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BROOKLIN AND THE 1959 CHEVROLET EL CAMINO PICK-UP

The standard version of the 1959 Chevrolet El Camino Pick-up (BRK46) appeared in 1994 after a few specials were made. It is finished in charcoal grey and is also known in a lighter shade. The interior is burgundy red, the license plate is yellow and tyres are whitewall. It was deleted in 2000.

 

BROOKLIN VIDEO III

The third volume of the Brooklin Collection Video by John Hammick and David Angel was released in late December 1993. This third volume completes the Brooklin Models story and model line-up review. BRK23 Ford Fairlane Victoria to BRK46 Chevrolet El Camino are covered, as well as the BRK16X Dodge Pick-ups. The process of model making is again demonstrated, from drawing board to brass master to castings to finished model. All the standard editions as well as factory authorized specials are shown in sharp color images with clear demonstration of color variations. The video concludes with an addendum of standard models and special editions that had not been included in the previous two volumes. In addition there is an interesting segment by John Hall, relating the story of the now famous "Plow", cast in commemoration of the Plowing Championship, held in Brooklin, Ontario, in 1975. Included with Volume III of the Brooklin Collection Video is a preview edition of BRK46, the 1959 Chevrolet El Camino. This Brooklin special is based on David Angel's full-size El Camino, done in metallic pink, with white interior and floor and red seats, dashboard and steering wheel. Completing the model are a white accent slash on the side, red tonneau cover on the bed and green license plates. The alternate color for the Video III special is gold, found in 50 of the 500 Video Sets.

 

 

 

BROOKLIN CLUB DEUTSCHLAND

A relatively rare Brooklin model is the 1959 Chevrolet El Camino United Nations Emergency Vehicle II, produced for the B.C.D. in May 1995. Although originally scheduled for a production run of 100, only 50 were ultimately made. Quantities of its preceding companion piece were also far below planned production numbers and the full story of this charity model is an important one for Brooklin collectors to know. Early in 1994 the B.C.D., under the direction of Dietrich Lohmann, formulated plans for the production of a special Brooklin model, with sales benefiting organizations in Germany involved in a campaign to Stop Racism. This was in response to several recent incidents in towns in Germany where racist groups had attacked and fire-bombed the homes of immigrant families. The chosen model was a 1959 Chevrolet El Camino, unique and unusual except for its black interior and black UN lettering on the hood and doors. It was done completely in matte white, with no plating on the bumpers, grille, fender ornaments or wheel covers. Black wall tyres are mounted on white wheels. An equipment box, specially fashioned by the Brooklin factory, with two closed doors and two open doors exposing simulated fire fighting equipment, is found in the rear, making the model distinctive and unlike any previous Brooklin. Sale of this special model was to be combined with $4100 raised at the Brooklin auction held in Bath on May 21, 1994. By the end of the fund raising effort, however, just 175 of the 500 United Nations El Caminos had been sold. In the spring of 1995 plans were made for the conversion of 100 of the unsold El Caminos into companion pieces, with fire apparatus box removed and a tonneau cover in its place. The matte white finish was retained and all work was done at the Brooklin factory in May 1995, resulting in a Code 2 designation for this second El Camino, re-named as UN Emergency II. Both models come with “Stop Racism” badge. This El Camino was also met with limited demand and only 50 were sold to collectors. Dietrich Lohmann stated that he purchased the remaining 275 models, at factory price, for conversion into a Code 3 series of special models. This was a private venture as the B.C.D. had ceased to exist. He reported that 25 models were for design, development and prototypes, 50 were converted into Code 3 Coca-Cola trucks, 50 into Code 3 Mobiloil tow trucks and the rest should have been converted into Code 3 Warner Brothers camera vehicles, but were never done. Each model in this Code 3 series is packed in a neutral white box, without any Brooklin Models designation. In summary, of the 500 original 1959 El Caminos produced for the "UN Emergency - Stop Racism Charity", just 175 models remain in existence. An additional 50 models were converted to "UN Emergency II" El Caminos. The remaining models of the original production run have been converted to Code 3 models.

