As most people familiar with old cars would know, the El Camino was introduced for the 1959 model year. Thus, there wouldn’t have been one produced in 1957, and there probably wasn’t, but this car has a unique story nonetheless. The seller states “This is a very rare car – supposedly 1 of 7 built for the 1957 Detroit Auto Show. I have no proof of this (nor do I wish to debate it).” I don’t know what the truth about this car is, but if it was done as a custom it was very well done! Find it here on eBay in Michigan with bidding at $28,100 and reserve not met.
The seller found this car in a barn and drove it home from there. After showing it around as it was for a while, the decision to restore it back to its intended condition was made. From the ad, “I don’t do restorations half assed. This one was no exception – frame off was done. A brand new 350 Chevy small block motor is under the hood.” Thus, if this was a full-assed restoration, one can assume there was a good reason for installing a new engine.
The interior is in beautiful condition, as it should be since this is a restored car. According to the ad, “Seats were re-upholstered and stuffed. Floor pans are solid, carpet is new. Dash/gauge clusters are original. Put a new radio in the dash but tastefully done to look almost original – you have some tunes that don’t take away from the looks of the car.” I agree about the radio; from here I certainly didn’t notice! For many people, a functional radio is a key component in a classic car.
I’d like to believe that this car is some kind of cool El Camino prototype, but I just don’t know if there is enough evidence to support that. It looks like a well-dome Nomad conversion to me, but if anyone reading this has more information please contribute! The seller says “Whatever you believe, you can see that the car was made off of a Nomad platform and is a very unusual automobile,” and I certainly agree that it is unusual! This car would be lots of fun at shows and to drive around, regardless of history or pedigree.
Was it a flower car maybe for a funeral home? Looks well done, but if they destroyed a Nomad for this… bad idea
Maybe but flower cars usually don’t have working tailgates.
I have kept my 64 Buick Riviera as stock and original as I’ve been able to, but I love some of the mods, because there is so much talent and vision amongst car lovers. I would be proud to drive this creation.
Vehicle is a custom 57 Chevy like other similar vehicle listed on eBay
DO NOT BE FOOLED
Could it be a Cameo, which was the precursor to the El Camino. My brother had a 56 Cameo looked like an El Camino but had a fiberglass body.
The Cameo was based on the pickup truck rather than the automobile platform. I think it was made from 55-57.
If you Google (1957 Chevrolet El Camino) you will see numerous ’57 El Caminos with different roof lines !!! If you do some serious research you will not find any indication Chevrolet ever built a 1957 El Camino !!!
But this green (whatever it is) is plain ugly. It looks to me like someone took a mid 80’s El Camino and grafted on front and rear fenders from a 57 Chevy.
The red 57 is a beauty I would LOVE to have. This green thing is just embarrassing.
Canada made at least one in their Ottowa plant. Chevrolet made a clay model in 1953 as shown in their photo archives but did not proceed with production…Canada did not follow …..should be on the road early 2019 with the vin and cowl tag…sorry, called data tag in Canada
Hahahaha. Good one Pete. There is not nor has there ever been a car plant in Ottawa. I would know, having lived here since 1951.
Sort of fits with the whole myth of this car doesn’t it? Non existent prototype built in a non existent plant.
Nice custom though. Maybe it came from Area 51.
The Aussies were building Utes from the 1930’s on, maybe one of our Southern Hemisphere friends can tell us what they had in 1957? Were there any new Chevrolet’s then or just Holdens??
Holdens and Fords, especially, had utes in their lineups… any Chebbies imported or assembled Down Under would have been RHD four-doors, with ’56 dashes and windshields, believe it or not?
Being old enough to remember the GM Autoramas, I don’t ever recall a ’57 El Camino, although the name was used on a Cadillac concept car.
The seller mentions Danbury Mint’s ‘Phantom’ series. The term used to be used for cars that were never actually produced, but would have been cool models had the manufacturers done so. Unless someone can come up with records for the seller’s claim, it’s just a cool car-pickup conversion.
che**y goes ’60-’63 ‘chero?
