In 1964 a “hybrid” vehicle wasn’t about switching to battery power. It was a car-pickup combo: the Chevy El Camino. Just as electric vehicles are not a new idea, dating to the 19th century, the “roadster utility” or “coupe utility” concept originated in the 1920s.
Roger MacIsaac found his 1964 El Camino in a mechanic’s shop in his hometown of Poughkeepsie about seven years ago.
“I paid 10 grand for it,” he said, adding that while he loves the look, he isn’t interested in the pickup capabilities. “I drive it strictly for pleasure.”
MacIsaac has only had to perform basic maintenance. The original 327 V8 engine, which he replaced with a 350-cubic-inch Chevy V8, sits in his garage. He added Cragar wheels, a tachometer and temperature gauge. He painted over the original white with the El Camino GM tripoli turquoise metallic, a popular color in the 1960s. The vehicle has three emblems: Chevrolet, Chevelle and El Camino.
The Specs
Assembly: Baltimore and five other plants
Production Years: 1959-60 and 1964-87
1964 Production: 32,548
Body: Coupe-utility
Engine: 327-cubic-inch V8; 6-cylinder and 283-cubic-inch V8 options
Carburetor: Single four-barrel
Horsepower: 250
Transmission: 2 speed Powerglide automatic, 3- and 4-speed manual options
Exhaust: Dual
0-60 mph: 7.7 seconds
Quarter-mile: 15.9 seconds at 87 mph
Cost: $2,367* ($24,500 today)
*A $81 [$835] “custom” option included bucket seats
MacIsaac hopes to refresh the interior with an original vinyl bench seat, metal dashboard, built-in clock, AM-FM radio and cigarette lighter. The windows, brakes and steering are manual; the transmission is automatic, a two-speed Powerglide.
A stiffer suspension is the only change he’d consider. “It’s a light-enough car, a fun cruiser and easy to drive,” he said. He cruises to car shows “practically every day of the week,” including the Tuesday evening gathering at the I-84 Diner in Fishkill.
The El Camino has 75,000 miles on the odometer, an average of 1,230 miles a year. Great Barrington, Massachusetts, is the furthest MacIsaac has driven it. He has never calculated the gas mileage.
Chevrolet introduced the El Camino in 1959 in response to the Ford Ranchero, which hit the market in 1957. Although the Ford was popular, the General Motors version, developed using a Chevrolet station wagon platform, quickly outsold it. Sales peaked in 1972 at 57,000 units.