 

 

 

 

 

B.C.D. - COCA-COLA

In 1994, Dietrich Lohmann commissioned Werner Wieteck and Peter Hohmann to convert 50 of his "Stop Racism" 1959 Chevrolet El Caminos into Coca-Cola trucks, finished in yellow orange with red wheels, "Coca-Cola" in red on the doors and an intricate "galvanized steel" platform in red in the rear, on which is mounted a large advertising Coke bottle, supported by a chrome frame and yellow circular Coca-Cola sign.

 

 

 

B.C.D. – MOBILOIL

In 1994, Dietrich Lohmann commissioned Werner Wieteck and Peter Hohmann to convert 50 of his "Stop Racism" 1959 Chevrolet El Caminos into Mobiloil trucks, finished in white with red wheels, "Mobiloil" in blue on the hood and the famous gargoyle on the doors. In the rear is mounted a complex tow mechanism ending with a silver big hook and a spare tyre sitting on it.

 

 

 

MODELEX

The 5th annual Modelex show was held in October 1994. Ray Strutt chose the 1959 Chevrolet El Camino as the basis for the show special. The use of "Modelex metallic green" on the El Camino really highlights the model's bright white side spear and the many pieces of chrome. The site and date designation, in gold script lettering, once again decorates the front fender. Missing from the body of the car, however, is the red and gold "Modelex" decal. The El Camino's side molding prevented placement of decals, so Ray decided to utilize a sign board, mounted in the El Camino's bed, as the location for the Modelex 94 advertisement copy. It's a clever design, has a colorful and informative presentation and transforms the model into an authentic looking utility vehicle. This El Camino has a black interior with dashboard and bench seat done in beige. This is the first El Camino produced by Brooklin with an exposed bed, painted beige to match the dash and seat, and it is crafted extremely well. A total of 600 Modelex specials were produced, with an Omen figure of a female included with 250 of the pieces.

 

 

 

WESSEX MODEL & TOY COLLECTORS

The 1993 Brooklin special produced for W.M.T.C. was the 1959 Chevrolet El Camino, painted in the now familiar maroon color of the Wessex Club. The interior is done in light beige and a simulated canvas tonneau cover, complete with detail of snaps, is fitted over the bed in a slightly darker shade of matte beige. The initials of W.M.T.C. are found on the doors in gold, as well as the designation "93", some models have the “93” on top and the W.M.T.C. below. The final detail is the side spear done in white. Missing from the 1993 model is the club's wind-up key logo, a deletion that was most likely dictated by the limited amount of space on the body of the El Camino. Only 200 specials were produced.

 

 

 

ANGEL COLLECTION - NEW ORLEANS FIRE

The El Camino “New Orleans Fire Truck” was designed by David Angel and produced in 1998 by Richard Hutchins as the second in a series of the Angel Collection. Made with permission of Brooklin Models this Code 2 has a hose reel, two fire extinguishers and an axe in bed. It also has two roof lights and two fender mounted sirens, door handles, blackwashed grille and gold decals. Only 20 were made.

 

 

 

ANGEL COLLECTION - ANGEL’S DINER

Other Code 3 conversions of the 1959 Chevrolet El Camino were made by David Angel. The first one advertises an “Angel’s Diner” on Route 66, “The Home Cooking of Main Street, Albuquerque, New Mexico” as the decals on the doors say. It is finished in yellow with black interior and tonneau cover and has a Route 66 sign on the hood. Only 30 were made.

 

 

 

ANGEL COLLECTION - ANGEL AUTO’S

Another 1959 Chevrolet El Camino conversion is a repair service pick up of “Angel Auto’s” in Spettisbury, Blandford, Dorset. It is finished in beige with blue interior and a blue tonneau cover on the bed. The decal on the hood reads “Motor salvage dealer - Late model vehicle dismantlers”. Only 4 were made. Other Angel’s Auto El Camino’s were made in different colors and with different addresses at different times.

 

 

 

ANGEL COLLECTION - ENGLAND 2006

This 1959 Chevrolet El Camino conversion commemorates the England participation to the 2006 football world cup and it is finished in light grey with red interior and red tonneau cover. Decals on the doors say “England 2006” with the two zero’s shaped as a football. Only 25 were made.

 

 

Author: Gianluigi Cappi

You may find more pictures and information on this model plus many other Brooklin stories in the Brooklin Models Collectors Guide.