The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk Task Force Trucks

I commented years ago that there seems to be more traffic on these forums concerning Advance-Design trucks than any other series. Maybe it's due to their continued popularity, or because they were made for some many years, and there are still so many of them out there. They are my favorite too. But the Task Force trucks have always been considered stylish and modern compared to what they replaced. First Chevy truck designed for a V8...

Is there a good Shoppers Guide out there like there is for A-D trucks? My trouble is telling the difference between a 55.2 and a 56 since they have the same grille. I think the front hood emblem and side spears are different. What else?

I found this pickup today in a little town about 30 miles from home. Could not find the owner, but learned from a person working at the local grain elevator that the woman who owns it does not want to sell, and has been asked many times. Is that a 55.2 or 56?

It's been sitting there a longtime. I viewed a Google Maps image and it shows the truck sitting in the same spot, but before the young trees in front of and beside it were there...

I'm all about the TF series trucks. I own one. Better looking IMHO, more stylish as you mentioned. Seems like every car show no matter where has its share of AD trucks present and very few TF models. Not sure why that is. AD trucks have their cool factor, as well. The TF trucks had cool names like Apache and fleetside, and so on.

The other point you brought up is the number of AD vs. TF trucks are still in existence today?

Keep working your neighbor that's a good find. She will never do a thing with it, but it might be a sentimental thing.

Frank and Apache1,

I also do not own any Advance Design trucks. Task Force and Art Deco's only. I like the Advance Designs, but no real desire to own one. Probably because I rode and worked with a few in my youth. My buddies dad had a '49 3/4 ton and we hauled a lot of broken concrete replacing sidewalks in the early '70s. Another buddy had a '53 a few years later and it was a nice truck. Including the Rustoleum blue paint job we gave it.

At this point in my life the Art Deco's and TF trucks have my full attention. But I do appreciate seeing all of the AD's on the road.

John

I am very partial to TF. Have had many. The quickest way for me to tell from a distance is 55.2 fender emblem was "below the belt", 56 moved above the belt. 55.2 Hood emblem also "down" and 56 is "up". Less obvious is: 55.2 has a white backgrount paint and 56 has black.

I believe there are some other subtle differences. (location of VR?, etc) Grille is the same. The VIN helps
I like the Frenched headlights, 12V, V8, open drive line, "wrap around windshield".................I like the Tri-five the most.

The Frenched headlights on the Task Force trucks is why I like the looks of the '66-'67 Nova. I dig the Neanderthal eyebrows over the headlights.

I have always had a love for the Task Force trucks. Dad and Grandpa had them, my neighbor John had one, my Uncle had a 1 ton stake bodied 56' (that old truck was just cool). The neighbor had Corvette side pipes on his, Mom hated when he would leave for work. Dad's last TF was a 56' LWB with a large window and 283' 3 speed . I just like the lines of the Task Force design.

As mentioned, the hood emblem on a 55.2 has a short wing at the top of the emblem and the 56 has a long wing at the bottom.

The 56 and 57 hood emblems are the same casting, but they reversed the bow tie and background colors...56 has a red bow tie with black background and 57 has a black bow tie with red background.

The 55.2/56 fender spears look the same, but the 55.2 is one piece with 3 mounting studs and the 56 is two piece (series numbers are separate from CHEVROLET) with 4 mounting studs.

Apache, Viking and Spartan as well as the Fleetside nick names didn't start until 1958, which was also the beginning of the dual headlights.

Mike B

I have restored several TF trucks with 57 being my favorite but I just don't think the brick on wheels has near the appeal of the rounder, swoopier AD's. I kind of favor blue on either style.

[img]https://i.postimg.cc/fV9V6vTw/Cameo002.jpg[/img]

[img]https://i.postimg.cc/DJdj5sb6/IMG-4167.jpg[/img]

[img]https://i.postimg.cc/ZBdZqw2R/IMG-4161.jpg[/img]

[img]https://i.postimg.cc/K4mxbDQZ/IMG-4159.jpg[/img]

Thanks for all responses and thanks Evan for the pictures. So the one I saw is a 55. Cool. I may follow up on this one later.

