1959 El Camino trim levels?

[Aaronw]

I'm digging out an old project and since I need to do a repaint thought I'd double check a few things I might have wanted to do.

I'm building a 1959 El Camino as a base model with a 6 cylinder. Should it still have all the chrome or would that have been deleted on the el cheapo version?

Also with a single color would the center of the side chrome striping still be another color (white or black on most 2 tones I've found photos of)?

I've tried looking for photos and I'm not finding any without chrome that are not customs, but I am finding enough with solid chrome (silver down the middle) to make me wonder if that was the basic style on single color cars or if it is just old and the paint has either faded / worn away or been removed.

Thanks

[scale trucker]

i have seen 59 elkys that where stock with no moldings...and ive seen 6 cyl cars with impala chrome trim package..so you need to pick how you want it...

[Aaronw]

Thanks, I'll leave all the shiny bits then, sanding it all off would be almost as much trouble as foiling it all.

I just wanted to make sure it would be appropriate to leave it on with a 6.

[Eshaver]

Aaron, I looked at this post this morning and found a lot of conflicting information concerning both the 59 and the 60. I found one post where you couldn't get anything outside of a Grey interior in a "Stripper " model to the mention of chrome . I think it was pretty much left to a dealer to get an invoice passed . What 1-1 El Caminio's I have found un blemished over the years seem to confirm what I just said . The packages you and I seem to have to deal with really didn't come about until 1964 when Chevrolet re- introduced the Mid Sized Chevelle El Caminio . I wish I was more help this time ............ Ed Shaver

[george 53]

I myself never saw a fully chromed out Elco like wats on the box. That one actually looks to have full Impala chromework. The ones I saw were plain jane Elco's with a single spear down the sides, or none at all. The interior A-pillar posts were painted metal, although i have seen them chromed.

[Guest Johnny]

All the 59 ElCaminos I have seen including the one I owned in 1969-1970 had gray interiors!

I have seen some with inline sixes and V8's that had no side moldings. Others did!

My 59 had Belair trim (minus Impala badge) Had a 4 barrell 283, 3 on the tree with overdrive and posi traction! Red with gray interior!

Edited October 13, 2011 by Johnny

[mr moto]

Here's a link to the original sales brochure. It looks like it was one trim level only.

http://oldcarbrochures.org/index.php/NA/Chevrolet_El_Camino-GMC_Caballero/1959_Chevrolet_El_Camino_Folder

[charlie8575]

Based on most of the information I've run across over the years, I'd leave the trim on; it may have been optional, but it was very, very common. Most people who bought an El Cam wanted something a little lighter duty than a regular pickup, and dressed up a little.

I remember seeing somewhere the Biscayne interiors (or pretty close) were the standard interior trim, which means blue, gray and I think green would've been the color choices, at least on the passenger cars.

I'll do a little more digging later when I have a little extra time and report my findings.

Charlie Larkin

[charlie8575]

Although there's no specific call-out for an El Camino, this should at least get you started. I would think the 2-door wagon would be be the closest-to-correct choice.

http://www.smsautofabrics.com/product-info.php?pid=L-808&pcl=v&ino=6117 (Gray)

http://www.smsautofabrics.com/product-info.php?pid=L-723&pcl=v&ino=6118 (Green)

http://www.smsautofabrics.com/product-info.php?pid=L-732&pcl=v&ino=6119 (Blue)

Those are vinyl. If you do a search for 1959 Chevrolet, the cloth selections will also come up, as I believe a cloth/vinyl interior was an option.

I find it quite interesting how many of these cars used some of these materials. The Blue alone was in Chevies, Edsels, DeSotos and Pontiacs.

Charlie Larkin

Edited October 11, 2011 by charlie8575

[Aaronw]

Ok, primer is on, so the chrome trim is staying. I'm glad that appears to be the general conclusion.

Grey works for the interior as that was the color I had done previously, I was thinking about changing to a black interior, but I'll just leave it alone.

I can't find any good photos of the ceiling, would it be a headliner matching the interior or metal matching the exterior color?

