One thing is pretty certain for the person who becomes the next owner of this 1959 Chevrolet El Camino, and that is that they will never go anywhere without attracting plenty of attention. This is not a car that could ever be considered to be subtle, but its ability to attract attention comes down to the fact that it is in fantastic condition. With the car set to go to a new home, it is possible that you could easily be the person attracting all of the attention. Located in Boulder City, Nevada, you will find the El Camino listed for sale here on eBay. Bidding has reached $25,200, but the reserve hasn’t been met. The owner also offers a BIN option, and this has been set at $30,000.
I’m going to stick my neck out here because even though I am a self-confessed Ford enthusiast, I have always felt that the ’59 El Camino is a better-looking car than the equivalent Ranchero. I know that there will be plenty of people who will be willing to argue that point, and I respect their opinion. Of course, style does come down to a matter of personal taste, so I’m just putting it out there. This El Camino looks extremely attractive finished in Crown Sapphire Metallic. The paint has a nice consistency and shine to it, while the panels are very straight. The owner makes no mention of any rust issues, and there are certainly no problems visible in the supplied photos. There is never any shortage of chrome on a ’59 El Camino, and this all appears to be in very good condition. The vehicle features tinted glass all around, and this seems to be as flawless as the chrome. The Chevy is also given a tougher look by dropping the ride-height a bit, and by the addition of the alloy Corvette wheels. That is one addition that I’m not 100% sold on, but I’m sure that I could learn to live with them.
Potential owners in 1959 had a veritable smorgasbord of engines to choose from in their new El Camino, and decoding the VIN reveals that this car rolled off the line in St. Louis, Missouri with a 235ci six-cylinder engine under the hood. However, that engine has gone by the wayside, and what we have here is a 348ci Tri-Power V8, which is backed by an automatic transmission. That piece of machinery will deliver 335hp, which means that the El Camino should really get up and moving if you give the gas pedal a bit of a poke. The presentation of the engine bay is not as nice as I was expecting, but the engine itself is nice and clean. It would seem that the next owner won’t be facing any work with the Chevy because the owner does say that it is in great running condition. The owner does supply a video of the engine running on this Facebook page, and it does sound really clean and strong.
The interior of the El Camino also presents nicely, with no obvious urgent needs. All of the upholstered surfaces look extremely clean, with no evidence of any rips or tears. The carpet and headliner are in a similar state, while the dash generally looks very good. There is some minor scratching and deterioration of the polished metal on the dash, but it is something that seems to only be visible upon close inspection. I suspect that returning this to perfection would not be a difficult task. Apart from the floor-mounted shifter, the only aftermarket additions are some gauges mounted under the dash, and a tachometer mounted on the steering column. The under-dash gauges look a bit untidy, so I would probably put some effort into improving their appearance.
With 22,246 vehicles rolling off the production line in 1959, Chevrolet found that they had a sales success on their hands with the El Camino. Today, these remain as popular as ever, and tidy examples can fetch some pretty respectable prices. There are plenty of examples of the ’59 model in the market that can be had for less than the BIN on this one, but the vast majority of those are going to need some work to bring their presentation up to the standard of this one. It’s also worth noting that you will be hard-pressed to find another example for this price with a healthy 348 Tri-Power under the hood. That is certainly something to think about.
Wow
Very nice. Ever since I saw one. I really liked the style. I,d definitely can the wheels and go with orignals or rally wheels and enjoy it. DRIVE IT. I get most enjoyment out of old vehicles by working on them . Maybe someday I,ll find a reasonable price one. I,m in no hurry to find a shiney one–buy it and FIND out it had shoddy work done to it. I,d rather do the work on one that you could see needed work and you know what you have.This is a very nice looking car and I really like it.
How sweet! I had a 59 Biscayne, straight 6, 3 on the tree, I kick myself to this day for getting rid of it. Bidding is under 5k of the BIN, I think it would be a good deal if he lifted the reserve now. GLWTA
“Dear – how much is in Junior’s college fund? Just curious.”
Those Vette wheels look good on that car, kinda gives it a modern look albeit the 80’s. If its as clean as described its a decent deal.
I’m a Ford man but I have to agree, the chev El Camino is a far better looking truck than the Ranchero.
Agreed- I don’t think the Ranchero ever approached this degree of styling pizazz until ’68…
Very nice car, but I would have to change the wheels. They just don’t look right. A nice set of Halibrand’s should do it. But it appears to be a great driver.