Edit: Did the flat wide V on the hood emblem for V8 trucks start in 55 or 56? I think 55. If so, then this is a 6-cylinder truck. I did not try to open the door or look in, so I did not see the serial number tag. From what I could see of this truck it is very straight and solid. Too bad it's sitting and rotting...

1955 did not have the "V" on the hood emblem, that started in '56.

Both '55 and '56 V8 trucks had fender mounted "V8" emblems, while '57 just had a "V" on the door. Side V emblems were not used in 58/59.

Forgot to mention earlier, the '55 fender emblems have a white background and the '56 have a black background.

Mike B

It has, and continues to be, my intention to put together a Task Force guide like we did with the Advance Design trucks. The AD Guide took a lot of time and effort to track down people with original/restored original trucks to take pictures of the details that provide the telltales.

But, to get this effort underway, I would need a Task Force expert to help/guide me on developing a plan for such a guide (identifying the visual cues, etc). It will be a lot of work and consume a lot of time for which you will not get paid ... any volunteers??

NOTE: MANY of the AD guys did not understand the difference between a "spotting guide" and a complete technical list of all differences in the trucks year by year. I had to sift through and discard a LOT of information I know had a lot of hard work behind it. But it was beyond the scope of what we were trying to accomplish. So I would warn you all up front that if we attempt this, do not spend a lot of time geeking out on the technical differences (anything that isn't visually apparent from 20 feet away) because I will not use it.

And for those who might be tempted to ask for a GMC version of the spotting guide ... just go ahead and shoot me now. Get it over with. I beg you.

Thanks John.

John,

The AD Spoting Guide has the "Dirty Dozen" with 12 different categories. I quickly put together a TF list and so far it only has 7, but I may have missed something,

Following your instructions of ID'ing it from 20', all of the visual changes are on the front clip only as the Cab and Bed didn't change (strictly talking Pickup's here).

So here's my list...

1, Grille...55.2 and 56 same, 57 is by itself, 58 and 59 same.

2. Hood Emblem are different each year...55.2, 56, 57, 58 and 59.

3. Hood...55.2 and 56 same, 57 is by itself, 58 and 59 same.

4. Fender Emblems are different each year...55.2, 56, 57, 58 and 59.

5. Side V8 Emblems...55.2 and 56 are the same, 57 is by itself, 58 and 59 have none.

6. Headlights...55.2, 56 and 57 are single, 58 and 59 are dual.

7. Hub Caps (not shown on AD Guide???)...55.2 and 56 are the same, 57 thru 59 are the same.

Mike B

I'm a Task Force kind a guy also.

Me too!

I've been into the TF and Blue chip Trucks since I was 6 - 7 years old, dad bought a new 59 GMC pickup, I didn't want him to get the 1960 that he tested.
I know the trucks fairly well, spent high school days working on every aspect of a 57 1/2 ton bumper to bumper, everything except the steering gear. Installed brand new factory OEM doors, and in I think it was 1970 I could have bought the last brand new cab in the country, mom wouldn't go for it.
Anyway for what a nice factory stock truck should look like here is a place to start taking the pictures John, the interior panels on the door are I think an option or standard with the Cameo, other wise just painted steel. Gives a good idea of the proper engine color as well, I know there is on some trucks, paint stick numbers or markings sometimes in the fire wall engine clearance hump, not sure if they are on this or cleaned off?
https://www.oldcarsweekly.com/news/...o-preserves-history-of-auction-chevrolet

I find it so funny all the TF trucks I see advertised as restored, I have only seen one that is close to being properly restored. Cameo's are an exception in some cases, but standard TF trucks never had shiny paint on the top of the dash nor did cameo's, never unpainted bed wood, it was always black, fire walls always are body color.
It is sickening all the ruined trucks out there forsale.

Restored doesn’t mean what it used to. 😎. Too many people want to make them better than new.

