George just told me about a Air Force Blue 1966 396 El Camino used as a U-2 chase vehicle! Thanks George!

Looks like a truckers AC unit on the roof! This picture of one that was in Viet Nam back in the 70's was taken by the guy who took care of the car while he was there with it. They used these up until around 1973 or 74

on https://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/threads/u2-spy-plane-chase-vehicles-el-camino-version.668838/

" it reminded him of his days long ago in the Air Force. 

He was part of the ground crew for the U2 Spy Plane. They had a Camino at the airbase, which served as a "guide dog" for the U2 landing operations. 

The U2 had an over 100 ft. wingspan with only a 63 ft. fuselage length. The wing-mounted landing gear dropped off at takeoff and had to be re-inserted in sockets of the wings after landing, just to support the very wide wings while parked or taxiing. 

 When landing, the ultra- wide wingspan was so unstable that the driver of the El Camino chased the U2 down the tarmac, in constant radio communication with the pilot, to help him keep the wings somewhat level. 

The lower height of the Camino was more suited to the low profile of the U2, in case it went under a wing."

on https://www.elcaminocentral.com/threads/usaf-u2-chase-cars-396-elcaminos.105050/

There is an article in the current Motor Trend magazine about how the USAF bought a bunch of 396 El Caminos for chase cars during the 1960's

on https://www.military.com/off-duty/autos/u-2-chase-car-spy-jets-best-friend.html

Once the U-2 entered service with the CIA and Air Force, it was time to upgrade the chase cars. Hot-rodded Ford station wagons gave way to the Chevrolet El Camino. Essentially a muscle car with a truck bed, the El Camino was perfect for hauling the U-2's pogos and getting up to speed in a hurry. Plus, the Air Force's El Caminos came with 325 horsepower from the factory, 100 more than the Country Squire.

the 1973 oil crisis, emissions regulations and rising insurance rates killed off the El Camino

images from https://www.chevelles.com/threads/restore-or-replicate-a-u-2-chase-el-camino.1146816/ 

and https://www.modelcarsmag.com/forums/topic/116786-amt-68-el-camino/page/6/

and in 'Strategic Reconnaissance 1956-1976' issued by the 100th SRW

Rick Schaefer writes that at U-Tapao Air Base in Thailand between 1972 and 1973, there was a U-2 reconnaissance outfit stationed. 

And there were U2s on the Andersen AFB, Guam flight line in 1972 and 1973