With the launch of the Hyundai Santa Cruz and Ford Maverick, automakers are once again embracing the idea of a car-ish truck (or a truck-ish car). With this in mind, Auction Dilemma heads back to the early days of this concept by looking at a 1965 Chevrolet El Camino and a 1965 Ford Ranchero. Both cars are available at Hemmings.
1965 Chevrolet El Camino
The idea behind a coupe utility vehicle was simple; just convert the second row and cargo area of a station wagon (a Chevelle, in this case) into a pickup truck bed. These vehicles never sold in tremendous numbers, but the El Camino lasted into the 1980s (the Ranchero dropped out after 1976).
This 1965 El Camino benefits from a rejuvenation with restomod touches, but the exterior looks mostly stock. According to the seller, the blue metallic exterior is in good condition, with only a few areas needing a touch-up. The only exterior clue that this El Camino is beyond ordinary is the wood-covered cargo bed floor. Mileage is reported to be 11,000 miles, but there are no details beyond this as the vehicle has much greater usage.
The listing states that the truck’s original 283-cubic inch engine was replaced by a previous owner with a newer 350-cubic inch Chevy V-8 that includes Edelbrock heads. Fuel injection, a dual exhaust system, and other upgrades have since been added. A four-speed manual controls the rear wheels.
The restomod treatment is in full swing on the inside. Updates include redone tan vinyl upholstery and door panels with blue fabric inserts. Other changes include a new dash insert with modern gauges and an aftermarket steering wheel. The original air conditioning was replaced with a Vintage Air unit.
1965 Ford Ranchero
From 1960-1965, the Ranchero was based on Ford’s compact Falcon. For the rest of the 1960s, the vehicle would share its platform with the larger Fairlane to better compete with El Camino. Like its Auction Dilemma counterpart, this Ford benefits from restoration but with a more keep-it-stock approach. The Silver Blue exterior was reported to have been repainted ten years, and while it’s said to be in good condition, there are blemishes and rust bubbles. In addition, two holes in the floor have been patched. The listing references mileage at 81,129, but no other information is provided.
While the Ranchero’s 105-horsepower, 170-cubic inch inline-six is no match for a V-8, the engine does get points for originality. The listing references that there is no known rebuild history for the powerplant. A two-speed automatic, sourced from a Mercury Comet, manages the rear wheels.
The crisp interior was updated ten years ago as well. Its vinyl upholstery appears clean, and the cabin looks very original. There’s no radio or air conditioning, just standard 1965 equipment.
What’s Old Is New Again
Inspiration for today’s newest vehicle format comes from last-century classics like these coupe utility vehicles. The 1965 Chevrolet El Camino listing has a $20,000 best offer and a $27,500 asking price. The auction for the 1965 Ford Ranchero has a current $6,900 best bid and ends in 13 days.
Source: Hemmings.com