Nowadays, we regard pickup truck specials, be they performance- or luxury-oriented, as the norm. However, if we are to look back at the post-war enthusiasm that fueled the car industry’s standout models, the 1955 Chevrolet Cameo emerges as one of the first truly refined factory light duty trucks. Nowadays, any Cameo makes for a standout proposal with a matching price (more on this below). However, this particular one is more special than others, since it features what can be described as a COE (cab over engine) conversion.
From a distance, this ’55 Chevy Cameo might give one the impression an eye check is in order, thanks to its unusually short nose. However, as you get closer to the pickup, its cabover transformation becomes more obvious.
The vehicle was recently spotted at a car event held in Puyallup, Washington, with an enthusiast named Dezzy (aka dezzysspeedshop) catching the reinvented truck on camera. However, before we take a deeper dive into the specifics of this unit, let’s take a bit of time to see what sets the Cameo apart in general.
Why is the 1955-1958 Chevrolet Cameo Carrier truck so special?
The emancipation of Chevy pickup trucks started with the post-war Advance Design series, which brought car-like features (e.g. an automatic transmission) to the workhorse genre. However, Chevrolet completely overhauled its range for the 1955 model year. And while the Tri-Five represented a revolution on the passenger car front (this 1957 Bel Air proves it), the carmaker’s Task Force pickup trucks covered the utility segment.
The Tri-Five trucks added goodies like a wider variety of V8s, wraparound windshields, 12-volt electrics, two-tone color schemes, and enough chrome trim to adorn the whole country. However, those who were willing to buy a truly standout truck of the sort were offered the Cameo package.
Under its Cameo Carrier full name, this was purely an aesthetics pack, but it went quite far in its effort to impress. It all started with the standard step-side bed receiving side fiberglass panels from the company that made the first Corvette bodies (that would be Ohio-based Moulded Fiberglass)—not this tube-chassis, Z06-powered custom, though.
The bed was visually separated from the cab via a chrome ring, while other goodies involved contrasting body accents and bold wheel covers. Optional extras included power steering, a spare tire carrier concealed behind the bumper, and, of course, a slushbox.
For the 1955 debut year, Cameos were only offered in white with red accents, resembling the first ‘Vettes—so this one is a dissident. However, the 1956 model year saw the arrival of an eight-color palette and their number grew with each year—1958 was the end of the line for these trucks.
And while people didn’t really get these high(er)-end trucks back in the day, which is why only 10,320 units were built over the four-year run, they’re highly collectible in present times. In fact, chasing one in a good state should see you part ways with around $70,000, even though recent years have also seen certain examples passing the $100,000 mark.
This ’55 Chevy Cameo is something else
The value of this 1955 Chevy Cameo? We’re probably looking at a deeper six-figure affair. After all, that cab over engine conversion, a layout never offered from the factory, required a custom chassis. Oh, and don’t let those conventionally-positioned door handles trick you: these are suicide doors.
We also get a shot of the interior, with the COE layout delivering a standout look, one we so rarely see nowadays. The minimalist take of the classic cabin has been retained, with brown leather and chrome dominating the space.
The two-pedal setup hints at an automatic, while those super-sized rear wheels, which are shod in street-legal Mickey Thompson rubber, are powered by a 409 ci (6.7L) engine—while the said aficionado didn’t get the engine details, somebody took to the comments section of the Instagram post below to mention this V8.
The devil is in the details with this 1955 COE Chevy truck, as, for instance, the enthusiast who spotted the pickup mentions that the paint on the thing is “a mile deep”. And who wouldn’t do the same to protect all that custom work?
