Images: AutoBlog

It’s really a dark day when we’re sitting around reminiscing about the El Camino. You know the Elco, the mullet of muscle cars. Beginning in 1959 and continuing all the way until 1987, the El Camino was one of Chevrolet’s longest-running vehicles. Powered by nearly every engine Chevrolet offered during the near-30 year run, the El Camino became the workhorse sibling of the General’s muscle car lineup.

Well, now GM is offering a faint shadow of what a modern El Camino could be: the ’11 Chevrolet Montana. Before you get your hopes up, we’ve got some bad news; first, it’s only available – currently – in South America, but GM does have hopes of bringing it state-side; and secondly, it’s based on the FWD Brazilian Chevy Agile, a hatchback metro-mobile.

If this hatchback-based, front wheel drive truck is as uninspiring for you El Camino loyalists, let me disappoint you further; the Montana is rumored to be the replacement for Chevrolet’s Colorado pickup. Currently, the Montana is slated for a 1.4-liter four-cylinder good for 97 horsepower, 95 pound-feet of torque, and 30 miles per gallon on the highway, which is 63 horsepower less than a 2011 Kawasaki JetSki, just for reference.

Despite those numbers, the Chevy Montana is capable of hauling a purported 1,671 pounds of cargo which is on par for some full-sized pickups. Either way, it’s not the car-truck hybrid we performance enthusiasts are waiting for. Who knows, maybe Ford will introduce a retro Ranchero.