Thanks

[my66s55]

wikipedia says that El Caminos had trim and drive train options corresponding with the car line. Also says that the interior colors for 1960 were again blue, gray and green. http://en.wikipedia....E2.80.931960.29

[mr moto]

Ok, primer is on, so the chrome trim is staying. I'm glad that appears to be the general conclusion.

Grey works for the interior as that was the color I had done previously, I was thinking about changing to a black interior, but I'll just leave it alone.

I can't find any good photos of the ceiling, would it be a headliner matching the interior or metal matching the exterior color?

Thanks

Check out the link to the brochure up above. There's a picture that shows a white or maybe very light gray headliner.

[Longbox55]

The interior sheet metal should be done in a gray color, same as the upholstry. There was a blue and a green interior as well, but those were only used on El Caminos that had blue or green exteriors.

As far as the trim goes, the mounting holes are the same as the Station Wagon, so installing trim from an up level car would not be too difficult for a dealer to do if a customer requested it. Other wise, El Caminos were only built with the Biscayne trim level.

Here's the specs right from GM. http://www.gmheritagecenter.com/gm-heritage-archive/docs/El-Camino/1959-Chevrolet-El-Camino.pdf

[Guest Johnny]

The dash and interior metal pieces in mine was the same gray like the early 60's Chevy pickups had.

It had vinyl with cloth inserts. the door panels were base model with very little accent.

[Art Anderson]

The interior sheet metal should be done in a gray color, same as the upholstry. There was a blue and a green interior as well, but those were only used on El Caminos that had blue or green exteriors.

As far as the trim goes, the mounting holes are the same as the Station Wagon, so installing trim from an up level car would not be too difficult for a dealer to do if a customer requested it. Other wise, El Caminos were only built with the Biscayne trim level.

Here's the specs right from GM. http://www.gmheritag...t-El-Camino.pdf

Not quite so fast:

1959 El Camino came in two trim levels, roughly corresponding to Biscayne and Bel Air. The kit as produced by AMT has Bel Air side trim, and interior upholstery pattern. For all full-sized Chevrolet passenger cars 1959-60, the standard equipment engine WAS the 235cid inline 6, with all V8's being optional; standard equipment transmission was the column shift 3spd. Standard wheel trim was the "dog dish" hubcap. Dashboard trim on both levels is the same, same as Biscayne or Bel Air.

Interior colors: Three interior color schemes were offered, but were keyed to exterior colors, and were two-tone: White. red and black cars got the 2-tone grey/silver color scheme; yellow and green cars received the two-tone green interior, Blue cars of course, got the light blyue/dark blue interior.

If the buyer (or the dealer, in order to "jazz" up the El Camino on his lot) wanted, the knifeblade front fender ornaments that were standard on the Impala could be added by the dealer (my '59 Biscayne 4dr had them, dealer installed).

Standard equipment tires on ALL 1959-Chevrolet passenger cars were blackwalls, whitewalls were an extra-cost option.

Art

Edited October 12, 2011 by Art Anderson

[Longbox55]

Art. I'm going to go with you on this. I've been doublechecking my sources, and have come across several inconsistancies in equipment options. The GM Heritage page does not show a Bel Air package on the El Camino, only a "Deluxe Interior" option. However, the Standard Catalog of Chevrolet Trucks lists the El Camino as being built with the Bel Air trim as standard. I can potentially see where an aftermaket publication may not be accurate, and I'm thinking the list on the GM site could be an early list, possibly even pre-production, where the upscale trim may have been an option added later.

As far as added trim goes, I have seen a few early El Caminos, mostly '60 models, that have had Impala side trim added by the dealer.

[Guest Johnny]

Thanks Art! Meant to say Belair trim (which I believe was the "Deluxe" option) on my 59 not Impala! Mine had the fender ornaments I imagine dealer installed same as the under dash A/C unit!

Someone mentioned the headliner. If I remember correctly the one in mine was a patterned gray fiber board.

[Art Anderson]

Art. I'm going to go with you on this. I've been doublechecking my sources, and have come across several inconsistancies in equipment options. The GM Heritage page does not show a Bel Air package on the El Camino, only a "Deluxe Interior" option. However, the Standard Catalog of Chevrolet Trucks lists the El Camino as being built with the Bel Air trim as standard. I can potentially see where an aftermaket publication may not be accurate, and I'm thinking the list on the GM site could be an early list, possibly even pre-production, where the upscale trim may have been an option added later.

