1955 – 1959 “Task Force”– The New Task Force series is launched with innovative styling and the truck industry’s first wraparound windshield. In 1955, the iconic Cameo Carrier was introduced with its industry-first fleetside styling and the legendary Chevy small block V8, debuting for the first time in a regular pickup.
1955 Chevrolet Cameo Carrier
The mid-1955 introduction of Chevrolet’s Cameo Carrier pickup truck helped pave the way for the El Camino. Although it was a model variant of Chevrolet’s light-duty pickup, the Cameo offered an array of car-like features that included passenger-car styling, fiberglass rear fenders, two-tone paint, a relatively luxurious interior, as well as an optional V8 engine, automatic transmission, and power assists
1955 3124 Series Cameo Carrier: Known as the Task Force truck, the Cameo Carrier is Chevy’s first Fleetside design. The bed surface is flush with the cab and fender, making for one complete, elegant shape from front to back. It was also Chevrolet’s first bumper-to-bumper styled truck, as styling didn’t stop at the back of the cab. During this time, styling became a selling point for cars, inspiring more focus on design for trucks as well. This was definitely the heyday of American automotive styling and ornamentation.
1955: The First Small Block V-8. Chevrolet introduced its revolutionary overhead-valve V-8 engine, later to be dubbed the Small Block, in the 1955 “second series” truck lineup. That original 265-cubic-inch (4.3L) engine produced 238 lb-ft of torque at only 2,000 rpm and evolved into one of the industry’s most enduring engine architectures. About a decade after the Small Block was introduced, Chevy’s Big Block engine family — also an overhead-valve design —debuted, elevating capability to an unprecedented level for gas-powered trucks. The Small Block is currently in its fifth generation in 2018 Chevy Trucks, while the original Small Block and Big Block families live on as performance crate engines.
1960 – 1966 “First Generation C/K”– The first generation of Chevy C/K trucks becomes the go-to pickup for work and recreational activities. In 1965, nearly half of all Chevy trucks sold since 1918 are still on the road.
1967 Chevrolet Pick-Up
Big, brusque and purposeful, Chevrolet’s new generation of pick-up trucks for 1967 were tough machines designed to get the job done. Powerful and practical, with no-nonsense styling, they were marketed as general transportation as well as work vehicles, something that extended their appeal and profile into the mass market. “It’s a very iconic American design,” believes Ed. “You see that pick-up, and you also see a guy with blue jeans and a toolbox in the back! Many of the words I’ve used to describe the earlier pick-up also relate here.”
1967 C10 Fleetside: This is the first truck that I really fell in love with. It’s a beautiful, sleek design with a hint of wheel flare. I also really appreciate the line that flows away from the top of the bed line and the beautiful balance with the front of the vehicle. This is a feature that can easily go wrong, but the designers of the time did it so right. The body side has a strong shoulder that tapers toward the rear. The Chevrolet bar on the front fascia connects the headlamp center with the bowtie — a design element that is still consistent today. This time period is also when metallic paint was introduced, which highlighted the subtleties and body lines that weren’t as obvious before.
The 1967 Chevy trucks led truck design into a new era. Leaner and cleaner in every line, the new models appeared lower and longer – somehow managing to look both car-like and rugged at the same time. Their large, rounded wheelhouses added a design touch evocative of several popular GM cars of the era. The ’67s were more durable than ever, and were to their core tough machines designed first of all to get the job done. Many features of the new pickup – and the Suburban that shared its styling – were designed to appeal to the still relatively small, but growing, number of customers seeking comfortable and capable trucks for recreational use or personal transportation.
1967 – 1972 “Second Generation C/K”– New features were introduced, including padded dashboards, energy-absorbing steering wheels and dual master-cylinder brake systems. The 1967 C/K provides a wide choice of 6-cylinder plus small and big block V8 engines.