Just when you think you’ve seen it all ……
I Googled the ’57 Detroit Auto Show (image search) and found lots of “birds eye views” of the one large room show floor. Saw Nomads, but nothing like this.
So did I. This sellers story is almost certainly BS, but I don’t know if he knows that or not. This is a VERY nicely done custom however. Will be interesting to see what it sells for.
I’d be surprised if it hits his reserve.
The “I don’t want to debate it” just SCREAMS that he does. Regardless, this custom is just UBER-rare, as there is only one other on ebay right now . . . https://www.ebay.com/itm/1957-Chevrolet-Bel-Air-150-210-EL-CAMINO-CUSTOM/192435982060?_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIM.MBE%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D49893%26meid%3D1d4324bf3c0a4916b55408260b756cf6%26pid%3D100010%26rk%3D3%26rkt%3D6%26sd%3D202200373681%26itm%3D192435982060&_trksid=p2047675.c100010.m2109
Definitely a Nomad turned El Camino!!!! Not even debatable!!!
If the seller had left the BS prototype story out of his eBay ad would this car still be getting the Pick A Part treatment the comments section has become?
Right. It has all the earmarks of a restomod, and none of being a GM prototype.
One look at that bed makes it clear why nothing like this went into production. While they’re treated as novelty vehicles now, car-based pickup were intended as practical light-duty working vehicles when they were offered. This thing doesn’t offer much utility in exchange for losing all of its interior storage space.
so according to you the same can
be said about the 57 ford ranchero a useless pickup truck! well the ranchero was built with a job to do! a flower car for funeral homes! how do you know this wasn’t built for the same job! I remember there was a high end funeral home company in toronto ontario they had 4 69 396 auto el caminos our local funeral home had a 70 ss 427 4 gear triple black one for this job! why you can’t use a pickup truck for this !
If you really think it’s a rare prototype why wouldn’t you restore as close to what you thought it’s original configuration was. Since “barn finds” are so hot right now wouldn’t you have included one or two “as found” pictures in the ad to bolster your story.
Steve R
If he did a “full restoration”, then he most certainly had access to the inside of the rear window work that was done as well as the other fabrication. From there it would be very easy to disprove any factory connection by the quality or lack of quality of the work. So his story is BS. But cool car. Shame about the ruined Nomad though.
I agree the rear window area can definitely explain what went into the design and build of the 57 ElCamino.
What I found when doing research to build my 56 Chevy conversion was the variety of rear window and inside the bed designs people were using. Most of the ElCamino conversions either make it or loose it when it comes to the rear window area design. GM certainly would have the tooling to trim out the rear window and have ribbed metal inside the bed instead of wood. While the 57 ElCamino is very nice, I still believe it is an early conversion someone made using a Nomad Wagon. Vin and trim tag numbers would also show some of the history of the car.
Over the years I have done a few of my own one of a kind conversions like a 37 Chevy Kingcab Pickup, the 56 Chevy ElCamino, a 2010 Camaro Station Wagon and a 66 Malibu 2door Nomad Wagon. I try to use factory looking parts and focus on how I think it may have looked if GM had built it. Nicest compliments are when someone tells me my conversions look factory.
The BS is strong with this seller. I’m not buying any of his claims, and based on his statement that he doesn’t wish to debate them, apparently he’s not willing to defend them either.
Unfortunately, plenty of Nomads have been converted into “El Caminos”. Around 1965, my cousin built one from a 55 Nomad. On his, he left the back seat in place, and had a vinyl tonneau cover made for it. With the tonneau off, his Nomad/El Camino had a sort of rumble seat. Back in the 70’s, there was someone’s unfinished one sitting in a local junk yard (it was still there about 15 years ago).