As far as added trim goes, I have seen a few early El Caminos, mostly '60 models, that have had Impala side trim added by the dealer.

I based my comments on the very informative soft cover book I have (long out of print) "Chevrolet Book of Numbers, Vol 2", which is made up of factory dealer information and order forms, 1954-62. Covers all Chevrolet passenger cars for those years, including the El Camino. One of my most useful reference books, for sure.

[Art Anderson]

Thanks Art! Meant to say Belair trim (which I believe was the "Deluxe" option) on my 59 not Impala! Mine had the fender ornaments I imagine dealer installed same as the under dash A/C unit!

Someone mentioned the headliner. If I remember correctly the one in mine was a patterned gray fiber board.

Headliner surely would have been fabric, same as with all '59 Chevy passenger cars.

[Guest Johnny]

Headliner surely would have been fabric, same as with all '59 Chevy passenger cars.

Had so many vehicles since then I really cant remember!

May have been remembering my grandmas 62 Chevy half ton stepside pickup!

[impcon]

the '59 Chevrolet is my first automotive love and I have loved and noticed them since my dad bought a Snowcrest White Brookwood four door wagon brand new from Kenora Motor Products in Kenora, Ontario. I do not claim to know it all, but I have been a big fan of those cars and trucks since I was seven years old and I have seen a ton of 'em in my day. So based on a lifetime of observing and owning many '59's ( I currently have over 20 of them here including six El Caminos - project and parts cars ) I think that I can speak with a bit of certainty and authority on this subject. I have or have had every piece of factory sales information and when you are seriously in love with something, you tend to study and observe more so than if it is just a "like".

If ever an El Camino came with different side trim than the Bel Air series trim, I have never seen one in reallife or heard of one from anyone who knows these cars. The interior is Biscayne as far as seat upholstery and door panels go and the dash board has a narrow strip of anodized aluminum that runs across it right above the heater controls and switches which is bel Air trim only. The Biscayne only had a small anodized aluminum strip about twoo and a half inches long ( roughly ) that is located above the ignition switch with the positions for the key's functions. The seats being Biscayne level were only available in vinyl - there was no cloth unless you had a Bel Air or Impala and vinyl with cloth inserts was the norm unless the car was a convertible in which case, the seats were all vinyl.

El Caminos all had rubber floor mats as did the Biscayne models - no carpeting at all. The Bel Air had a curious mixture of carpet and rubber - the basic floor mat where you put your feet was rubber with carpet covering the drive shaft tunnel only. Only Impalas received full wall to wall carpet. The headliners were vinyl as in the Biscayne and Impala's but the material was totally different between the models. Bel Air had a cloth headliner that tended to stain and IMHO was not at all attractive.

The front fender ornaments or "airplanes" as some people call them were standard on bel Air and Impala models and optional on the El camino. Stainless rocker panel moldings were an option on all models but was most common on the Impala series.

The 235 cu. in. six cylinder and three speed manual transmission ( column shift ) was standard on all models including the convertible but variations of the 283 and 238 could be ordered in any model as an option as was either the Power Glide or the notorius trouble plagued Turbo Glide automatic transmissions. many Turboglides were replced by Power Glides by the dealers under warranty because of problems and people opted for familar, proven old Power Glide on second thought. It is rare to find a '59 that still has a Turbo Glide in it - I have a 348 powered El Camno here that still has that transmission in it.

To the best of my knowledge, you could order most options on most models and dealers were pretty accomodating back then so I suppose that to make a sale, a dealer could have been persuaded to replace the stock El Camino trim with Impala trim but it would have been a fairly big undertaking involving some repainting on the sides of the car. I have heard of only one El camino that had the level Air air ride suspension but I have never seen e in real life and you know how stories go. Fuel Injection was also available on the V8 cars and apparently one El Camino is known to have been built.

