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55-59 Development/Concept Photos
Introduction
After popular demand, I have decided to dive further into the development of GM trucks and uncover what I could for the Task Force trucks. I originally only planned on researching the 67-72 trucks (since that's what I have) but my interest in the history of GM trucks and enthusiasm by those on the board after sharing my findings has lead me to look further back to earlier generations. If you've read through my C10 development posts, you probably noticed quite a lot of design proposals were thrown around before GM settled on the final designs. Even year to year changes saw several front end and trim proposals. Unfortunately, you will notice the exact opposite here. For reasons I can only speculate, there is almost a complete lack of proposed alternate designs. Regardless, the photos below do show early pre-production versions of these trucks with a few subtle variations that a keen eye will spot. I hope you enjoy these! Disclaimer Of course, I must state that these are property of GM and I have been given permission to share these with you in a public forum format. PLEASE don't do anything with these photos that would result in requested removal by GM. This essentially means that these photos are for "reference" only and may not be used in any profitable way. Contents Part 1: Chevrolet Development Part 2: GMC Development Part 3: Promotional Photography Part 1: Chevrolet Development -Early 1955 Since the Advanced Design trucks were produced through the first part of 1955, the Task Force trucks were still in pre-production form in early '55. These photos show the first production ready version of the all new Chevrolet 3100. https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/576/32...c95df410_c.jpg https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/302/32...ba5cc982_c.jpg https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/262/32...e555d8c5_c.jpg https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/413/31...ff463ee6_c.jpg https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/606/31...cc3907c7_c.jpg https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/531/31...e9574977_c.jpg https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/637/31...a4cafae7_c.jpg Also new for Chevrolet was the first solution to a fleetside bed, which GM called the Cameo Carrier. It was basically a reskinned stepside bed. Initially, it was supposed to be a unibody construction as shown in the first photo. The engineers, however, decided it would be better to keep the cab and bed separate due to chassis flex concerns. https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/655/32...4abe04d4_c.jpg https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/683/31...0a41fe26_c.jpg https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/622/31...dce15fee_c.jpg https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/649/32...c2e67dd3_c.jpg https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/296/32...75432b14_c.jpg https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/259/32...7b374a49_c.jpg https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/518/31...409e2fae_c.jpg -Mid 1956 Since the '55 model year wasn't released until near mid '55, the '56 model year was virtually identical to the '55. By mid '56, however, Chevrolet was finalizing the grill and other updates for the '57 model year. https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/387/31...1d1ebbb4_c.jpg https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/440/31...57b80cd2_c.jpg https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/373/32...b2de2c01_c.jpg -Mid 1957 By this time, GM decided the Task Force trucks needed a midcycle refresh, so they introduced a new front end design heavily influenced by the passenger cars. https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/322/32...30c92247_c.jpg https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/711/32...9b609aed_c.jpg https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/339/32...a5cb480b_c.jpg https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/562/31...21168df6_c.jpg Interestingly, GM decided to carry the Cameo Carrier through the '58 model year even though they also introduced their first full width bed called the fleetside. Of course, the fleetside was preferred over the Cameo and sales suffered, resulting in the end of the Cameo Carrier. The fleetside shown here is painted in a proposed gold scheme to celebrate GM's 50th anniversary. https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/357/31...4004f0d5_c.jpg https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/703/32...b36f5615_c.jpg https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/364/32...1e30e68f_c.jpg -Mid 1958 The final production year of the Task Force trucks was virtually unchanged from the '58 model year. By this time GM was already deep into development of the 60-66 C10s, so design for the '59 were limited to modest paint scheme proposals as seen here. https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/709/31...79eb4f5b_c.jpg https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/418/32...4b9875a5_c.jpg https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/282/31...8aeb586e_c.jpg https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/771/31...6ea9c452_c.jpg https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/427/32...fbb61794_c.jpg https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/609/32...db9015ce_c.jpg To continue this story through time, you can follow the production of the 60-66 C10 here. I will also update this thread soon with progression of the 55-59 GMC trucks called the Blue Chip Series. Stay tuned! |
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Thank you for your efforts in posting this History! What a valuable resource!
I look forward to see your report on the Blue Chip series. |
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v v nice thank you very much -----great history pictures!!!
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2 Attachment(s)
Fantastic report! Thanks!
I found this picture amazing!!! Obviously Chevrolet instruments but has a GMC logo! How cool to have a centered steering wheel! |
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Damn I dig these photos! Thanks for posting.
