This 1955 Chevrolet Cameo pickup is a largely original example that sports some genuine patina from its days as a General Electric service truck. While far from perfect, it looks appealing as-is, but given how sharp Cameos look when they’re cleaned up, I suspect the next owner will have a tough decision to make. Do you preserve it as a roughshod pickup, looking like it just left its last job after years in the field, or bring it back to showroom form, when it was one of the prettiest trucks on the road? Let us know which way you’d go after checking it out here on eBay where it’s listed with an asking price of $17,500 and the option to submit a best offer. Thanks for Barn Finds reader Mrtinwoodi for the find.
Old shop trucks have never gone out of style, largely because they’re hard to find with genuine graphics preserved in legible condition. This Cameo sports the classic GE logo on the tailgate and there’s no confusing how this truck spent its working life. Obviously, this tailgate needs to be preserved intact, with the huge bowtie emblem perhaps getting freshened up with some red paint inside. The Cameos left the factory with the two-tone look, all of them painted white with red in ’55. The painted bed had to have been a daring move by Chevy when the truck was introduced.
The two-tone look carried over to the interior, and Cameos were quite luxurious by truck standards of the day: dual sun visors, chrome knobs, armrests, cigarette lighter, and of course, the big rear window were all standard features. The trucks were also pricier than its less-loaded counterparts, and Chevy moved just over 5,000 Cameos in 1955. The interior of thus truck appears to be in fair condition, with the arm rests and sun visors still installed. The glove box door doesn’t appear to be original, but that should be an easy fix. The front windshield is cracked and will need replacing.
The seller notes that the engine has been rebuilt and runs well. The previous owner oversaw the rebuild but didn’t use the truck much, and according to the listing, kept it in a garage starting in 1984. Some rust is noted in the description but not explicitly pointed out in terms of its location(s); the lower fenders and tailgate area appear to show the most corrosion in the photos. This Cameo was already a desirable truck by virtue of how original it remained, but the authentic shop truck details make it even more appealing as a project. Would you preserve it as-is, simply fixing the rust, or would you bring it back to showroom condition while preserving the original graphics?
Mmmm… I can smell the pcb’s from here.
Gotta like “genuine patina”. That used to be called “neglect”. Boy am I old and out of touch.
BTW: I’m 24
I’d keep it just as it is, but make it mechanically sound. They are only original once!
And I’d fix the heater core and hook it up.
I believe that the exterior of the Cameo beds were fiberglass. That part looks like it’s held up pretty well. Nice old truck, for sure.
Most all I’ve ever seen had a factory radio….and what’s up with the battery box ? Nice old truck but to high for my wallet……
ohhh….it’s an Interstate battery……saw the green top……soo no R and H….just an H…..heater……..
Wouldn’t paint it for two cameos! Have to love old work truck like this. My dad drove an early 70’s Ford when he was with Sears Truck Tire. Mint green with the old Sears logo from the 60’s on both doors. Man did I hate getting dropped off for school in that thing in 1990, but it’d be neat to have now!!
I would just do the necessary bodywork and prime/seal it leaving the tailgate intact. Prolly go 350/700R4 and Torque Thrusts or Raiders.
No, no, no, make it look nice, for cryin’ out loud. This was the classiest truck you could buy in ’55, it deserves much better than this. Looks like a piece of junk. They were so rare to begin with, a nice paint job and interior could add another figure to price. What did that yahoo in Nebraska pay for that one with a crunched roof?
I wonder what GE division or facility it came from. It couldn’t have been a field service truck because those were run into the ground. Probably a facility parts go-getter that didn’t get driven far or often.
Radios were a luxury item that cost money and weren’t necessary for what the trucks were bought for.
Don’t forget that a higher manager needed to approve the truck purchase and gingerbread wasn’t going to fly.
I had the same thought! I don’t think they would buy a fleet of these for service, probably a supervisors vehicle. I would try and find another tailgate then hang the old one. A nice conversation piece after they are finished slobbering over your truck!
No way was this a GE truck. GE would have fleet trucks. This is a tribute someone added GE or was a small business or hardware store delivery truck. The glovebox door that would contain the build options has been replaced.
Our local dealer had one and sold it to the owner of a mom and pop store. They hated it and traded it in in less then a month. It was sold to a local farmer who needed a truck. He ran it into the ground and replaced it in 1972. He parked it in a field and when I found it in 1997 it was rusted in the ground. His 72 was parked near by. He told me the story and said he would haul cows in the Cameo. It was simply a farm truck. Never spend a day indoors. An image GM could have used in their ads. I bought the truck….really only the bed since it was fiberglass. He gave me pics of it with the cows in the back. Too funny. I still have those somewhere.
The Cameo was unique and collectible even in the 1960’s but at the end of the day was only a truck. A truck then was a work vehicle. Not like now people drive them like cars. Although now are so damn high you couldn’t haul a cow