On October 16, 1958, Chevrolet began to sell a car-truck hybrid
that it calls the El Camino. Inspired by the Ford Ranchero, which
had already been on the market for two years, the El Camino
was a combination sedan-pickup truck built on the Impala body,
with the same “cat’s eye” taillights and dramatic rear fins. It was,
ads trilled, “the most beautiful thing that ever shouldered a load!”
“It rides and handles like a convertible,” Chevy said, “yet hauls
and hustles like the workingest thing on wheels.”