The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk 56 cameo ?

My dad bouhgt a 56 cameo. can anyone tell me how to prove that it was originally a cameo. I didn't notice anything special about the truck VIN #. I am having trouble reading the engine block # also. I would appreciate any info on this please. John

Unfortunaly, there's nothing in the vin that will tell whether it came from the factory as a Cameo. One thing I can thell you to do is to get an assembly manual. This will at least show you how it is supposed to be put together, especially the peices that are cameo specific. If those parts are there and installed correctly, good chances that it's the real thing.
On the engine, is it a 6 or an 8? A 6 will have the serial # on a pad directly behind the distributor.

It's a V-8. We think it's a 265 but not sure. Or I'm not sure anyway. Do ypu know where to find the chrome that goes around the cab windows for this truck? Thank you for the info I will try the assembly manual out and see if it's put together the same way. Thank You, John

I know very little about Cameos.However I do know that all Cameos had the large rear window glass.I believe they also had chrome grills bumpers,and the custom cab SS trim around the windows.The Cameos were quite pricey when new,and are a sought out by collectors today.Check out your local book store,there are several books on early pickups and how to distinguish,the different models.

I own a 55 Cameo, and there a couple of things that can help identify the truck. According to all the articles I have seen published, and I have owned my truck since 1969, all the Cameo's were made in Flint. Although the small window Cameo is rare, GM made Cameo's and Suburbans ( the GMC version) in small numbers that had the small cab rear window. The inside cab of the Cameo will have the deluxe heater, with the deluxe heater control ( which looks the same as the control from a 55 Chev car ). The above poster is correct when he states that the trucks came standard with the chrome grille, bumpers, and deluxe style hubcaps. Other than that, there is no difference.
There is a club for Cameos starting up again and I will look for the information.
Bob

Thanks for the info.This truck has a big back glass in it. It has chrome around the back and side windows "I don't think it's stainless though" it has a four speed in the floor,the deluxe heater control, a radio,and chrome knobs for the interior. Big Block Cameo do you know where to find the replacement chrome that goes around the windows. I will be working on the truck. Some times he even lets me drive it too. My truck is completely tore down so it gives me motivation to keep on. Thanks for the info. 552NDSER

the exterior chrome trim is being repoduced now [American Classic, site sponser] , tho' I haven't heard if it's a good fit

Bill

The Cameos had a fender emblem that was 3124(If I remember) but was definitely not 3100. Usually a fake Cameo will have the bedsides and tailgate but won't have the factory rear bumper that has the center that moves to let the spare fit in under the bed. The headliner was perforated and the interior color coded to the exterior rather than the standard interior color. I'm quoting this from memories of a 57 but the 56 should be very similar. Hope this helps.

Evan - all truck fender trims included the series designation, 3100, short 1/2 ton - 3124 was the Cameo model designation, but it didn't appear anywhere on the truck

Bill

The 3124 only appeared on the 1957 Chevrolet front fender. What color was your truck originally? Cameos only came in a few colors, and if memory serves me, they were all two tone (body color and cab reveal color). The interior was unique to cameos and again I think it was two tone with dimples. Does the original color of the bed match the original color of the firewall?

OK, I've been thinking. if you have the original 265 engine, you may have more accessories ie: power steering, power brakes, bumper guards etc. Those are some clues to whether you have clone or the original. Those items were options, but I have rarely seen them on the regular trucks. You do have the deluxe heater and deluxe chrome so it leads me to believe that you may have an original cameo. but then again, who cares! What you have is the makings of a nice truck and hopefully you have most of the original parts too. The seat pattern design is different than the regular trucks, it looks more like the design on the 55 bel-aire hardtop. Look for the paint color and trim number on the vin tag, this will let you know what was used originally. I don't have the color and trim codes, but I am sure there are those on this board that do. Good luck!

if it is a 265 dont put the distrbuter in wrong or it will cut the oil off to the heads also my 265 didnt have holes for side engine mounts only up front mount holes they were good motors

I did some work recently on a 57 Cameo that was a restored original. It had a 235 with a 3 speed, standard heater with the regular switch, radio delete, no backup light switch, and no turn signals. It did have all the window trim and other chrome trim. I'm fairly sure that you could order them bare bones or loaded depending on how much a person wanted to spend. Since they were almost double the price of a regular truck, most people didn't want to spend that much on a "truck". Of course we upgraded this one with an OD, turn signals, delux heater switch, back up lights, etc.
Fred

In response to the dizzy issue on the early 265, the issue is not only the dizzy, but the cam also. The early 265 ('55-'56) has a slightly different oiling system than the '57 and later smallblocks. the oiling for the lifter gallerys is provider by a groove in the rear cam journal. If you use a later cam without the groove, it will starve the lifters and upper end for oil. Strangely enough, GM repeated the same problem with the '65-'66 396 big block.
I'd also like to add, and red58 covered this in anothe thread, the Cameos were not just made in one plant,they were made in all of the plants according to orders received. I'm inclined to think that that myth got started because up to '56, Corvettes were all amde in Flint. Being that they were the only other 'glass bodied vehicle, I can see where one could make that connection. I'd also like to add that I've never seen a legitamate Cameo with the small window or without the crome grill, bumpers, and window trim. There's also a few other bits that were standar equipment on the Cameo, like the right hand visor and door armrests. Other items, like the truck Fred speaks of, were optional. Most Cameos I've seen were well optioned.

