The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk Chevrolet Cameo Restoration

Went to the Houston Autorama today and a fellow Texan had beautifully restored a 1956 Cameo truck to show quality. How come I never hear you guys mention a Cameo, why are they so rare?

imitation fleetside very limited production - Cameo-specific parts unobtanium or very spendy, but I think you'll find a few in the gallery

Bill

Here's one. Been on Stovebolt a few years now Allen. Cameos are special, but everything but the bed and deluxe cab is exactly the same as all other Chevy pickups. Mine is not a full restoration, other than interior resto and one very good but incorrect repaint by PO, pretty much like it came from the factory. I just drive, maintain and once in a while show it. Chevy made around 10,000 of them from mid 55 to mid 58 when they were discontinued, (about 1400 in 1956), then came the first 59 Fleetside pickups.
Note: Probably the reason you don't see much about Cameos here is that they are simply, other than from the Fiberglass bed on back, mechanically just like other Chevy pickups so questions about working on them address mainly just the mechanicals.
Dale

Beautiful truck Dale. Great job on the restoration. His looked much like yours, he had painted a tan exterior with a light tan leather interior. The owner was very interesting to talk to since he did all the work himself. Engine rebuild, interior, body work and paint. His paint booth also reminded me of yours, he had sheetrocked 3 walls in his shop and put a plastic curtain on the 4th side and he had excellent results. Thanks

I heard today that someone is reproducing the side chrome and rear bumper for the 57 Cameo. $14,000 and $6,000 respectively.

My Lord. I guess that drives the street value of a Cameo even higher!

Not really imitation. They came before the Fleetsides. To another poster, real Fleetsides started in 1958, not 59.

The El Camino came out about the same time. So Cameos went away and you could choose between the two new models to replace them.

58 was the only year they made both the Cameo and Fleetside. The El Camino came out in 59. I did a 57 back to exact factory specs. It came with the 283 and Hydramatic plus nearly every factory option. I don't know how to link to Photobucket but you can look at it at http://s32.photobucket.com/albums/d41/coilover/ To save you from having to wade through all my junk scroll to the bottom of the first page and click on page 7; it's near the bottom. Was a rusted out mess with a 440 Chrysler engine/trans and the center of the dash cut out with and the center of a Ford car dash with a fancy radio welded back in. Now wins most shows it's entered in.