The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk 55 Cameo?

Hello, I'm new to this sight. Anyway I drug this home today... I'm not sure if it's a cameo or not. It has the fiberglass bed.... Can you tell by the vin number?
Picture

I don't know about the vin number, not my area, but if it's a 55' then its a cameo. They did not produce the fleetside until 58' and that was the last year they produced the cameo. Welcome to the Bolt' by the way, lost of good information here!

yes jello, welcome to the shop

there was no indicator in the VIN that said Cameo, but the plastic bedsides say it is, and they were all big back widow cabs ... hopefully you have all the other bits for the tail, some are impossible to come by, new or used

Bill

The rear bumper fiberglass is missing. the tailgate is there. No motor.. Frame has been restored... Passenger side rocker has been replaced. Driver side needs done. Panel is there.... Probably paid to much $2500.. The guy wouldn't budge on the price...

You probably got a pretty decent deal, judging from the single pic.

Welcome to the BOLT! I believe that there should be a number on the drivers pillar that states that it is style number 3124. (INCORRECT) 3124 is the designation of the Cameo, although their number on the side FENDER emblem stated 3100 for 55/56. By the looks of the fiberglass panel and the absence of trim holes, I think you have a 55/56. The hard pieces to find are the tail lights, rear bumper/panel and tire carrier. The pot metal is also hard to find not pitted or not cracked. Some reproduction pieces are available, but high priced. The key to whether you paid too much is what parts are missing and your intentions. From the pictures you showed and without much detail on rust and condition, it looks like a fair price to me.

Here a a couple of sites to view, also look in our gallery for other cameos and suburban carriers. Good luck!

1955 GMC SUBURBAN CARRIER SITE

CAMEO PICTURES

PRODUCTION NUMBERS

MORE INFO

So, the hood emblems for a 55 cameo is 3100 not 3124?

yes, all 1/2T had the 'generic' 3100 emblem [fender side, not hood], and the VIN didn't specify it either, just has the 'H' for 1/2T '55 or '3A' for '56-58

Bill

OK thanks for the info..

Welcome to the world of Cameo's, I have owned my 55 for 38 years.
I can't remember where I read this tidbit, but all the Cameos were made in Flint. Mine was purchased in Canada and it was made in the Flint plant.
Bob

I just went to the truck to see if there were any other identifying features and I don't think there is anything else that would identify the truck as a Cameo. The chrome on the fenders shows that it is a 3100. I checked the plate on the cab in front of the LH door, and it doesn't identify the model. It just states the motor is rated at 109 HP, and the GVW is 5000 lb.
Bob

bigblockcameo... that horsepower rating seems low for even a 6 cylinder. I am aware that they did make 6 cylinder Cameos... Must of sent them all to the Cannucks!

I solved that problem by installing a 350hp ( Gm was lying ) 396 into it in 1970. The engine is still in beautiful condition and belongs back in a Chevelle, so I am installing a 454 this year. I have to admit that it moved pretty good with the 4.57 gears and a Hono-drive overdrive for better highway mileage. I am going to re-install the stock rear end and use the 3.90 gears with narrower tires, in the hopes that I won't tear it up.
There is another reason I am doing this, I want to do things like install aluminum heads and I don't want to lose any of the original parts from the 396 because everything matches.
I re-checked the tag, yep, 109 hp @ 3900 rpm
I have never personally seen a 55 Cameo that wasn't a 6 cyl, 56 and up seemed to be mostly V8's.
It is really easy to tell if the 55 frame is made for the 6 or the V8. The front crossmembers of 55 frames with the factory installed 6 didn't have the pads for the V8 engine. I had to weld in the pads so that I could install the 283 back in 1969. I can't say that this is common to all the 55 trucks, but mine was made in Flint, which would lead me to believe that it was common practice for that year.
Bob

BigBlockCameo,

A bit off topic here, but do you happen to have any pics of your 65 Caliente Convert?

I have a buddy that has one. They just don't seem to be very common.

I'm puzzled by that 109hp tag - the usual tag for the 235 sez 125hp at 4000rpm, and the 55 manual sez 123hp - maybe someone switched it for an earlier one? the 6 hasn't been 109hp since about 52 or so

the NAPCO was the only model that could only be had [from the factory] with the 6, but the TF frame always only had those frame pads installed [with rivets] if the truck was V8 equipped at the factory, which is when the mounts were added, otherwise they weren't installed

Bill

I was looking at truck a little today. I was trying to make room around it... I did see 2 of the rear bumper end but they are pretty bad shape.. I noticed the bed. The metal side walls have holes for fenders in them. I have 4 flat pieces of yellow fiberglass about 2 1/2 ft long. What are these? Does the shop Maneal out of Jim Carters show the cameo bed parts?

Bellyjello:
Good looking start for a great project. Welcome to the Bolt and send us pictures as you work thru it. Hopefully you'll have more luck finishing it than the PO.

Sorry, the 65 is apart and I won't be working on it until the truck has its new motor. I don't know how common the 65 Caliente is, but Merc didn't sell any compared to the Fairlane 500. Go figure.

The tag is the original, I am the second owner of the truck, The first owner was an auto electric shop in Moose Jaw, and they couldn't have been the least bit interested in something so unimportant at that time (1969).
I can't explain why that tag would be on the cab, it's just there.
Bob

I bought a new 67 Merc. Caliente. That was a really nice car. I always got better service out of my Fords at the Merc. dealer, the Ford dealer being so busy, so I bought from them in 67.

OK, any more talk about Mercurys here and the topic will be locked. Not that I have anything against them but this is supposed to be about old trucks. Please use the Greasy Spoon or private messaging for off topic subjects.

Thanks

I found some info on the hp question - the 55 was rated at 123hp GROSS @ 3800rpm, 109hp NET @ 3600 ... not sure what changed, but the 56 is rated 140hp gross @ 4200rpm and 123hp net @ 4000rpm, and by 58 [my tag] the net was 125hp @ 4000, 145 gross @ 4200 .... so it looks like the tags were NET hp and the books cite gross hp ..... advertising

gross hp is atmospherically corrected to dry air, 59°F at sea level, and figured with no accessories or exhaust - net is corrected to 32% humidity, 77°F and engine complete as used

Bill

What about old Mercury trucks?