Thanks for all the great info I'm learning alot from all these posts. I was looking in my 55 2nd series assembly manual today for different parts on the cameos. Are the 55 2nd cameo trucks the same as the 56 cameos? Is it just the chrome that is different like regular half tons?

the Cameo is a 55-early 58 standard 3100 1/2T stepside with the fibreglas bits added and the deluxe trim options, nothing about the actual truck is any different than what could be found on the other madels .... notice in the assembly manual [applies to all Task Force trucks, 55 to 59] that each page shows the series/models that it applies to, and there are only a few pages that are for model 3124 only

Bill

I was very careful not to state that they made a small window Cameo, but that GMC version (called the Suburban ) was made with approximately 90 of the 300+ trucks that were made for that marque. I have the complete story in my humongous collection of books and when I find it I will post the exact numbers. I got to one approximately 10 minutes after it went through the crusher. I was able to salvage some of the rear bumper parts. If you want me to post the colours that were available, I can do so.
Bob
Bob

GM engineering called the "generic" design a "suburban pickup" ..... in literature the Chevy was given the name "Cameo Carrier Pickup" ..... the GMC version was generally called a "Suburban Pickup" [to differentiate it from the already existing Suburban], but the name was originally "Town & Country Pickup" .... the 4 page Popular Science April 1956 writeup on the \'new\' 56 GMC Town & Country pickup , discussing the styling questions of the day

Bill

Here is link to web page describing the history of the Suburban Carrier. GM made the ~300 Suburban Carriers with the idea that they would send one to every dealer in the US. The box and everything on it is identical to the Cameo Carrier box. This web page also describes that they made a small window Suburban Carrier.

http://1955gmc.com/

Bob

Is this a Cameo lens? I don't need it, but thought that I would post it an another section if it was a cameo, in case someone needs it.

Yes, that is a lens for the the backup lights.
Bob

From what I have read on the Cameos,the 55 & 56 models were only available in white with a red trim stripe.In 1957 there were more colors available.I am not claiming to be an expert,this is just something I read in one of my Chevy pickup books.One thing for sure,they are quite rare and definitly worth restoring.

I so happen to own a 1955'cameo truck myself with a 235' six with a 3 speed on the column. If I only knew how to post a picture here on post I would do so.I had it painted to the original colors which were Bombay Ivory and Swift commercial red. I'm the second owner of this here truck and always told the owner I would be the second and one day my wish came true.It does have the stainless trim around thr front and back winshields,and of course the 2 door windows.I might add this original truck came with the 2 front 3100 fender emblems and deluxe heater control.The only problem with owning one of these here trucks there is no real proof that they are original and the beds i understand can be duplicated. Anyway so much for the Cameo's.

Yes the fiberglass body sides are available. I've seen them but don't recall where..

Where the originals glass?

Keith

Yes, the originals were 'glass. Repros are being made also. I forget who had them first as an actual kit, but it seems several of the parts suppliers are carrying the kits now. It's not uncommon to see a truck with Cameo sides put on it, too. I know a local bodyman that has one that he got that way. The one givaway that it was a fake, and almost every fake one has this, is that whoever did the conversion forgot to fill in the holes in the inside bedsides where the original fenders mounted.
Also, on the color thing, '55 was the only year for the single color combo choice. '56 had a few extra color choices in addition to the white/red, though it seems that that was still the popular combo.

First, the fender emblem on a 57 definitely had "3124". I found some cheap camera photos of it that I scanned onto the computer. In real life the blue wasn't oversprayed onto the white inner bed color. It has won numerous shows. http://s32.photobucket.com/albums/d41/coilover/ Scroll down the page to the first three pictures.

You just don't see the Cameos up here in new england..be they original or conversions..

Keith

I drug a 55 cameo home about a month ago. It has most of the parts. rear bumper ends are there but shot. It even has the spare tire carrier. I just don't have the time for her right now..... Let me know if I can help you by comparing parts...

Hi John,

Over the years many folks have modified wide window cabs and put a cameo bed᠁and called it a cameo. One of the unique aspects of the cameo was the back-up lights. And one of the ways I've been able to check real authenticity is to see if the back-up light switch is still attached. There is a very hard to find bracket that holds the very hard to find back up light switch᠁these both are attached to the steering column.
If you have these, these's a good chance it is an original cameo.

Hi᠁.There's a way to get pretty darn certain it's an original cameo᠁.but you're right, many parts are being reproduced. Like I mentioned on an earlier post᠁.check under your dash᠁.If you have the original back up light bracket and switch, I'd feel much better about the truck being an original.

Take care

Marc,

You know you're responding to a 9 year old post???

Mike B

I noticed that, too ... but that's cool. Must have come across it in a search.

The replacement window/cab trim is available from a number of suppliers including the Truck Shop and Brothers. It is stainless,
however it seems to be much thinner material than the original pieces. The main thing is that the replacement clips are horrible! Any slight pressure to install them and you have a serious dent. We found some plastic clips at a local fastener store that worked ok.
Fred