55 Cameo ~survivor--garage find~

[Dave Rosique]

Waaaay off topic here, if old American Trucks are not your thing, feel free to ignore

OK, it starts like this.. a week or so ago my buddy Marty (The General) runs across this simple print ad in the local Recycler that reads something like this: 1955 Chevrolet Cameo truck, mostly original, sitting for years, etc, price, phone#, blah, blah.
The seller is 62, does not own a digital camera and is not internet active.. Marty calls the guy but he wants way too much money for it. Fast forward to last Sunday.. Marty calls the guy again and catches him just as he gets home from the Pomona Swap Meet.. turns out the guy shot a few Polaroid photos of it and went to the swap meet to try to sell it on photos alone. He gets several lo-ball offers and hands out his contact info to plenty of vendors. He's now somewhat frustrated but still wants to sell the truck, so he offers it to Marty for nearly half price! (still a lot of money, but it's now a smokin' deal!) Marty calls me and with little convincing I tall him he has to buy it.. so we do.. I call the guy myself to set up the deal.
With truck, trailer, and cash in hand we go to the sellers home the following Tuesday.. the guy opens the garage door and there it sits.
Turns out the sellers Dad had purchased this truck new in 1955. Around 1962 he re-powered the truck with a V8 Oldsmobile engine (somewhat common back then) but left the truck otherwise stock and original. He drives the truck until 1967 when he was given a company car. He parked the truck in the garage in '67, and it never moved again until last Tuesday! The truck still has it's original paint, interior, etc and has no rust. It even came with the original 1955 issued title that had the same address where we picked it up.
The Cameo is a very special, limited production truck built from 1955 - 1958. I believe there was only 5000 or so built in '55.
Sorry for the long story here, but I had to share..
I'll post progress photos as we start to work on it a little... for now, it's safely tucked away in my hobby shop among it's new "Brothers"

(oh yeah, I'm first in line if Marty falls out of love with it )

 

 

[Dave Rosique]

more pic's..
 

[Dave Rosique]

some more..
 

[Rick Meredith]

Very cool! Was the wrap around window part of the Cameo package?

[Dave Rosique]

Very cool! Was the wrap around window part of the Cameo package?

Yep.
What really sets it apart is the custom fiberglass bed sides (the first "Fleetside"), deluxe interior, and all the chrome trim. Trucks back then were more of a workhorse..

 

[Black Sheep]

That really is a very cool find , wow max respect 

[Rick Meredith]

Very cool! Was the wrap around window part of the Cameo package?

Yep.
What really sets it apart is the custom fiberglass bed sides (the first "Fleetside"), deluxe interior, and all the chrome trim. Trucks back then were more of a workhorse..

 

Wasn't there some special trim on the beltline for the Cameo?

[Dave Rosique]

Very cool! Was the wrap around window part of the Cameo package?

Yep.
What really sets it apart is the custom fiberglass bed sides (the first "Fleetside"), deluxe interior, and all the chrome trim. Trucks back then were more of a workhorse..

 

Wasn't there some special trim on the beltline for the Cameo?

Right again!  But not in '55.. I believe it started in '56, for sure by '57
I'll be doing plenty of research soon.

 

[speedwell]

dave , gregg bunch have one , those are rare  no? only 2 years made correct ?

[Luftkraft]

wow, that's a great find! thanks for sharing this cool story!

here's a Cameo I saw at Muscle Car City in Punta Gorda Florida

[Dave Rosique]

WOW!! Beautiful trucks!

Fabs, they were built for four years, beginning with 1955. Gregg's looks like a '57

   

[Dave Rosique]

Where it sat parked for 43 years...

 

[Dave Rosique]

#1- Marty, "The General" proud new owner..
#2- First time outside since 1967...
 

[Dave Rosique]

The morning after... no buyers remorse
 

[Dave Rosique]

Check out the cool radio!
How about some nice black plates with 66 & 67 tags?

 

[Rennsurfer]

Very cool, Dave. Such a great truck for Marty, too. I remember those only because we had one in my neighborhood when I was a kid in the '70s. They're not too common. Rarely ever see 'em, these days.

[javabug]

Gee, Dave, when I read the "garage find" title I thought maybe you found something in your shop you forgot you owned! 

Seriously that's freakin' cool.  Almost a shame to wash all that "original dirt" off it.

[Zach Gomulka]

That's bitchin!! Cameo's were very special trucks, and that one with the Olds motor makes it soooo much cooler, IMO. Sweet find!

[Dave Rosique]

Gee, Dave, when I read the "garage find" title I thought maybe you found something in your shop you forgot you owned! 

Seriously that's freakin' cool.  Almost a shame to wash all that "original dirt" off it.

Sorry Mike, the largest "lost & found" so far is a motorcycle... no trucks yet
I know what you mean about the dirt... Maybe a clear coat and call it padirtina?? We'll have to ask Fred
 
   

[Dave Rosique]

That's bitchin!! Cameo's were very special trucks, and that one with the Olds motor makes it soooo much cooler, IMO. Sweet find!

Thanks Zach,
The plan for now is to get it running / driving as-is. Down the road, we're going to locate and reinstall a period correct 235 in line six with a three speed + overdrive stick transmission. We'll rebuild the engine and install a mild cam, Fenton Headers, and a bunch of Offenhauser parts such as aluminum intake manifold, triple carburetors, finned aluminum valve and tappet covers.
We'll never compromise or butcher the truck... we fully understand what we have here..

   

[Rick Meredith]

Dude... I'd leave the Olds in it... such a period correct modification.

[Rennsurfer]

I know what you mean about the dirt... Maybe a clear coat and call it padirtina?? We'll have to ask Fred

 

[OgCalLook]

The morning after... no buyers remorse
 

Great score!!!

[low oval]

nice find.  I'm with Rick, leave the olds.

[louisb]

Wow what a great find. I drove a '53 Chevy truck for a couple of years on a daily basis and have owned two other early 50's Chevy cars. (All 235 six cylinder powered) I really regret selling that truck and plan to get another one of these days.

--louis

[danny gabbard]

When do you start cutting ? Two choices restore it or save it, Hot rod truck !! Great find.

[Dave Rosique]

When do you start cutting ? Two choices restore it or save it, Hot rod truck !! Great find.

Danny, you left out 4X4! We'd call it the "Cowmeo Look"

Got the stuck engine to turn last week.. this weekend we'll try to start it.. could be funny if nothing else.
We'll decide on direction once we figure out the engine / transmission condition.
 

[danny gabbard]

You just dont find stuff like that now days, Where you lookin in cowtown ? Again great find !

[Dave Rosique]

Well, we worked on the 'ol gal this past weekend..

Decided to treat it to it's first bath since the 60's 

Lemon fresh "Soft Scrub" cut the dirt and left our hands fresh & soft 
 

[Dave Rosique]

Some shots "post wash"