MT Classic Poll: 1957 Ford Ranchero or 1959 Chevrolet El Camino? - MotorTrend Magazine
"The Ranchero gives the room and 'personal' feel of a Thunderbird, the comfort of a sedan and the load-carrying capacity of a small pickup," said Motor Trend ’s Walt Woron after testing the new 1957 Ranchero in our April 1957 issue. During our recent comparison we concluded that “ The 1957 Ford Ranchero is a time machine that gives us a glimpse back at a uniquely optimistic and inventive era of American automobile styling. ” In our March 1959 issue, Motor Trend reviewed the El Camino: "Chevrolet's El Camino sports high styling of the passenger-car line, yet provides space for a 1030-pound load. It should prove a hot competitor to Ford's Ranchero during 1959. " After driving a mildly hot-rodded 1959 El Camino in our recent story, we said, “The El Camino is a sport/utility vehicle that a hot rodder can love without reservation. Though Ford still makes an el-Camino style truck in some countries, I liked the '57 from my youth. These cars were longer than today's downsized cars and because they were coupes, they had the "sportiness" today's boring kid haulers (sedans) don't have. Had the El Camino been a 1960, I would have picked it. I love the look of the 1960, but I've never liked the 1959. That's the ugliest face and most hideous taillights Chevrolet put on a car from 1946 to 1980. By default, I picked the 57 ford. Source: wot.motortrend.com
