Car-based pickup trucks occupy a fascinating footnote in American automotive history — and no nameplate defined the segment quite like the Chevrolet El Camino. Ford countered with its own entry, the Ranchero, and the two rivals traded blows for decades. Both had roots stretching back to the 1950s, with the El Camino soldiering on until 1987 while Ford pulled the plug on the Ranchero after the 1979 model year. But here’s the part most enthusiasts don’t know: Ford wasn’t quite ready to walk away from the segment. Enter the Ford Fairmont Durango — a limited-production, officially sponsored successor that almost kept the car-truck dream alive.
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