At 16, ( 1968 ) I bought my first car. It was a 1959 Chevrolet Impala, 2 door sport coupe, black with red interior. It had a 348, 4 barrel, dual exhaust, all original. I worked all summer to earn $300 to buy it. It was in mint condition! Wish I had it now.
A very nice truck, but…the devil is in the details:
Pull the engine/trans (an easy task on this truck) and detail the engine (properly) and the engine bay.
Polish the bright work inside and outside.
Put on a rear valance painted to match.
Put on a nice set of period correct torq thrust wheels.
Coolest touch? The third brake light.
I won’t mention the hideous mirrors, El Camino badge in the wrong spot, poorly fitted carpets, no door light button on passenger side, gas door trim, and the old shifter steering column piece. Oops, guess I just did.
ruxvette, totally agree. Biggest question for me are the emblems. Why would you do all this work and put them in the wrong place? They don’t look bad there but it is just not correct. Leave them off if anything.
Very nice car for the money. I think it is the right money for what IS done hoping what IS done WAS done correctly. Don’t love the wheels either. I had them on a 72 Stingray once, didn’t like them then either.
The recession bought my 59 El Camino. Very sad, still am.
I AM SO GLAD THAT I am not a fan of the color – If I was I would have to buy it now!! It is too nice to spend all the money to redo the paint and body SO I am glad! If it were metallic red/maroon I would BUY IT NOW.
One day I will have another but as much as the 348 Tri Power is AWESOME my next 59 El Camino will need to be a restomod with fuel injection. Loooovveee the 4 speed on the floor. Love it.
It’s an automatic Tom.
The wheels are not my favorite. Other than that, it’s a really nice looking car and not far from me, but really needs A?C installed. The price is what I would want for mine if I was to ever sell it. I like the American Racing Torque Thrust ll wheels I have on my 59 El Camino. Second choice would be the Torque Thrust D. I would post a pic but don’t know how to…….
Beautiful car!
wow wow wow. This is exactly why that four letter word that starts with an F (Ford) never had a prayer. What a beautiful ride!
Considering how big this thing is, that steering wheel is like right up against one’s chest. I imagine the seat is fixed on these.
Can 1 fit a shorter steering column?
I`m a Ford/Merc guy,,, but that car is sweeet!
Minor things, yes, but overall, a nice old El Camino. I wonder if he would trade for my 70 SS 396 El Camino!
I love the car. Especially like the W motor with a tri power setup. And although I don’t hate the wheels I believe I’d like to see match painted steel wheels with correct ’59 dog dishes. But a great truck all the same!
I’d change the wheels and put the interior back to stock. Nice ride.
Well, this is a nice truck, probably the nicest one around, but don’t sell the ’59 Ranchero short. It was my favorite full size Ranchero. I wonder if anyone ever dropped a ’60 Ford front clip on a Ranchero? Wouldn’t that be sweet.
I took my wife to Carlisle a few years ago and we walked the car corral. She’s not a car person, and the ONLY car she liked was a 1959 El Camino.
Of course, she picked a car that I either can’t find or can’t afford or both.
Sailor,
Talk her into a 60 El Camino!
Then email me.
We can talk!
Ford shocked GM with the ’57 Ranchero based on the 2 door wagon. Chevy took until ’59 to answer with this which had few common parts to their wagon and was therefore more expensive to produce. It no sooner hit the market, than Ford changed the Ranchero to the Falcon line, catching the General off stride again. Sadly, GM didn’t match Ford with a Chevy 2 El Camino, but one upped them with it on the Chevelle platform, which Ford followed suit on the Fairlane line. After that interesting duel, in the 70’s it became less interesting until the ’78 El Camino came out . :-) Terry J
Nice set of body color steelies with chrome caps and rings and this would be purrfect!
Someone cut the fins off this one, remove the hood and grind the “eyebrows” off the front of the fenders and you have your own Impalomino…with a better tailgate and a gas tank installed where God intended.
I think this el Camino is almost perfect as is especially the Corvette Alloys. The only things it would need to be perfect for me would be A/C and a 5 speed stick, I’d live with that old chugger 348.