You could order a four speed manual transmission in any trim level but to the best of my knowledge, very few if any six cylinder cars would have been ordered as such but anything is possible. There was '59 Businessman's coupe on Ebay in texas awhile back that was totally unusual in all respects and it may well havebeen a one off car. It was a Biscayne salesman's two door sedan that came from the factory with no rear seat and a platform in the back seat area for the salesman's sample packs and stuff.It was Frost Blue with a harbor Blue roof and rear deck, 348, Powerglide, power steering and power brakes, factory in dash air conditioning ( not dealer installed ) and a factory grille guard like the one on the Monogram '59 kits. There was a hardtop on Ebay a few days ago in that color combination - it is VERY unusual and I think, attractive - http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1959-chevrolet-impala-2-dr-58-60-61-bel-air-ss-/200659597286?pt=US_Cars_Trucks&hash=item2eb83e77e6

The insert on the stainless side trim was always white and the interiors came in gray ( the most common regardless of exterior colour ), blue and green - the same as the Biscaynes. Bel AIrs also came in brown and Impala added red to the list but I have only ever seen umolested El caminos with gray, green and blue interiors - blue being by far the least common. The thing with gray is that it goes OK with any exterior color.

So after over 50 years, there is not a lot that has not been tried or done to a '59 El camino and not a lot of untouched examples still exist. I have one here that is totally unmolested and it is a Crown Saphire with a gray interior car running the original, untouched 235 and three speed standard transmission. I have seen so called "Impala El Caminos" for sale but I have to say that I am more than skeptical about their authenticity and originality. If you really want accurate information from guys who really know their stuff, you could try www.ChevyTalk.com and go to the '58- 60 forum. There are guys on there with a lot more knowledge than i have and I think that you'd get some good information there. I hope that this helped a little bit.

[Aaronw]

Thanks guys, everything I need to know and then some. Good to know about the rubber floor mats, I would have left the floor grey.

The white trim inside the side chrome may be a little tricky, I'm going to have to think about that one.

[scale trucker]

salvage yard in rome me,has a 59 elky with all the ops..348 tri power impala chrome package,and impala interior..car complete junk but wont sell it or parts of it ...i tried to buy it...he said get bent..way to rare to sell

[Art Anderson]

the '59 Chevrolet is my first automotive love and I have loved and noticed them since my dad bought a Snowcrest White Brookwood four door wagon brand new from Kenora Motor Products in Kenora, Ontario. I do not claim to know it all, but I have been a big fan of those cars and trucks since I was seven years old and I have seen a ton of 'em in my day. So based on a lifetime of observing and owning many '59's ( I currently have over 20 of them here including six El Caminos - project and parts cars ) I think that I can speak with a bit of certainty and authority on this subject. I have or have had every piece of factory sales information and when you are seriously in love with something, you tend to study and observe more so than if it is just a "like".

If ever an El Camino came with different side trim than the Bel Air series trim, I have never seen one in reallife or heard of one from anyone who knows these cars. The interior is Biscayne as far as seat upholstery and door panels go and the dash board has a narrow strip of anodized aluminum that runs across it right above the heater controls and switches which is bel Air trim only. The Biscayne only had a small anodized aluminum strip about twoo and a half inches long ( roughly ) that is located above the ignition switch with the positions for the key's functions. The seats being Biscayne level were only available in vinyl - there was no cloth unless you had a Bel Air or Impala and vinyl with cloth inserts was the norm unless the car was a convertible in which case, the seats were all vinyl.

El Caminos all had rubber floor mats as did the Biscayne models - no carpeting at all. The Bel Air had a curious mixture of carpet and rubber - the basic floor mat where you put your feet was rubber with carpet covering the drive shaft tunnel only. Only Impalas received full wall to wall carpet. The headliners were vinyl as in the Biscayne and Impala's but the material was totally different between the models. Bel Air had a cloth headliner that tended to stain and IMHO was not at all attractive.

The front fender ornaments or "airplanes" as some people call them were standard on bel Air and Impala models and optional on the El camino. Stainless rocker panel moldings were an option on all models but was most common on the Impala series.

