[mdittmar]

I'm gonna find a manual 3 speed El Camino,won't be easy. I owned one 20 years ago,I sold it.I shouldn't have. it was fun.

[2ndDivisionVet]

Had a 4 speed Vega that was fun to drive.

[CommerceComet]

I just love the Ranchero/el Camino half-truck, half-car. Another creation of the 1950s that I absolutely love was the two-door station wagons (Courier/Nomad/Safari).

[bigbob]

"Hey Newbomb, is that your brothers El Camino?"

1965 model, from the movie "Hollywood Knights"

[ozzymandus]

1st gen El Caminos were truly sharp.

[painter]

bump

[RegulatorCountry]

A 68 or 69 model El Camino is the best looking, in my opinion. For the Ranchero, the 72 is, even with the woodgrain “Squire” trim.

[rockinqsranch]

Had a 71 Ranchero I bought off the father in law. Piece of work. Front end always hanging up on concrete bumper blocks, and to open the doors on those things you had to open half the vehicle. No parking slots were painted wide enough to accommodate them. Had to hold the heavy doors to keep them from hitting cars on either side, or use some other car to go shopping, but other than that they rode like a cloud, and you went into shock when you glanced at the speedo indicating 120 mph, or better on the freeway.

The Ranchero I had was one of them with the Cleveland in it. Hauled.

[jazusamo]

Had a ‘59 Ford Ranchero for about 5 years in the ‘60s. Stock 352 cu big block with a 3 speed stick, it didn’t lack for power and was fun to drive.

[no-s]

'm gonna find a manual 3 speed El Camino,won't be easy.

I want to get an el Camino and convert it to steam (or steam-electric). Then I'll go steamin' down El Camino in my El Camino...

[Baynative]

A much heard conversation heard in garages and classic car gatherings is the muscle car wars that hit a fever pitch in the 60's. But, carrying on in the shadows was the battle for market share and coolness supremacy with the idea of sport coupe trucks.

I once heard the original intention of Ford was to target the upscale horse show type female buyer that didn't want to put hay, oats and smelly saddle blankets in the back of a station wagon, but didn't want to drive a pick up truck.

Chevy watched the '57 and '58 Rancheros gain in popularity and jumped into the game in '59. The following year Ford downsized from the full body style to the tiny under powered Falcon. While Chevy won market share in '60, they quit producing El Caminos the following year.

Ford sensed a wide open market and spiced up the little Falcon truck with a small V8 (260 followed by 289) and a four speed. Chevy, having created big followings with the 348 and 409 asphalt kickers came back with V8, 4spd El Caminos in '64 and the game was on.

In my opinion, Ford was never able to match Chevy in either style or appearance after that. It's easy to see why big block El Camino Super Sports bring large bids and Rancheros are largely ignored.

[progunner]

Our father still has a 1966 Shelby GT350H. Can anybody remember what the "H" signifies?

[PLMerite]

1972 Ford Ranchero GT 429:

[TexasTransplant]

I found a 64 1/2 Ranchero ... 351 Cleveland Engine Swap and was “IN LOVE” until I saw it was an Automatic ... kicked her to the curb and never looked back.

(just last month, hurts but I have my standards) ;^)

[Mike Darancette]

The fastest IMHO was the Chevelle with a 454.

[BraveMan]

The Aussies are having all the fun now.

HSV GTS Maloo