There’s actually second one of these El Camino “prototypes” one eBay right now.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/1957-Chevrolet-Bel-Air-150-210-EL-CAMINO-CUSTOM/192435982060?_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIM.MBE%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D49924%26meid%3D33e4eb5e5e684a3798e691358a74bfd0%26pid%3D100010%26rk%3D3%26rkt%3D6%26sd%3D202200373681%26itm%3D192435982060&_trksid=p2047675.c100010.m2109
Wow who would of thought another proton exists?
Not me
That’s funny I was going to say there was a yellow one on ebay last month and when I was looking at that one I thought they did a hell of a job. Looking at both of them it looks like they both did the rear roof line (c piller) the same.
That IS funny, I was just thinking how different the rooflines (especially at the rear ends) were!
Red car: Tapered C-pillar, more upright rear window, slight “spoiler lip” or overhang at the trailing edge of the roof.
Yellow car: Back edge of the c-pillar essentially parallel with the trailing edge of the side window, shorter roof with a drip rail. Significantly different, IMO
And the Red One…
Quite a bit longer, with more headroom for the driver and passenger. Plus, this one has frameless chrome-edged glass, while the yellow car has a steel window frame attached to the doors. Significantly different, and I much prefer the red.
Red car looks like a Ranchero C-pillar and rear window.
I saw a Purple one from a ’57 Nomad at a Classic Chevy National Convention about 30 Years ago. Not sure which convention, since I have attended So Many of them, But I think it was in Dearborn???
Matt,
I was thinking the Ranchero roofline concept too (and considered posting that take) when I first saw the red one, but when I Googled for photos of same they looked quite a bit different.
I guess it just “reminded me of the Ranchero”, but in reality not a close as my mind’s eye was pre-programmed to believe.
I like to think it was a four door car or handy man special wagon with two door quarters and a good welder and metal fab shop!
I don’t buy the prototype or an orig engine 283 would be under that hood! Did I tell you own the seventh Bullet mustang no one ever knew existed ? 😎🤣🤣🤣🤣
Where’s the vin number? Who sold it to you and where’s the paper trail?
It looks good though and very nice to cruise in!
Red one on E-Bay is a Nomad Wagon conversion and the yellow one was a 4 door conversion. Note the difference in the length of the doors and with the Nomad door being a hardtop design and the 4 door having a full frame around the window.
I have a 2005 SSr. This would be a great addition to the stable.
So you were the person that bought one.
This was for sale two years ago with a similar ad. It was a barn find by the owner.
I have to agree with Steve R. If this vehicle has the historical significance the seller claims it should have been restored to as close as original as possible. Was replacing the original engine with a 350 just a 350 crate engine just a cost cutting act? Was it even a crate engine or just a 350 found at a salvage yard? The ad just doesn’t pass the sniff test.
Interesting. The roofline for some reason to me does not look proportionate to the body IMO. You would think that with a car like this and a full restoration as stated that a better set of rims and tires would be used. Cragers just do not do the car the compliment that it needs. Never seen or heard of these.
As a pickup, the sloped Nomad tailgate really eats up into the bed space. Not very practical at all. If it was a factory prototype (which I highly doubt), I can see why it never made it into production.
This person needs to break out the dictionary and look up the word restore. It has nothing to do with what has been done to this car.
Re·store – /rəˈstôr/ “Repair or renovate (a building, work of art, vehicle, etc.) so as to return it to its original condition”.
Someone should check to see if he’s outside barking at the moon.
If you want to see another Nomad that was destroyed (i.e. cut down into a pick-up, except this one is a ’56) check out the old Robert Culp made-for-TV ABC Movie of the Week from 1973 “Outrage”
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0070497/?ref_=nm_flmg_act_102
Spoiler alert, watch the Nomad pickup burning and fully engulfed in flames while the closing credits roll. . . .
Not the only one for sale. Found another on Ebay https://www.ebay.com/itm/1957-Chevrolet-Bel-Air-150-210-EL-CAMINO-CUSTOM/192435982060
I like the yellow one better.
I prefer the red one, at least for the roof treatment.
To each his own, I guess!