Okay guys. I posted these pictures on the HAMB and one commented that the top/ roof has been crushed or damaged. Comparing it to the pictures Evan posted links to, I don’t think so. I didn’t open the door or move the tarp, so. What do you think? Thanks.

Thanks Mike -- That's a great start. Now we just have to start collecting images to illustrate!

Okay all you Task Forcers ... Use Mike's list as a guide to what I want pictures of. To compose the shot, stand directly in front of the thing you're shooting (hood emblem, grille, hub cap, etc) and at the same level so it is a level, head-on shot. Fill your frame with the subject (i.e., don't stand 20 feet away and show me more grass and clouds than the truck ... ) Please only send pictures of stuff on original/unrestored, or correctly restored back to original trucks. If the truck is a ratrod, street rod or some other heavily modified vehicle, it's not really a good candidate for this project as we can't be sure of the veracity of the subject.

Nice sharp hi rez digital images, please. editor@stovebolt.com Make sure you tell me what year your truck is

Thanks!

One warning and a point that bugs me no end. Do NOT post any pics of a 1957 truck with the fender emblems backwards. They are "spears", the point goes forward. I mention this because believe it or not, I did a study once because I am TF guy. 50% of the 1957 emblems on the internet are backwards. Barrett Jackson $77,000 trucks and trucks in our Gallery included. It is the only emblem that has this problem. I have had heated arguments with folks trying to tell them their beautiful painted 1957 restored truck is wrong.
Our gallery has 37 1957's shown with emblem, 11 are backwards. 30%

Barrett Jackson
Russo and Steele
Hemmings Cameo
Eye Candy Bassackwards

This is probably, partly, why I'm nuts.

I think have one of your bad examples attached below.

My quick un-statistical survey got around 25% being pointed wrong/backwards.

You would be hard pressed to reverse the '59 fender spear. '58 not so sure. The '55 looks good either way, IMHO. Yet not factory correct. Question, if the factory holes in the fender were staggered such that it could only be attached in one direction would that not correct mounting these spears on opposite sides?

I had a '67 Chevelle that had its SS emblems rear quarters and front fender crossed racing flags emblems way off from where the factory had intended. Couldn't just re-drill holes.

Yes, that would have fixed the issue, but the factory spaced the three holes equal, so they are now reversible

Mike B

Tim, you have two................40%

Those images are non-proportional examples from my extensive search.

Let me know when you get proportional. You will need to go from extensive to exhaustive I fear. I recommend a lap top WiFi'ed at Starbucks.

Mike don't forget that the 58' - 59' had different front fenders, as well as dual headlights.

Bart -- Thanks for volunteering to be my photo editor for this project ...

oops!

I figured that kind a goes without saying, as you can't put two headlights in a single headlight hole, but as you say they are different...

John, do you want to add this as a category or does Single Headlight vs Dual cover it?

Mike B

I sent a pic of my 57 door "V" emblem. Let me know if it's not clear enough.

I nominate Mike B. as Task Force Advisor to J.M.

Wicked Milliman burn right there! Awesome.

I don't mind helping, but I'm limited on samples/pictures of the smaller truck emblems.

Mike B

I figured that kind a goes without saying, as you can't put two headlights in a single headlight hole, but as you say they are different...

John, do you want to add this as a category or does Single Headlight vs Dual cover it?

Mike B [/quote]

I wasn't just referring to the dual headlights, the front fender it's self has a different shape.

Not to hijack my thread... 😎. But, any comments to my question about possible roof damage? Thanks.

Frank50....So to clarify your question. Have you or have you not been able to peel back the tarp to reveal any possible damage. With the (2) pics provided I only see a large dent over the left fender eyebrow area.

Regarding the 57 fender emblems as Bartamos noted. If you turn them over, near the casting number they have cast marks "R" and "L". Not too difficult to figure out. However, there are many on backwards.
Fred

Thanks Apache1. No, I have not. It’s about 30 miles from here and I haven’t been back yet. I know that’s the only way to know for sure. I’m just wondering what the other guy saw that prompted his comment, and if anyone else had a similar thought. I will PM him and ask. Thanks again.

I think that the emblems look better on backwards.