Pontiac El Catalina
Were this ill-fated Pontiac pickup truck been built, the performance-crazed Pontiac team of engineers would have presented it with Super Duty, GTO Tri-Power, or Ram Air IV engine just to compete with the El Camino SS or Ranchero GT. So let’s talk about this rare model (via Hemmings).
In 1960, Pontiac wanted to expand their portfolio and even thought of producing some sort of light delivery vehicle or truck. The closest thing GM had at that point was the Chevrolet El Camino based on a full-size Chevy car platform. Pontiac’s R&D department took the El Camino and mounted its own 1960 Catalina body, chopped and reshaped with the El Camino’s rear glass and truck bed. The finished concept was called El Catalina and was arguably more beautiful and elegant than El Camino. Interestingly, GM didn’t have anything against the project but Pontiac decided it wasn’t worth the investment since the market was very small and management didn’t want to gamble.