I’d rather have a Nomad or even the standard wagon. These both look poorly proportioned.
Looks like a 57 truck roof and back window to me. It is very sharp looking, I would of stayed with the engine of the time.
I think that under the hood area would look better
if done in the original specs,by not chroming everything.
The yellow one was not chopped like the red one, however someone may be fibbing just a bit.
As for someone who doesn’t do things half-assed, he/she could have put some soap & water to those tires…
And maybe add some Armor All…….
Amazingly stumpy and goofy looking. Glad Chevy did not build them.
Yellow one appears to use front doors off 4 door sedan (shorter w/window frame), while red one appears to use fronts off a 2 door, non-sedan (longer, no window frame). The red one is much more proportionate to me.
Look at the photo of the red one in primer on the rotisserie. Does it appear several strips of sheet metal were rolled on each end then tacked together to fab the roof? Though not likely to haul anything, builder might have been wise to add reinforcement ribbing to the rear panel of the cab below the window.
I like this red one better.
1 of 7. Why would they make that many prototypes. You would think Chevy could certainly verify that. Besides that, if it’s what he says it is, wouldn’t you put a period correct engine in it. And rims/tires too. No way is it what the owner says it is. Over priced. Looks cool though.
My dads sister-in-laws parents had rural GM dealership. They would cherry pick trade ins, mostly classic corvettes that they would rebuild with nos gm parts and do frame offs. They did one per winter. They took a 55 nomad 6cyl 3 speed and did this Camino thing to it. Late 70’s, still GM nos parts available chome sheet metal etc. I do remember my uncle driving it for a bit. My brother asked if it was factory and he said no, factory parts but not factory made. It had wrap around glass behind the the cab. It was sharp. But the prototype story was bs. They did sevaral but they were always tired nomads and sarfaris which were not rare at the time. Good story by the seller. Body number tag would be good. Even hoist pictures would reveal the truth.
You can say all you want about if the story is BS or not, which it very well could be, all I can say that this car/truck is incredible, done right, and worth every penny he is asking…wonder what that reserve is….it’s up to over 40K now…
Worth every penny he is asking? Really impossible to know if it is worth what he is asking. Absolutely impossible. Because WE don’t know what he is asking . . .
I agree with D.L. Page, I don’t think they would build that many prototypes.
I am a HUGE 59 El Camino guy, my favorite car. Mr. Recession bought mine along with all my other cars.
I too think this is a custom, non-GM build, car. I think it is very very cool.
Ford’s Ranchero was a production car in 1957, my dad had one, so it would not surprise me that GM was working on it in 56-57.
my 2 cents. T
Tom, you’re right about when GM was working on the El Camino, but it would have been for the 1959 model year.
This thread reminds me of the ultra-rare 1956 Ford Ranchero ‘prototype’ a buddy of mine had in 1975. He’d built it out of a Ranch Wagon… (cheeky grin)
Using a ’57 Ranchero back panel, the headset part was flattening the ’56 roof to work with it. Sorry that I don’t have a pic, as the end result was quite well-executed.
We dropped a 390 into the engine compartment and the car/truck was a great parts chaser. Well, it was until somebody rammed into when it was parked outside his folks’ place.
After looking at all the yellow pics and red pics. I would def say they are both donor nomads. To bad too! I would love to see the pedigree. also, the yellow bed is crap and patched and not flay. AT least the red cars bed is super cool and elegant. Too bad that 2 such rare cars were destroyed.
The VIN on the yellow one identifies it as a V8 equipped 210 built in Baltimore. The red one might have been a Nomad or not but there is no VIN provided so who knows? Seller credibility seems to be an issue on this car.
the yellow one looks to me to be a 4 door. look at the door size. It is super small. the top is part truck the bed is much longer than the red one which we all agree was a nomad at one time
Either of these could have been done long enough ago that whatever they were made from was possibly “just another car” and maybe wrecked. We don’t know what anyone starts with, and NO ONE has the right to say someone “destroyed” a car. Be thankful it’s available. I suppose most everyone thinks when the Monkee Mobile was made, a GTO was destroyed? I think not, folks think it was cool, neato, spiffy, etc. What about the Batmobile? The Munster’s coach? I really like these tastefully done conversions. Negative folks need to chill. George Barris thought OUTSIDE THE BOX.
