The Stovebolt Site Forums Welcome! Welcome Centre 1957 Cameo #2

Thank you Paul for suggesting that I join the Stovebolt Forums. I bought my 1957 Chevrolet Cameo in 1978. My Cameo is #2 off the assembly line, made in LA. It has a 235, 6 cyl, with a Hydramatic. The vin is 3A57L100002. I didn’t know at that time what the Vin number was, I just liked the truck. It is all original except for the paint. I painted it a scarlet candy, with a red pearl. The original paint was turquoise and white. It was my first classic.

Wow. Amazing find.

Welcome to the ‘bolt.

Welcome to the ‘Bolt! Nice truck! We would love it if you could tell us about yourself, the history on your truck and what you already accomplished. Any future plans?

We ‘Bolters love pictures, so please include a few more.

Let me give you a helpful guide on navigating the different forums on Stovebolt.

Barry - Welcome to Stovebolt! That is a beautiful truck and definitely the lowest production serial numbered truck I've ever seen. WOW !!!

I'll add my ask for more details and info on your truck. Plus, please spill the beans. Which "Paul" are you referring to that suggested you join us?

Very nice and an incredible find.

Welcome and thanks for posting.

John

Welcome! Beautiful truck!

Thank everyone for welcoming me into your group! I had Paul Schmehl connect with me, and asked me to post on this site about my Cameo. Some want to know a little more about who I am.

I have been in the stage, corporate, Broadway Shows, and convention industry since 1982. I have met most of the entertainers that I have worked for. Many memories, some good, some bad. I have several autographed photos, tons of guitar picks and drum sticks. I have saved all of my backstage passes since 1984. I have 522 passes that I put into special large photo albums, then labeled them all with the concert info.

I just retired from the Natural History Museum of Utah. I worked there for 12 years installing and deinstalling their Special Exhibits. I only worked there twice a year, but for 2 weeks to 2 months at a time. My last exhibit was The Bug World (Lab), from New Zealand.

Many years ago I built a 50’s bar in my basement. It is a 9’x6’ bar, with the chrome, mushroom based 50’s bar stools. I have a 50’s soda jerk, double tap on it. I have several old jukeboxes, soda machines, and a Hires/Coca Cola Root beer Barrel. About 15 years ago, we had an original 50’s Rockabilly star from East Texas, do a 2 day video shoot about his life. His name was Lew Williams. He passed away about 5 years ago.

I am also a professional photographer, and have received several awards worldwide, for both color and B&W. Shooting landscapes, wildlife, architecture,corporate shows, and concerts. I have been married for 51 years, with 2 sons. I will reply with a separate post about my Cameo.

Now for my 1957 Cameo story. I saw a pic of a Cameo in a car magazine, back in the 1970’s. I thought it was a cool truck and I started looking for one. I finally saw this Cameo, and I bugged the hell out of the guy for over 6 months to buy it. In November of 1978, he was hurting for Christmas money for his 6 kids. I bought it for $1,900, way above the going price. He was the 2nd owner, and I am the 3rd. He worked at a Chevrolet dealership in Utah. Two weeks after I bought my Cameo, I found out about the #2 vin number. The vin is 3A57L100002. It has a 235 6cyl, Hydramatic, NO OIL FILTER. I found out from an 80 year old Chevy Parts Manager, that oil filters were optional back then. The 2nd owner, Frank had the Western Sales Rep for General Motors chew him out for selling it. He tried to buy it back from me. That didn’t happen, but we remained friends. He has since passed away. The Cameo was my first classic, so I wanted to paint it. I showed my wife how to feather sand the cab, while I drove truck to California. I got back and the cab was completely bare metal. We painted it in a enclosed carport. Several years later, I was working a new car show/convention. I talked with this guy in a suit, thinking that he was with a local dealership. No, he was the Western Sales Rep for General Motors. I started to tell him that I had a 1955 Chevy Nomad (still have). He said it was a great car. I then told him that I had a 1957 Chevy Cameo, #2 off the line. I didn’t tell him anymore than that. He got extremely excited, and asked me if it still had a 235 6cyl, Hydramatic in it! It told him yes. He then stated with excitement, that he actually worked on my truck, on the assembly line in LA, and remembered it well. That blew me away. I was young and stupid back then and never got a card or his info. No cells or internet back then. It has been inside my garage since 1985, along with my Nomad.

Barry, Thanks for the addition to your story. When you add on, please reply here in your original thread. Keeps things organized.

Great story and truck, BTW.

A little sleuthing in the 1957 Vehicle Information Kit brings up the possibility that your Cameo may actually be the first one built in 1957. The serial number page (attached) indicates that the serial numbers were assigned to trucks without regard to whether it was a pickup or larger truck. That means unless there were two Cameos that came off the line, then yours could actually be Cameo #1. It's a possibility, but you'd have to track down Serial # 100001 and see if it was a Cameo as well or just a standard pickup or 2-ton truck that came off the LA assembly line first.

I had a chance to buy a ‘56 or 57 Cameo around the same time (late 70’s). It was very rusted and they were asking $4000. I passed as the rust was way too bad at that time. These days rust is still a big repair, but doable. I don’t regret not buying that one as I probably wouldn’t have been kind to it. John

Kevin, thank you for the info. I have never thought about the possibility of it being the first one off the line. I have heard of the assigned numbers not being specific to a model. That could be why I have never been able to find any info for the 100001 Cameo. I have looked off and on for many years, with no luck. The data and AI now days might help out with that. Thank you again. Barry

Kevin, do you know anyone that can get the production info for the Los Angeles plant? The LA plant closed in 1992.