp @3200 rpms. Empty weigh was 19,500 lbs, with GVW 34,000 lbs.
The original owners of the truck name was still on the doors. The truck came out of Floyd, VA., it was owned by Trinkle Dobyns, in Dublins, VA.

s10 with a 355 v-8 and nitrous = fun!

a gallon of bondo and a quick spray bomb, not bad?

Found this sweet ride sitting in a junk yard next to a trailer on four piles of used tires (5 per stack) and I fell in love. I told my boyfriend to leave his number on the tail fin since the man who lived there wasn’t home and he was like “okay but no way!” and a few days later the phone rang. Back we went and ended up with three and a half 59 El Caminos. This one is the first of them to get on the road... it came with a weak 327, turned over, fired up, no brakes, tilt & telescopic power steering, no seats, about 3 sets of overlapping floor pans, a tube grill, bumper guards, and was already the start of someone else’s mild custom. My favorite thing about it was of course the tube grill and also the faded bright candy blue paint that is now a matte teal green with extra dried cracking bondo. This was only going to be a bleed the brakes and throw some seats in project and it became full tilt budget build. It is now channeled 4 inches, lays rockers on the ground, the rockers are reinforced with 2x3 steel tubing, has e-level airride, disc brakes, vintage air, single chamber exhaust with stainless pipes hanging far out the back, vintage Cragars (also from a junk pile) with narrow white walls, a 355 short block with a 305 duration cam, 700R4 transmission, and a Cameron’s converter. Next up on this 59 build are flame throwers, a roof chop, new glass, and a super trippy far out interior. It’s turn key, reliable, and keeps me cool in the hot South Carolina summers. This pretty little truck is it’s own car show everywhere it goes, is the baddest coolest ratrod 59 El Camino, and best of all it is woman owned and driven.

Body off nut and bolt resto, 421 SBC, Vintage Air, Sniper EFI, Harwood Hood, Custom made rear wheels, tons of powder and ceramic coating. May sell, may trade, may not.

Body built by Roger Brinkley truck built by Kennys Rod Shop in Boise Id in 2009 has been upgeaded since then engine is a built 4.3 sbc making 300 + hpit has 2.79 rear gear in 8in ford just a super little truck to drive has mad more than one trip to the LA roadster show has 24k on the clock now still no trouble in opinion its one of the best if not the best RPU ever built thanks to KRS & jerry johbs out of Al.

I ordered the truck new in July 1978 after 6 months it final came in January 1979. Over the years I rebuilt the motor 3 times and the transmission twice. Living on Long Island the truck and I spent many weekends on the beach. In 1998 I decided to make it a bit more aggressive with a custom look inside and out.I put in a 2in. suspension with a 2in. body lift and gave it a set of 35's then I removed all the chrome and gave it custom paint job. For the interior I went with a roll and pleated look and all digital gages Now After 22 year of being custom I have the thought of going back to stock. I think this truck will out last me.

Owned 35 years. Was my daily driver. In 89 I started the project. It started as a super clean all original Deluxe model with all the trim and with a 260 V8 and a two speed trans. Lots of custom mods, but shuttle. Mini tubs, awesome metal work in the interior. Removed the bench seat, cut and modified the package tray shelf behind the seat so the buckets could sink back into it. Filled between the seats turning into a consul. Tilt column, Dakota digital VHX gauges, one off custom peddles, center console, shifter handles and top of door panels. Awesome leather upholstery. Original color with violet pearl. Narrowed Currie 9”. I’ll let the pictures tell the rest.

Custom Built