Is there any doubt regarding the greatness of the Chevy El Camino? It’s the Rodney Dangerfield of muscle cars, garnering no respect despite decades of good sales and utility that no other sports coupe could ever hope to achieve. But alas, emissions and fuel economy standards spelled certain doom for the El Camino, at least here in America. Down in Australia though, they still enjoy a thoroughly modern version of the El Camino, called the Holden Ute.
And damn if their commercials for it aren’t awesome. Jalopnik was tipped off to this commercial for the “Thunder” series Ute and yeah, we want it. Bad.
First off, when has there been an American car named “Thunder”? It sounds so badass and yes, sure, there was the short-lived Ford Thunderbolt, but we think it is a name that America needs to stick on something appropriately awesome. Alas, the Aussies got to it first, and the Thunder series Holden Ute has 19-inch charcoal alloy wheels that are “one shade tougher than gun metal grey.” But that’s not all!
The leather seats are apparently made “only from the angriest cows” and the satnav system means you don’t have to get traffic updates from “some muppet in a chopper.” Frankly, it’s a bloody brilliant commercial, fun, lively, and doing a great job of making us want a car that we probably have no chance of ever owning. Unless, that is, GM gets off the pot and starts importing the Holden Ute as a new El Camino. What the hell is taking so long?