I disagree – Barris put himself in his own box, his designs became commercial, predictable cliches of themselves. Looking at the “Sonny and Cher” Mustangs, his Ferrari 308 etc makes this pretty clear.
Both may have been built when they were just another old used car. I wouldn’t lose any sleep over either. These just make the ones who survive worth more. I really like the red one.
So the producers of “Dukes of Hazzard” didn’t “destroy” all those Chargers, they converted them to tasteful wrecks? That certainly clarifies things.
To all,
Go back to the link for the Yellow vehicle that is also on sale, and just take a second to click on where it says “more” after the Seller Notes. Now, I can’t categorically state that what this guy says is true, but in the additional notes–Heck, just read the title of the ad–that seller says that they started this custom effor 15 years ago with a four door 210 sedan. Again, if true, in that instance, no one chopped-up a Nomad, and it isn’t a prototype either.
Now, whether the seller of the Yellow car did an imitation of the red one as an alleged red “original prototype El Camino”, I don’t know. However, while it is noted above that the red one vs the yellow one are not identical, it is clear that if the yellow one could start as a four door sedan and be built into a custom “El Camino knock-off”, so could be true for the red one. To that end, for those of you who are ready to “jump” because someone butchered a Nomad, step back from the ledge, because I don’t think that happened.
Finally, please also note that the ad for the yellow one includes the words “El Camino”, and in the interest of accuracy, maybe it should say “El Camino-Like”.
Let’s not over think this car its cool if it was at a car show you would be checking it out.
True. But not for a moment thinking it was a factory prototype.
It’s a Bel-mino
That’s not a prototype,that a very well done custom,the inside of the bed is very smooth with no seams .the tailgate is the same as a 57 nomad, beautifully done car! My father bought the first 59 elkey ,I was young then It came with optional rear seats in bed ,I have a 73 elkey tank.but I always loved the 57 beautiful design, Sharp wing tail ! Keep the car to beautiful to sell!!!
I agree that these two ’57 “El Caminos” are based on different bodies (red = Nomad, yellow = 2-dr. wagon probably), and most certainly neither one is a GM prototype. Chevrolet was never that quick to copy a Ford production idea and it is reasonable that it took them until ’59 to do a car-truck after Ford introduced the Ranchero in 1957. Second, GM Design would have done a better job with the roof form and would never have stuck a rubber-gasketed rear window in a completely flat back panel. No, their first prototype was most likely done in late 1957 or early 1958 based on a pre-production 1959 body. Even so, I think the red car is quite well done and would make a fun cruiser.
….the dealer is SHADY…..wouldn’t trust him with a 100 foot pole …..check them out !
…that car has been on and off E-bay for over six months….straw buyer to pump it up maybe ? just asking…
I had a discussion/argument with an old mechanic one time.
He told me he had once seen a 1958 Camaro. I stood there thinking that it would have been impossible for that to have existed as Chevrolet wasn’t even thinking of it until the Mustang came out.
After much back and forth, he meant to say El Camino.
This was back in 1958 that he saw the car so I do believe that was the prototype for the El Camino, but not a 1957 model.
I don’t see any pictures on Google so it might have never gotten out into the public.
GM destroyed a lot of prototypes back then.
