Vehicle Description
This 1957 Chevrolet Cameo 3124 is not only a looker of the first
degree, but it's also a proud member of a very pivotal class of
vintage trucks. Coming along at a time when pickups were all about
bare bones ruggedness and no-frills demeanors, the Cameo offered a
styling sensibility that was previously reserved for passenger
cars. Purchased new by NHRA Hall of Famer Lance Hunt, this lifelong
Texas truck has since been comprehensively restored and treated to
some choice upgrades, resulting in one of the coolest trucks we've
ever featured here at Streetside Classics.
The well-ornamented exteriors of the 'Task Force Series' trucks
provides the first clue that Chevy had more than just reliable and
functional transportation in mind when the Cameo was introduced to
succeed the 'Advanced Design' pickup line in 1955. Shortening the
design gap between car and truck (a line of thinking that later
paved the way for the El Camino), this 3124 offers an abundance of
period-correct style for a '50s era truck that blends in well with
just the right amount of ruggedness. Take a look up front, where
the smile-like visage of the wideset headlights and intricate 1957
grille sit over a sturdy front bumper and set the iconic tone,
aided further by the badges on the fenders and 'spears' on the
hood. Step around to the side and you'll see that the doors
themselves carry their own badging - a rare styling cue - and the
sides of the bed are decked out with broad, detailed trim with
beautiful chrome accents. The white-and-red color scheme this
beauty wears harkens back to the '55 model (it was the only color
combo you could get in the 1st year Cameo) offering a killer shine
and deep luster with very few flaws and blemishes visible. Owing to
its manufacturer's quest to equip it with as much car-like style as
possible, there's also an impressive collection of chrome on
display, and the brightwork and bumpers both fore and aft are in
excellent condition. A large part of the Cameo's unique look was
achieved by adding fiberglass panels to the Chevy's existing steel
cargo-box, resulting in the incredibly stylish bed and tailgate you
see before you. And inside that cool Art Deco bed is a finished
wood floor that's nice enough to have a dance party on, protected
by a custom hard tonneau cover that lifts via gas struts.
The beautifully restored red and white interior further shows that
designers were trying to bring several automotive details over to
the truck lineup. The patterned upholstery has a very 1950s look to
it and shows minimal wear since the restoration was finished. Dark
red, large loop carpets are in great shape and help insulate the
cabin, and the headliner and the two-tone door panels soften things
a bit. The instrument panel should look familiar to Chevy fans,
with a V-shaped speedometer that is remarkably similar to the gauge
panel found in the '57 Bel Air, beautifully integrated into the
two-tone dash, just ahead of the leather-rimmed 3-spoke steering
wheel that feels great in the driver's hands. Any options in a
truck this pretty are just icing on the cake, but in this case
comfort and entertainment are accounted for, with R134a A/C and a
retro-style AM/FM radio, respectively. Detroit's Golden Era is
definitely represented inside this comfortable cab, so much so that
you'll have to be pried out of the seats when it's time to put this
Cameo back in the garage.
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In addition to everything else it offers, this is also one very
road-ready classic truck. The 350 V8 engine below the hood is
running strong, armed with an extensive array of performance
goodies that really kick up the horsepower and torque. Ported
heads, aluminum roller rockers, and a performance roller cam all
work together with a 4-barrel QuadraJet carb mounted atop a
polished Professional Products intake. It's all presented very
nicely as well, with finned aluminum valve covers and a chrome air
cleaner for added eye candy and it sounds great through the shorty
headers that feed dual exhausts peeking out under the rear bumper.
The powerplant combines with a 700R4 4-speed automatic transmission
with overdrive navigated via the chrome shifter mounted on the
column inside cabin, and it spins a 10-bolt rear end filled with
3.42 posi-trac gears. Power rack-and-pinion steering makes this
well-restored classic truck easy to navigate, power 4-wheel disc
brakes with Wilwood units up front ensures it stops on a dime, and
it turns heads on its set of 15-inch American Racing Torque Thrust
wheels wrapped with 215/70/15 blackwall radials.
This 1957 Chevrolet Cameo represents a unique chapter in passenger
truck evolution, and with its awesome upgrades and unique pedigree,
it's one of the coolest classic trucks you'll ever come across.
Call today!
