Hemmings Daily: An El Camino, Pontiac style - the 1959 'El Catalina' prototype

Relatively popular in the prewar years, car-based pickups had all but disappeared from the American landscape when Ford launched its Ranchero in 1957. Two years later, GM responded with the Chevrolet El Camino, which left Pontiac's general manager, Semon "Bunkie" Knudsen, wondering if the division should develop a ute of its own. At least one functioning prototype was built, later escaping a trip to the crusher when its testing days were done. Restored in 2011, the 1959 Pontiac Catalina Safari pickup-- or "El Cata [View in Browser | Subscribe]( [Hemmings Daily] Monday, October 15, 2018 [An El Camino, Pontiac style - the 1959 "El Catalina" prototype]( [An El Camino, Pontiac style - the 1959 'El Catalina' prototype]( Posted by Kurt Ernst - Relatively popular in the prewar years, car-based pickups had all but disappeared from the American landscape when Ford launched its Ranchero in 1957. Two years later, GM responded with the Chevrolet El Camino, which left Pontiac's general manager, Semon "Bunkie" Knudsen, wondering if the division should develop a ute of its own. At least one functioning prototype was built, later escaping a trip to the crusher when its testing days were done. Restored in 2011, the 1959 Pontiac Catalina Safari pickup-- or "El Cata... [Read More]( [Sponsor]( [Hemmings Find of the Day - 1963 Ford Econoline]( [Hemmings Find of the Day - 1963 Ford Econoline]( Posted by Daniel Strohl - USAF veteran 1963 Ford Econoline for sale on Hemmings.com. From the seller's description: 1963 USAF Flightline truck. Still wearing the AF blue color. Government order plate is bolted onto the dash. Flightline lights on the front and flightline stickers on the dash, 54 years after it was purchased by the AF. Mechanically sound. Runs great and drives nice. Lots of new or restored parts. Upgraded to 3 speed auto, comes with all 3 speed manual components if you choose to convert back. Body is solid and relatively unto...[Read More]( [Simeone Museum to host "An Evening with Hurley Haywood"]( [Simeone Museum to host 'An Evening with Hurley Haywood']( Posted by Kurt Ernst - Hurley Haywood was born with the gift of speed, and the ability to master the razor-thin line between "not enough" and "a little too much" behind the wheel of a racing car. He's won the 24 Hours of Le Mans three times, the 24 Hours of Daytona five times, and the 12 Hours of Sebring twice, and his CV includes series championships in IMSA and Trans-Am, as well as a start in the Indy 500. On Friday, October 26, Haywood will be at the Simeone Foundation Automotive Museum in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, from 7-10 p.m., di...[Read More]( [Sponsor]( [Road Trip Restomod: A stock-looking 57 Cadillac remade as a modern tourer]( [Road Trip Restomod: A stock-looking 57 Cadillac remade as a modern tourer]( Posted by David Conwill - This 1957 Cadillac convertible has been in the same family since 1974. Photos by Terry McGean. Back in 1957, Dinah Shore may famously have encouraged folks to "See the U.S.A. in your Chevrolet," but those who had the means had even more appealing choices the further they went up the General Motors hierarchy. At the pinnacle of Alfred Sloan's pyramid of "cars for every purse and purpose," stood Cadillac. For classic-car enthusiasts John and Marilyn Davenport, of Mena, Arkansas, a '57 Cadillac still makes fo...[Read More]( [The G.T. 350 Tour visits Hemmings]( [The G.T. 350 Tour visits Hemmings]( Posted by Terry McGean - Some years back, Shelby enthusiast Lee Cross began arranging a driving tour of vintage G.T. 350 models, gathering a small group of owners to take in fall scenery while enjoying their cars. Each year the tour would be based in a different part of the country, and each year it would grow a little bit more. For 2018, Lee planned The G.T. 350 Tour to travel around the Adirondack region, using Lake George's Sagamore Resort in upstate New York as home base. Each day the group follows a route carefully planned ahead o...[Read More]( [Omaha, Nebraska, 1970s]( [Omaha, Nebraska, 1970s]( Posted by Daniel Strohl - Date: circa 1970s Location: Dodge and 13th, Omaha, Nebraska Source: via Jim and Chester's Garage What do you see here?...[Read More]( [Sponsor]( [HemmingsPRO]( Seller Listings [2011 Mercedes-Benz GL550]( [2011 Mercedes-Benz GL550 $24,995]( [2013 Custom B]( [2013 Custom B $11,983]( [1949 Mercury]( [1949 Mercury $22,500]( [2005 Superformance Cobra]( [2005 Superformance Cobra $97,500]( [1962 Mercedes-Benz 190SL]( [1962 Mercedes-Benz 190SL $116,650]( [1976 Dodge Dart]( [1976 Dodge Dart $13,750]( [Learn More]( [This Day in Automotive History] THIS DAY IN AUTOMOTIVE HISTORY 10/15/1924: Lee Iacocca born, Allentown, Pennsylvania 10/15/1945: Oldsmobile resumes post-war production UPCOMING EVENTS [Final Cruise Night at Iron Gate Motor Plaza]( October 24, 2018 - Naperville, IL [Norman Swap Meet October 25th 26th 27th]( October 25, 2018 - Norman, OK [An Evening with Hurley Haywood by Simeone Foundation Automotive Museum]( October 26, 2018 - Philadelphia, PA [HUGE AUTOMOBILIA ESTATE SALE. OCT. 26-27.]( October 26, 2018 - Hillsboro, OR [Demo Day at the Simeone Museum featuring RARE Corvettes]( October 27, 2018 - Philadelphia, PA [Cars and Coffee Presented by Grundy]( October 27, 2018 - Ruskin, FL [See All Events]( [Sponsor]( FEATURED CLASSIFIEDS Sponsored By: [Sponsor]( [1952 Jaguar XK]( [1952 Jaguar XK]( [$75,000]( [1955 Mack B30]( [1955 Mack B30]( [$44,500]( [1967 Jeep M715]( [1967 Jeep M715]( [$15,500]( [1976 Lincoln MK 4]( [1976 Lincoln MK 4]( [$17,900]( [1970 Plymouth Road Runner]( [1970 Plymouth Road Runner]( [$77,000]( [1973 Pontiac Grand Am]( [1973 Pontiac Grand Am]( [$21,490]( [1966 Ford F250]( [1966 Ford F250]( [$10,900]( [1939 Pontiac 25]( [1939 Pontiac 25]( [$35,950]( [1969 1975 CORVETTE NON TELESCOPING STEERING COLUMN]( [1969 1975 CORVETTE NON TELESCOPING STEERING COLUMN]( [$625]( [View All Classifieds]( FEATURED IN THE BLOG [A Porsche 917 for the street]( [A Porsche 917 for the street]( [Smoke on the water: the new scene of old flatbottom v-drive ski boats]( [Smoke on the water: the new scene of old flatbottom v-drive ski boats]( [See All Featured Blog Posts]( FOLLOW US: [Get RSS Feeds of Hemmings Blog]( [Follow us on Twitter]( [Join us on Facebook]( [View our Flickr pool]( [View Newsletter Archives]( Hemmings Motor News will not sell or share your e-mail address with other companies. 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