Vehicle Description
West Coast Classics are proud to present this rare 1957 CHEVROLET
1/2 TON 'CAMEO CARRIER 3124' PICK UP.ORIGINAL FEATURES
INCLUDE:MOLDED FIBERGLASS SIDE COVERS & BEDDISTINCTIVE
CAMEO TAIL LIGHTSFRONT & REAR CHROME BUMPERSHIDDEN SPARE
TIRECORRECT ORIGINAL '779' TWO-TONE PAINT CODE : 'OCEAN GREEN' OVER
'BOMBAY IVORY' COVES12 VOLT ELECTRICAL SYSTEMSPECIAL 'FLIGHT RIDE'
CUSTOM CAB'SWEEP-SIGHT' WRAPAROUND WINDSHIELD, FIRST OF ITS KIND IN
THE TRUCK INDUSTRYHIGH VENTILATION SYSTEMCONCEALED SAFETY
STEPSDOUBLE ACTING FRONT & REAR SHOCKSFOAM RUBBER 'NU-FLEX'
BENCH SEATDUAL SUNSHADESFULL VIEW REAR GLASS1 OF ONLY 2,244 CAMEOS
BUILT IN '57CLASSIC & COLLECTIBLE VINTAGE TRUCK KNOWN FOR
ITS DISTINCTIVE BLEND OF UTILITY & PASSENGER CAR STYLING
BUILT IN LIMITED NUMBERS FROM 1955-1958!1957 YEAR CAMEO CARRIER
PICK UP - RARE SURVIVOR & RUNNING BARN FIND!UPGRADED V8
ENGINE & 4 SPEED MANUAL TRANS!In 1954, the renown
automotive designer Chuck Jordan presented his design for a new
luxury truck to executives at Chevrolet which would become one of
the significant American designs of the era, the jewel of the 3100
series line, a beautiful smartly slab sided stylish triumph with
deluxe car style cues with a fiberglass bed and rear fenders, a
full width rear window and a smooth sided cargo bed.The new pickup
was defined by one major alteration: a smooth-sided bed that
extended straight back from the cab, as opposed to the traditional
step-side design. This was accomplished with the unique
installation of fiberglass skins, which completed a streamlining
effect by extending the cabs body contours down the side of the bed
which was then accented with additional trim that outlined a band
of contrasting two-tone paint. The fiberglass panels were produced
by 'Molded Fiber Glass' of Ashtabula, Ohio the same company that
managed construction of the early Corvette bodies. Chevy executives
were to green light production and by 1955 the newly named 'Cameo
Carrier' was in production.Initially in 1955 available only in
White with Red accents inside the box and around the cab, the
Cameos colors were expanded to eight hues a year later,
complemented by a small assortment of contrasting colors on the
bedside inserts and around the cab glass. For 1957, some trim
changes were made to the Cameo, along with the addition of a few
more colors. Mechanical upgrades were options at extra cost
although Chevrolet was primarily focused on the trucks visual
design and cargo management."Who said you can't combine utility and
beauty in a half-ton pickup? Chevrolet has done it! Just look at
Chevrolets new Cameo Carrier, which combines dazzling beauty and
rugged utility on the new Chevrolet half-ton truck chassis", so
said the divisions 1957 ad campaign for the Cameo."The Cameo
Carrier features a special Flight-Ride Custom Cab with Sweep-Sight
windshield, Full-View rear window, special reinforced plastic outer
side and tailgate panels, hooded headlamps, hide-away spare tire,
fluted wheel covers, and special two-toned exterior. And this style
leader handles a payload of 1,650 pounds with a gross vehicle
weight of 5,000 pounds."Only 2,244 Cameos were produced in 1957, or
just 0.6% of total pickup production, making this one very rare and
collectible truck indeed!Chevy's first attempt at a truly
"stylized" luxury version of the work-a-day pickup, today these are
highly prized amongst Chevrolet/GM collectors. This original
specification 'Ocean Green & Bombay Ivory' example boasts
all of the chrome extras, including the bedside chrome and uber
rare hood ornaments and wheel trim rings. The interior is pure
1957, with correct patterned upholstery, deluxe door panels, and
dash. It starts easily, has no smoke or blow-by, idles, runs,
turns, drives, and stops well. This investment quality truck is
ready to fully restore, or simply drive and enjoy as is. Priced
well below Hagarty valuation for an example in this condition, if
you can ever find another one of these for sale (much less nicer
than this one) for less, buy it!WEIGHTS &
MEASURESWHEELBASE: 114 inchesOVERALL LENGTH: 193.5 inchesOVERALL
WIDTH: 77 inchesOVERALL HEIGHT: 77.5 inchesFRONT TRACK: 60.5
inchesREAR TRACK: 61 inchesCURB WEIGHT: 3,515 poundsFrom 1955-58,
Chevrolet built a total of 10,321 Cameo Carrier half-ton pickups.
Production by model year was 1955: 5,220 units; 1956: 1,452 units;
1957: 2,224 units; 1958: 1,405 units.
