This awesome 1957 Chevrolet Cameo pickup was apparently owned by a Nebraska car dealer who parked it in 1970. As you can see, this is a real-deal barn find that has been pulled out and cleaned up and is now ready for a new owner. The truck is being sold by Driven Rods & Rides in St. Louis, Missouri. You can find it for sale here on eBay with a current bid just over $23,000. You won’t believe what this truck looks like now!
Here you can see the truck after it was rescued and cleaned up. Based on the photo of it in the barn, it looks really good for what it could have been. The ad says it is all original including the glass, trim, body panels, grille, bumper, tail lights, and even weatherstripping!
The original 283 cubic inch V8 is paired with an automatic transmission and is “ready for overhaul” according to the ad. The engine does turn over but hasn’t been started in 50+ years. Hopefully, it won’t take too much to get this one going again.
The interior is all original as well. As you can see, there are a few paint issues with the dash, but the rest looks good. There are some stains on the door panels and the seat needs some freshening up. Overall, it has great classic styling and the red and white is a great combination.
Here is a good shot of the Cameo bed that made these trucks so special. They offered great styling and more cargo capacity than their step-side cousins. The ad does say the original bed has rotted away and has been replaced with a removable steel plate. Overall, this looks like an awesome truck that would make a great project for someone. What do you think?
Wow, my tongue is hanging out! I could only wish I could find one of these in a barn somewhere.
I was driving the truck and livestock trailer with a load of cattle along a 2-lane blacktop, heading for Williston, ND, when I passed an open garage door next to a gas station. Nicely visible was the tailgate of a Chevy Cameo. Needless to say, I stopped as abruptly as I could with the trailer filled to capacity. I quizzed the boy at the gas station who showed it to me. It was a mint ’55 Cameo. The boy told me a tale that had me turn about 8 shades of green.
The boy and his dad were driving out in the country, east of Chester and they saw an open garage door with the rear of a Cameo clearly visible. They stopped and knocked on the door. A recently widowed lady answered and told the visitors that her husband had bought the truck new in 1955 after a good harvest. They hardly drove it throughout the years and by this time (1974) the truck only had 14K miles on it. It hadn’t been driven for three years, after her husband’s health began to fail. She didn’t think about selling it until that moment. “He would’ve loved to see it go to a good home. How about $1500?” she said after a pause. Where the hell am I when these deals come around?
I (sort of) celebrated my 60th birthday the day that ’58 Cameo sold at the Lambrecht aution in Nebraska. When I first heard of that sale, I wanted to go but couldn’t get the time off. I thought that would’ve been an ideal birthday present for me. Too bad it sold for ten times what I could afford (and I could ill afford that). But it’s nice to dream. I might add that some people have all the luck…
It’s all about “right place, right time”, my friend, and I’m not sure who controls that. Prayer doesn’t seem to work(Lord knows I’ve tried) so it’s got to be like the lottery. I’ve heard lots of stories like that, not so much ’57 Cameo’s, but it happens. Naturally, when I heard Nebraska dealer, I thought Lambrecht too, but this must have been one ol’ Roy didn’t get his hands on( but I bet he knew about it). This was quite a truck in ’57. V8, automatic, fancy bed, it looked at home at the feed mill or the dance hall. The bidding seems to coming down to nickels and pennies, so about $24g’s, and for something like this, it’s a believeable price. Nice truck.
geomechs and HoA:
Man do I feel your pain!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HT4RainY-lY
Knew a guy that bought a 58 Chevy conv.348 w/3 deuces,said the owner wanted what the wrecker bill cost him to get it towed home,the giant sum of $15
Did i miss if thatbis actual original paint and the diamond plated bed? Curious
I wonder about the engine, valve covers with pcv lines hummmm
Nice rig for sure. With the fin thing going on in 57, kind of suprised the Cameo did not have some sort of fin on the box.
Checkout the 58 Dodge truck version of the Cameo,it has the complete quarter panel sides of the Dodge or Plymouth full size car,fins & all,one sharp ride👍
I love this website.
In sold my 57 in this livery last year for $55k,driver quality 350 truck.Still working on 55 driver,and 56 Ultra show truck (long term project).This feature truck is unlikely to sell below mid 30’s,as it is some detailing, and a paint job, away from the next tier,fifty to seventy five thousand dollar rig.As is,it’s possible that 2 ole boys could want a survivor bad enough to bid it to 50 grand now.A cameo (or GMC Suburban Carry All )is not your ordinary pick me up truck .
Boy whats not to like on this beauty, would be nice if it was running. hard to find in this condition. I do see some repair work on the drivers side, foot well under the door. L.ooks well done. Good luck to the new owner, and stay safe.
Cheers
GPC
This was parked in the barn the year I was born, so it is a little before my time, but wow! I want it!
Great colors, v-8 with a powerglide, a wonderful cruiser!
I believe the Chevy/GMC trucks used the 3 speed Hydramatic transmission not the PowerGlide. :-) Terry J
Actually, I believe you are correct lol. Brain fart!
I’d rather buy this truck than a new one for the same price. It might not have the bells and whistles of a new one, but it sure would be a lot more fun and get a lot more attention.
God bless America
I bought a 55 cameo in 1978 for $550. It had a chevelle running gear. I sold it for $1000 in 1980. It paid the doctor bills for my first born. The inside of the bed was exactly the same as a regular step side, the fiberglass was bolted onto it. Cool spare tire holder and rear bumpers though.