A bunch of GM prototypes ended up at Warhoops yard in Michigan close to Detroit, I know the Biscayne, and maybe an Eldorado came out of that yard plus at least two more. the owner of the yard agreed to destroy them for GM but could not bring himself to do it. but a lot of cutting was involved. the Biscayne and the Cadillac have been restored but I am unsure who owns them? No way either the red or yellow cars here were prototypes but they are both cool. yellow looks like it started out as a 4 door the red one started out as a two door, my two cents…
I remember back about 1959-60 seeing a similar build in one of the now defunct car magazines – not the smaller ones like the old TV guide size “Rod & Custom” – but it was a ’56 Chevy wagon redone like this one. They used the top half of the tailgate for the rear window, and I seem to recall that the window was reversed, like the last version of the ElCamino. As i recall the car was white and blue two tone . There has been a Volvo Amazon ( 122s ) wagon done like this for sale on Hemmings website recently – you can see the hinges for the rear window on the roof, but I don’t know if it opens….
I would want to see a VIN plate and/or Trim Plate before buying off on the prototype story. It is still a well done, good looking custom build worth some good money.
There would be the rub because I don’t think prototypes had vin’s.
The Danbury Mint version had wrap-around rear glass and chrome around the top edge of the bed.
That’s what it would have looked like if Chevy had built it.
I like both the yellow and red ones but more than I can afford at the moment.
Would this car ever turn heads…Love it.
I agree with Matt. It looks like the builder grafted a 57 Ranchero cab onto the Chevy.
I wonder how many tri-five nomads were crushed at wrecking yards and sold for scrap iron? Why cry over spilled milk? If someone has the talent and vision to make their idea of something cool, I say go for it and let the cards fall where they will. Love the red one.
I agree with you there. I’m amazed some guy(s) can build this out of a station wagon. I’m always amazed by someone else’s talent. I love this red one, genuine or not. Stunning.
I have a bridge in Brooklyn I would love to sell. It has a good cash flow. maybe the buyer of this would be interested………….
At Hot August Nights last summer there was a ’57 “El Camino Style”. It had all the pictures of the very well done modification. If I remember correctly, it started with a solid 4 door wagon and a rusty 2 door sedan. They used the 2 door door opening “hoops” and the 2 door sedan doors. I believe they used the top tailgate half for the rear glass. (welded in) I think that they used a Ford PU bed floor for the flooring. It was so well done. I spent at least 45 minutes looking in, around and under. It looked factory produced. It was beautiful and better than these two.
I like the Danbury Mint version with the wrap around glass. I couldn’t put my finger on it but, that’s what those two needed, the wrap around glass and the B pillar from the Nomad.
We own one very similar, ours is made out of 4 door wagon NOT a Nomad, its been family since made.
@ John Moss,
Awesome that you have one, and that it has been a family treasure since the build. I see an evolution in thinking about the color, and the wheels too. Have there been periodic upgrades to the driveline as well?
Thanks for posting the photos!
Thanks Alan, yes the drivetrain has upgrade thru the years, right now 350 SBC with a 5 speed richmond
I enjoyed your read on the 57 ElCamino. The car appears to be another nicely done and possibly an early ElCamino conversion using a Nomad as a donor.
I have a Son who is an Engineer for GM and when I designed my own 56 Custom ElCamino, I did a lot of research looking for Concepts, Australian Holden Ute designs and checking out how others did their conversions. On a visit to the GM Heritage Center, I asked about early ElCamino Concepts and they had no information to confirm anything like this 57 was ever made as a Concept.
One of the things I did find is that the Tri-5 Chevy Nomad’s were not a big sales plus for GM. In the early 60’s used ones could be bought fairly cheap. Many early ElCamino conversions like the one in you article were made from a Nomad..
What I did not like is that the Nomad tailgate leans in which actually makes your usable payload space smaller and can look a little out of proportion.
For my 56 Chevy I chose a 2door 210 series Wagon. I did change the angle of my B-pillar to be similar to a Nomad and I added some Nomad side trim and 58 Nomad tailgate trim to get the Factory look I was going for. I have driven my 56 to Michigan several times and have been amazed at how many people think it is an old restored GM Concept car. I even had the honor of displaying it in front of the GM Heritage Center during one of our visits.
i have seen one before, a long time ago…i hear folks call this body mod a “belair-o”…it looks cool, and it changes the form/function of this classic in a big way, the splice needs to be done well, so its invisible…the quality of the mod differs from shop to shop, this one was done well…nice ride, best wishes, john k–
Hahaha…Really? You couldn’t even wash the tires and wheels? I like the top on the yellow one better than the red, but ’57 had long fins that make any El Camino look-alike appear to be way too long. Way out of proportion, no matter what roof you use. One thing I did notice between the two is that the wheel wells in the bed are the same. Did the later El Camino’s have the same treatment?