Brian:metal: |
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Part 3: Promotional Photography
Along with the developmental photos, GM of course took many promotional photographs of these trucks in action for use in advertisements and brochures. Many of these photos are the original raw versions of scenes you may recognize from various advertisements. -1955 model year https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/495/31...b676a949_c.jpg https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/468/31...555a8575_c.jpg https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/754/32...c8042ce9_c.jpg https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/267/31...7f441bd3_c.jpg https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/585/31...10584183_c.jpg https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/468/32...76e296b6_c.jpg -1956 model year https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/723/32...42e68899_c.jpg https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/383/32...9c2a22c0_c.jpg https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/660/32...b18b97e8_c.jpg -1957 model year https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/270/32...366c07fd_c.jpg https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/393/31...495be57f_c.jpg https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/328/32...b1fef1f9_z.jpg https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/504/31...ca8cbc9b_c.jpg https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/424/32...f11ccc5d_c.jpg https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/290/32...db180039_c.jpg -1958 model year https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/734/32...69630a32_c.jpg https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/571/32...8c96d649_c.jpg https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/744/31...cc393546_c.jpg -1959 model year https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/557/31...29506e55_c.jpg https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/298/31...5394ac79_c.jpg https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/347/31...6260d14d_c.jpg https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/292/31...575fbca6_c.jpg https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/475/32...c35a68eb_c.jpg https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/565/32...ccacdd45_c.jpg https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/429/32...d83a7e9d_c.jpg https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/446/32...c34b9705_c.jpg https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/502/32...16c7c2a9_c.jpg https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/748/32...0576c0cb_c.jpg https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/372/32...547df4c7_c.jpg |
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WAY COOL PICS!!!!!! I Noticed on the GMC Pics Part2,in the 4th & 5th Pic Look at the stepside Bumper, No Bolts, its a Smoothed Bumper? Interesting.
Thank you VERY MUCH for sharing, Fun to Look at! Allen |
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Wow! Incredible pics. Thank you for posting them.
Will you be doing the 47-54 trucks also? |
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Great pictures. As much as we love our trucks now, it's hard to imagine anyone buying a new TF and immediately start abusing it by using it like it was designed to be used, actually hauling stuff, LOL.
Did anyone else notice that the GMC Fleet models didn't have bed steps? Hard to imagine those being an option but I guess price was the factor in that decision. I'm glad that they decided to separate the bed from the cab on the early Cameo design considerations. Somehow that one piece body looks out of proportion to me. |
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Thanks for sharing, enjoyed them very much :)
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I think one of the 4wd stills on the rocks is from the 1957 Pikes Peak expedition. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LCuO9fi7Ouw
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this should be pinned!
awesome information, I really like the 57 gmc's look wow! |
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Thank you again. Absolutely amazing pics. |
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1 Attachment(s)
Thought it was odd too that the fleets did not have the side steps.
I ran across this pic some time ago and saved it of a 1958 Concept/Prototype thought I'd share it :chevy: Attachment 1615770 |
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Very cool, thanks for posting!
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Thanks for posting all those great pictures, it's really cool to see what these trucks looked like when new.
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Brian |
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interesting: chevy didn't have fleet trim until 58 and while i've seen quite a few chevy fleet trim trucks they all had steps, none of the gmc fleet trim trucks have steps. they look surprizingly good sans steps
redefines the term 'stepside bed' :D not sure what yr this is, it may be a prototype fleet trim https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/674/32...3ea5ffd6_c.jpg no steps on this 58/59 gmc https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/475/32...c35a68eb_c.jpg also note the kick vent grill delete for the gmc fleet trim package http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/a...1&d=1485536173 |
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and check out this spare mount and mirror extension :D
https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/495/31...b676a949_c.jpg |
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Thank you so much for posting these pictures! They are awesome. Neat to see some of the photos with post-production vehicles in the background awaiting delivery.
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That Cameo concept reminds me of the tri-five El Caminos that folks sometimes build. http://www.trifive.com/forums/pictur...ictureid=32398 The boltless rear bumper is painted while the front is chrome. Possibly fiberglass? It also appears to have larger tires? Funny the "do not shoot" notation on the longbed drawing that appears to have wrong proportions. Also, I think the centered wheel is not centered. I believe it's RH drive based on the only outside mirror being on the RH door. I think looking centered is an illusion as the dash appears to have a bulge for gauges on the RH side. |
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