Bells and whistles break!!
A Cameo’s rear section (bed) is fiberglass. Everybody knows that right? :-) Terry J
What’s up with the two hoses from the valve covers? Look like some one tried to put in Pcv valves.
Yep – not an original motor in it – so it isn’t ORIGINAL – the motor most likely came from the same car that donated the hub caps…..
One has to remember that these engines do not have harden valve seats, so you will have to use lead additive or pull the head do a valve job and add hardened valve seats.
To Geomechs:
Maybe we should ad the following initials behind your nane: NSL which means: No SUCH LUCK!!! I know the feeling . Happy belated birthday!!!!
Wow ,thats a real beauty ! Having an auto trans in a truck this old must be rare as hens teeth – I don’t think I’ve ever seen one so equipped !
WOW! This is the type of find ,you fantasize about. I am just finishing a 53 F-100, and I tell anyone who will listen , this is the last time, too old,& too poor.
This truck would make a liar out of me in a heart beat.
Good luck with your f100, Joe!!! Stay safe!
Cheers
GPC
I see a PVC valve in the front of the driver’s side valve cover, and in the rear on the passenger’s side. The VCs themselves look original, so maybe they were drilled for the PVC. But why both? Is there that much blow-by?
hey fred good observation! The 57 would have had a road draft tube with a baloney sliced end. The idea was when the truck was moving to pull the fumes out of the crankcase when the truck was moving. When Positive Crankcase ventilation (PCV) came along in 63, not only did it keep the crankcase fumes from entering the atmosphere, it provided a welcome service to the Mill. excess crankcase pressure was the bane of many a worn out or even healthy engine. When rings etc got worn, the compression woulld leak by the rings and pressurize the crankcase. I recently helped a friend install PCV on a 60 thunderbird 352. Now some of the racers actually install an accessory pump to pump the fumes on a high performance engine which, by nature, would have inadequate Vacuum (because of a hi performance Cam) to run a PCV system. So to make a short story long,a good PCV system is a great idea on any engine!
Stay safe and good luck!
Cheers
GPC
Hey, it’s bid to $6900! I should bid $6969, LOL NOT! I gave $500 for my 2nd car, 69 Bee, 383 AT with 2 ram air hood scoops, around fall of 1974, I last saw it in a junkyard after I clipped a tree and it caught fire, a case of Coors in the trunk. My first car would be easier to recreate, a 62 Impala 2dr ht.
I owned a ‘58 longbed stepside, big rear window, glad parked 283 with 3 speed electric overdrive. Paid $750 when I lived in Santa Monica, CA…. sigh. Who knew? 😳🤭😢
Gorgeous truck. just like it is. So much nicer than the over restored versions that you see. The Cameo didn’t have any more carrying capacity than it’s standard bed cousins. The fiberglass bedsides were hung on a conventional narrow bed.
Is that not a 4 speed hydromatic????????
Yes indeed, the Hydramatic was a 4 speed.
Valve covers should say Chevrolet…………
Many, many years ago, my brother bought an engine/trans less ’56 Cameo. It was missing the inside rear bumper “bumperettes”. I scrounged any junkyards I could find just as the thing to do. Near Hibbing Minnesota I was digging through an old yard and found a pile of fiberglass with a complete Cameo rear bumper, including the fold down center section and the pocket for the spare tire. The story was that the junkyard bought the scrap out of an iron ore mine dump and that the Cameo had been pushed into the pile with a bulldozer. I was able to salvage the complete bumper plus the matching factory spotlights from the truck.
My brother and I put a mid ’60s 283 and a powerglide in it but never finished it. It has been in nice dry storage now for nearly 40 years. My brother got into building John Deere garden tractors, but my sister in law and I have convinced him it’s time to finish the Cameo, so hopefully it’ll be on the road soon.
By the way, the cargo capacity wasn’t greater, they just put styled panels on the standard short box.
My favorite Chevy truck of all time here!! Geomechs story really hit home too!! I knew I guy that had one and I pestered him every time I saw him!! He was about ten years older than me and I don’t ever remember him not having it!! I went on a ski trip to Colorado with my wife and kids when the gentlemen died of a heart attack!! I week later I got back and I stopped by to tell his widow how sorry I was to not be around for her!! She brought up the truck I wasn’t going to say a thing!! She told me that his cousin in Tennessee took the truck when he came for the funeral and it was an agreed upon deal he had made with him!! I never saw the truck again!!
Beautiful!
Steering wheel has a lot of wear for 48000 miles.
In 1957 Dodge built the D 100 Sweptline pick up, production lasted until 1959. They used the Dodge Station wagon quarter panels, also the rear bumper from the station wagon model and some bright work moldings that ran up to the front fenders to make up this special model.
It seems like all the truck builders got into the act back then. Dodge with it’s Sweptline, and even International with its Golden Anniversary. Here’s a Nice Dodge.
Here’s another shot of that truck. I sure hate it when the hoods are left open for a show…
Very rare to see one of these. An encounter I had with one was in South Africa an d two guys were pulling it down the road, sans glass and some trim. Barn finds are still out there. I bought two 53 F-100s here in Nebraska that had been stuck away for 30 some years., one stock and one with a 289/4 spd. Got a 67 Mustang fastback out of the same barn. I had the first Camaro in my hometown I bought from Rosen-Novak and when I was a kid I worked for one of the Novak family here 100 miles west of Omaha. Strang connections.