Some of u guys sure r picky/dreamers & that’s why u have nothing sweet @ ur place, this is a sweet ride the way it is/set up. I’m a 4 speed/ford man this era I would prefer a 57 ranchero, but this owner did a nice clean job, beautiful. Get off ur computers/rear ends & build even a Rat Rod so some dreamer can criticize! Dreamers!
For the money the seller should put the correct badging on in the right place which is to the rear of the front fender. The badging on this is from a ’60, the ’59 is one year only. The goofy mirrors would have to go first! Put some California one piece bumpers on and replace the shoddy wrong color headliner. Missing LR valance panel is one year only and not real easy to find, but they are available and turn up on feebay from time to time. I know these cars well have had two for over 20 years. Detail the engine bay, put some good PFD brakes on it. Replace the wheels with some nice torque thrust, and the car does not have lots of chrome like mentioned but lots of Stainless Steel, the F&R bumpers are chrome but that’s about it. Grille is aluminum and very light. Somebody will probably BIN as these are bringing the $ and a nice car when done correctly.
This is mine, bought it in 1978. 348, tripower, four speed, factory power windows including the vent windows, all tinted glass. It was mint and then I did this. 427, 6-71 blower, richmond 5 speed . Way more fun. I am older now , still have the car and in my garage it sits.
I know gas isn’t .50 cents a gallon anymore, put some fresh gas in it & run it once in awhile. It will take away some of that grey & let u feel young again, it will b worth $4.00 a gallon
Original wheel covers,Torque Thrusts or Cragar SS otherwise wouldn’t change a thing. Very Nice!
Let’s all say it in unison….”It needs a third pedal”.
OK, boomer! :)
kidding… I’m a boomer and I love the third pedal!!
Not for me it doesn’t.
Great looking car, assuming there isn’t a ton of bondo under that shiny paint, I would enjoy the heck out of it just like it is…
Back in ’67 my high school friend had a red 1960 El Camino with 348 with 3 duces and three on the tree. I remember riding in it with my bud and his Dad one day and his Dad said,”Shower down on it!” That thing could spin the tires! One day he came over to the house to paint his brake drums to highlight his Cragers using a bumper jack. As he was finishing up the right rear drum, he asked me to let the jack down. He was sitting on the curb side of the street and when I flipped the jack lever and commenced to lever it down, the jack let loose to the bottom catching his knee and broke his leg. Had to drive him home so his folks could get him to the hospital. Will never forget that day.
The seller’s description. Short on details for a car like this.
Pretty ambitious price for a car in that condition.
Lots of things wrong as already mentioned by others.
Those close ups reveal a lot.
Aweful ambitious price for a car in that shape.
The close ups reveal a lot, as already mentioned by all the others here.
Not to mention the incorrect / misplaced emblems etc.
$10 – $15,000 maybe.
But, to each his own i guess.
Maybe so, but there aren’t that many to choose from.
14,000 in 1960.
Not sure what the 59 sales numbers were.
Though I remember it being higher than the 60’s.
Mine is for sale at $26,000.
A much more realistic price I think!
Especially when it’s in better shape than this one.
By the way.
Has anyone noticed the roll pan under the rear bumper is missing?
Looks like all 3 of the rear valance panels are missing, I just happen to have a very nice RR lower panel if anyone is looking, plus lots more ’59 parts. There were over 22k ’59 el camino made.
Good to know!
No one is reproducing those roll pans last I knew.
Do you know any different?
How about 60 Camino parts?
Have any of those?
Thx.
Funny how aluminum intakes were not yet on the market back then. All cast iron and heavy. In 1960 the 409 was the motor that took the place of the 348 and had a lot of torque. Not big on RPM. The fun days but I was only 10 in 1960. I still had the bug. I worked on a farm and I drove all the equipment. Back then , it was still work.And driving was fun. I always thought the 327 was a better engine. Not as much torque but lot more RPM’s. The good old days and they were.
good ole days? I had a 69 Z28 in 73-74, gas lines around the corner,4-6 miles a gallon @ .35-40 cents a gallon, they where a lot of fast miles & a lot of tickets, I thought I was Super Man, 21 forever, I ain’t working out 2 good 4 me lately
Sounds like a 454 would get a lot better mpg with quadrajet. lol
If 1 got all those tickets TODAY with the surcharges & outrageous ticket prices, you’d be broke & probably have no license & possibly the car would be confiscated. Not to mention a flood of paper mail from lawyers wanting to “strike some deals” for you in court.