The 235 cu. in. six cylinder and three speed manual transmission ( column shift ) was standard on all models including the convertible but variations of the 283 and 238 could be ordered in any model as an option as was either the Power Glide or the notorius trouble plagued Turbo Glide automatic transmissions. many Turboglides were replced by Power Glides by the dealers under warranty because of problems and people opted for familar, proven old Power Glide on second thought. It is rare to find a '59 that still has a Turbo Glide in it - I have a 348 powered El Camno here that still has that transmission in it.

To the best of my knowledge, you could order most options on most models and dealers were pretty accomodating back then so I suppose that to make a sale, a dealer could have been persuaded to replace the stock El Camino trim with Impala trim but it would have been a fairly big undertaking involving some repainting on the sides of the car. I have heard of only one El camino that had the level Air air ride suspension but I have never seen e in real life and you know how stories go. Fuel Injection was also available on the V8 cars and apparently one El Camino is known to have been built.

You could order a four speed manual transmission in any trim level but to the best of my knowledge, very few if any six cylinder cars would have been ordered as such but anything is possible. There was '59 Businessman's coupe on Ebay in texas awhile back that was totally unusual in all respects and it may well havebeen a one off car. It was a Biscayne salesman's two door sedan that came from the factory with no rear seat and a platform in the back seat area for the salesman's sample packs and stuff.It was Frost Blue with a harbor Blue roof and rear deck, 348, Powerglide, power steering and power brakes, factory in dash air conditioning ( not dealer installed ) and a factory grille guard like the one on the Monogram '59 kits. There was a hardtop on Ebay a few days ago in that color combination - it is VERY unusual and I think, attractive - http://cgi.ebay.com/...=item2eb83e77e6

The insert on the stainless side trim was always white and the interiors came in gray ( the most common regardless of exterior colour ), blue and green - the same as the Biscaynes. Bel AIrs also came in brown and Impala added red to the list but I have only ever seen umolested El caminos with gray, green and blue interiors - blue being by far the least common. The thing with gray is that it goes OK with any exterior color.

So after over 50 years, there is not a lot that has not been tried or done to a '59 El camino and not a lot of untouched examples still exist. I have one here that is totally unmolested and it is a Crown Saphire with a gray interior car running the original, untouched 235 and three speed standard transmission. I have seen so called "Impala El Caminos" for sale but I have to say that I am more than skeptical about their authenticity and originality. If you really want accurate information from guys who really know their stuff, you could try www.ChevyTalk.com and go to the '58- 60 forum. There are guys on there with a lot more knowledge than i have and I think that you'd get some good information there. I hope that this helped a little bit.

You are good here, with a couple of exceptions:

Biscayne seats were a combination of cloth and vinyl. The seat cushion and backrest had cloth inserts, with vinyl (GM called it Morrokide) bolsters, front skirting, end caps and of course, the back of the seat itself (I owned, from 1994-2005 a 30,000 mile Biscayne 4dr sedan--it was factory equipped that way). The 4spd tranny was optional of course, but I never saw one hooked up to a 6. In fact, a 4spd transmission was a rarity in 1959, very few came from the factory so-equipped (the 4spd was offered in 1958, but as late as 2004, no one could find any evidence that even one was installed in a passenger car--although the factory assembly manual shows the installation).

El Camino was offered with the Biscayne side trim, but apparently very few were so-equipped; and if Impala trim was installed, it was a dealer installation.

Interior colors were keyed, by the factory, to the exterior colors: Two-tone grey interiors were standard on white, black, and blue cars, green interiors in yellow or green cars, and the tan/brown interior on cars which carried such colors. That was standard. Anything else was either done after-the-t by a restorer, or perhaps a COPO. (Biscayne only--the rules at Chevrolet varied when offering a Bel Air or Impala)

Standard equipment on all 1959 Chevrolet's included the 235cid inline 6 with oil-wetted aircleaner, no oil filter, 3spd transmission, and dog-dish hubcaps (full wheel covers were dealer-installed options--which likely is why Mint Original dogdishes can still be found at swap meets all over the country (Chevy built something like 1.2 million cars in '59).

Art

[Eshaver]

Gary , Art, I have saved out all of this information as I never had very much on the big El Caminio's . I worked on several of the Chevelle sized one's , even owned a rusty 69 .......... Ed Shaver