The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk '58 Cameo?

A friend of mine has a grandfather who just passed away. In his garage is a Chevy Cameo that is originally his grandparents. Hasn’t run in years but is complete. But in the picture he sent me, the front clip is that of a 1958/59. His grandmother swears that it had never been in a wreck and that it is all original. He called me with the numbers, which I ran through that VIN# cruncher on Stovebolt, nothing came up. The VIN plate looks like the ones from ’56-’57. The bed is definitely a Cameo bed. Could it be that last of the Cameos in ’57 had the first fenders and hood from the up-and-coming new ‘58’s?

I've seen a couple of figures for the number produced in 1958, 375-475. They are the real thing. Looks like any other Cameo except for the dual headlights. I worked on one about 20 years ago for a friend. Considering that the model year began in September, you are probably right about the last Cameos having the 58 clip. They are considered 58s though. There was a write up in one of the classic car magazines some time ago. That's a real nice find. I'll trade two for one, might even consider throwing in some vintage stereo tube amps, the Mr.s if I had one. I think 58 was the only year they offered a color combination besides white and red.

Larry

actually the 55 was the single year for red and white only Cameos - in 56 there was 8 combos, 57 & 58, 9 or 10 compared to about 13-15 for regular trucks - both the Standard Catalog of American Trucks and Gunnels book sez there were 1,405 Cameos produced right up to mid-year 58 - using up the parts no doubt

Bill

That '58 would definitely be worth redoing, if it needs it! Like they said, Cameos went to the first part of the 1958 model year, and it's probably the real deal. There in no difference in the VIN to differentiate a Cameo from any other 1/2-ton truck. I had a '55 that I bought for $200.00 back in 1988 or so. One of the years (don't remember which, may have been more than one year) had the hood chrome spear read "3126" instead of '3100".

Sounds like a keeper, in any case!

It was 1957, the spear read "3124", which is the model # for a Cameo.

If you do fix it becuase 58 is so rare make sure you do it back to original don't hang on disc brakes and put in fancy V-8 moters. Put it back to the way it came out on the assembily line.

I second that Highwayman.

Don't let that one get away! Definiately needs to be restored, not customized.

If you or your friend do not want to keep/restore this truck it would be great if it was offered first to this board. I'm sure one of us could give it the home and attention it deserves.

Any possibility of posting a picture or two?

tom

'58's were available with a 283 V-8...

I knew it was one or the other, LB55. Couldn't remember.

I Love those old 58's and 59's Quad headlights
Rule!!

"wished I could Afford a Cameo"

Cliff59

'58's were available with a 283 V-8...

I knew that my 59 has a 283. What I meant was don't dress it up with chrome and headers and every thing else hot rodders do. I have no problem with that stuff but on a vehicle that they only made a few hundred off it should be put back to the way it was.

Some pics of this truck would sure be nice to see

Totally agree with you highwayman, and if the block is solid and the original engine, I would hope that he rebuilds the engine that's in it, rather than put in a rebuilt or "hot rod" type engine. Of course step number one will be trying to fix everything mechanically wrong with the truck. After sitting for a few years, you can probably add a long list of other items to whatever caused it to stop running in the first place.