By the way, my ’58 wagon started out as the very FIRST El Camino built by GM in late ’57. I didn’t like the way it looked, so I had it made into a 2 door wagon…looks much better to me!
Your 58 looks great, Do you have any before pictures? ( KIDDING). I arrived in 1958 and don’t look near this good. We do share the same smooth roof line.
Fantastic!
Thanks for sharing!
It always cracks me up at how ticked off some people get when someone modifies a “classic” to make something else. Well then, buy every classic car on the planet and restore them to stock if you are so miffed. I would much rather pull into a car show driving either one of these cars, then park in a row next to the other fifty Mustangs, seventy-five Tri-5’s, or one-hundred Camaros sitting there in various forms. Relax, it’s a car. It’s a hobby. It’s a lifestyle. Enjoy it…..to each their own.
You are right. It is a great hobby and creativity has no real boundaries. In a way I see it even as an art form. I have always been more of a Streetrod or Custom kind of guy and have often received criticism from those who think a car should be restored instead of modified. Well, my answer is that I like to build and drive what appeals to me. While I too might not be fond of someone’s creation, I can appreciate the creativity and workmanship they may have put into it.
I saw this one at our car show in Somerset, KY. He said he had it built from a 4 door wagon. He said the fabricator used as much of the original parts as he could, such as the windows and ect. Really cool. Seems to be more out there then people think.
I just located one in the woods n the next town from my house. previously red. looks to be in really good shape. hope to check on it again soon and maybe get a pic
they can say what they want about not having built a 57 elcamino by chevrolet but they are neat anyway as they are different. i have one built out of a 210 4 door wagon back in 1974 and finally got it from the buuiltder 3 years ago but it is now for sale at a real reasonable price.
My friends father worked in detroit in the 50’s he said they did make some prototypes in 57 but he can only remember a handfull of them and some got wrecked testing for safety. He worked under hans herdia who ever that is.
There is a 1957 in blue 2 blocks away from where l live. I pass it every day on my way to work.
The red car at the top is a 1957 Chevrolet (Holden) Ute built in Australia. You can tell by that slight lip on the rear roof-line. The rear gate was almost the same as the Nomad gate
I did a lot of research several years ago including GM concepts and actually meeting guys who worked for Holden in Australia when I was designing my 56 conversion. Holden did not make a 57 Ute that looked like the red 57. The following is a reply I made to the original post in 2018.
“Red one on E-Bay is a Nomad Wagon conversion and the yellow one was a 4 door conversion. Note the difference in the length of the doors and with the Nomad door being a hardtop design and the 4 door having a full frame around the window.”
Here is a link showing some history and images of Holden vehicles including the Ute that they produced in 1957.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holden_FE
The back window and part of the back of the roof are 1957 to 1960 Ford truck, so the claim this is a prototype is utter BS.
i have heard there were 7 pro-type 57 elcaminos by a retired gm empl,oyee. he said they wrecked 2 (totalled) and then demolished the other 5., i have a 57 elcamino but mine is not a prototype. kit was built by a gm employee way back in 1974 out of a 57 door 210 wagon. built right and drives like one should. richard from shreveport, la (builder lived in eldorado arkansas) it is the copper one in one of the ads up top)
I just seen this conversasion and wanted to add something. Everyone has been talking about the 56’s and 57’s, I built a 55. its not a prototype.
Awesome 55 Vince. After friends telling me they saw my car at some east coast shows but did not see me, I realized it was your similar colored car they were seeing. Finally got to meet you and see your ride at Syracuse Nationals.