For Roger...

[balthazar]

http://cnj.craigslist.org/atq/2068088512.html

[GMTruckGuy74]

Interesting... apparently this GMC is the rare Fleet option truck. Think of it as the basic 'work truck' pickup of 1955 for businesses that wanted the cheapest truck their money could buy. GMC used the Chevy front fenders and Chevy dash and added the mesh grille to save money. I'd like to see this truck's dash to confirm it.

[hyperv6]

I remember this hood as we had a local guy with a GMC Cameo version.

It was red and had more chome on the front than the Chevy but it had the same bed as the Cameo.

To this day that was the best looking 50's GM truck I had ever seen. I would love to know where it is today.

[balthazar]

Very interesting WRT the Fleet Option- I missed that in the initial view.

Something still looks ascew tho. This:

http://www.oldgmctrucks.com/page0384.html

Shows the 'GMC' logo on the Chevy hood, but this one wears a GMC hood.

A lot can happen in 55 years tho.

Roger, I'm not picking up this era Chevy vs. GMC fender differences tho- what are they? I assumed they were the same.

Site claims less than 100 Fleet Option trucks ('55-59) are left.

[hyperv6]

Very interesting WRT the Fleet Option- I missed that in the initial view.

Something still looks ascew tho. This:

http://www.oldgmctrucks.com/page0384.html

Shows the 'GMC' logo on the Chevy hood, but this one wears a GMC hood.

A lot can happen in 55 years tho.

Roger, I'm not picking up this era Chevy vs. GMC fender differences tho- what are they? I assumed they were the same.

Site claims less than 100 Fleet Option trucks ('55-59) are left.

I too thought the fenders were the same and the hood was cut for the GMC emblem.

[GMTruckGuy74]

Very interesting WRT the Fleet Option- I missed that in the initial view.

Something still looks ascew tho. This:

http://www.oldgmctrucks.com/page0384.html

Shows the 'GMC' logo on the Chevy hood, but this one wears a GMC hood.

A lot can happen in 55 years tho.

Roger, I'm not picking up this era Chevy vs. GMC fender differences tho- what are they? I assumed they were the same.

Site claims less than 100 Fleet Option trucks ('55-59) are left.

I may be mistaken about the fenders being different. I know that the new replacement fenders sold by Chevy vendors state that they are interchangeable between Chevy & GMC, so maybe they were that way originally. I know the turn signals line up in the same area on the two trucks.

I too thought the fenders were the same and the hood was cut for the GMC emblem.

Technically I think the hoods were stamped out for the GMC hood ornament, as it's not just a cut line but has a rolled lip. GMC did produce about a 1,000 of their own version of the Chevy Cameo, called the Suburban Carrier Pickup (also referred to as the GMC Town & Country pickup).

[balthazar]

Hood are definitely different stampings as Roger stated:

-- -- -- -- --

The Palamino:

[hyperv6]

Hood are definitely different stampings as Roger stated:

-- -- -- -- --

The Palamino:

Sorry for the choice of words. I just was calling the hole a cut out knowing it was stamped. I don't think many people whould really think it was cut by hand. Imagine how long it would have taken to to do it and the quality. The hood are two different stanping based ont he truck I have seen.

Now take the Motorama truck in the photo and make it red and that is the restored truck I used to see around here. I liked it better than any Cameo I ever saw.

I can't remember what the production truck was call. Did they also call it the Palomino? the one we had here was the only one I have ever seen. If I recall the one in the photo was a Motorama truck or it at least is the same colors as the one they used back in 57? I think.

Edited November 29, 2010 by hyperv6

[hyperv6]

Ok I did a little digging into my collection here and here is what the GMC Cameo was called.

The first marketing ads in 1955 called it the Town & Country Runabout.

Later in 1955 marketing ads called it the Suburban Runabout.

Later on it became the Suburban Pickup. The name change was because Chrysler already was using the Town and Country name. The styling was by Chuck Jordan and was inspired by the Nike Missle transporters he saw while in the service.

They were built from 1955-1957 and came pretty much as a Cameo but witht he Pontiac V8 or GMC inline 6.

I could not find production numbers but they have to be very very rare. The Cameo is rare on it's own and I imagine the GMC was built to less than 1/4 og the Chevy totals. I know my GMC Sprint SP was built less than 600 units so I would think this truck may have been built less than 1000 units per year with few remaining today.

I wish I knew where that red one is today. It as restored to near 100 point condition.

For a good example of a Fleet grill truck check page 62 of the book GMC The First 100 Years. It has a 1958 GMC 350 Stake bed truck with the fleet grill back in the day. Note the 59 Cannonball Semi at the top of the page is someone know and see at local shows and the Pontiac Nationals at Norwalk. The truck is starting to show a little wear now but is still in great condition.

Edited November 29, 2010 by hyperv6

[balthazar]

Understood WRT the hood- I would have to believe they interchange physically.

I'm not up on the story of the Palamino without looking it up, but your info on the Suburban is correct.

>>"GMC The First 100 Years"<< <-- You all know I hate this erroneous title, right? GMC's 100th is next year.

[hyperv6]

Here is a little background on the Palomino. Nice find.

http://www.1955gmc.com/1957palomino.html

http://www.conceptcarz.com/vehicle/z12868/GMC-Palomino.aspx

I think the present owner is still Ralph Wescott in FL. He is a large 50's GMC Suburban Pick up collector.

[Camino LS6]

That truck is very cool - what a nice package to have been put together in '57. It's so Real World - not the usual way that 50's showcars were done.

I like it quite a bit.

[balthazar]

^ Well, it's not a true 'dream car', just a 'paint & trim' job. They tend to fly under the shadow of the 'true' dream cars, but there were plenty of them, even in the '50s.

The general consensus is that GMC had but 1 dream truck; the '55 L'Universelle.

[Robert Hall]

Not to change the thread subject, but for a bit of trivia, anyone know when did GMC stop using Pontiac V8s or GMC 6s and switch to Chevy engines in their light duty trucks?

[balthazar]

GMC used optional Pontiac V-8s '55-57.

Had their own smaller 336 CI V-8 in '58-59.

The GMC 305 V-6 came out for '60, and 'replaced' the V-8 option, as the 305 was the new 'top' motor for a few years. Other motor was a GMC 270 I-6.

By '63, GMC offered the GMC 305, the Chevy 230 I-6 and the Chevy 153 I-4.

V-8 returned starting in '68 (Chevy 307 & 396).

Last year for the last unique GMC engine was the venerable 305 for '70.

[Camino LS6]

^ Well, it's not a true 'dream car', just a 'paint & trim' job. They tend to fly under the shadow of the 'true' dream cars, but there were plenty of them, even in the '50s.

The general consensus is that GMC had but 1 dream truck; the '55 L'Universelle.

I'm sure you're right about that, but this is the first one I've ever learned of. Do you have other examples?

[balthazar]

Here's one:

'56 Cadillac Maharani ("kitchen sink Cadillac") :

[balthazar]

In looking around- these so-called 'mood cars' may have been a Cadillac staple moreso than across GM.

'55 Cadillac Celebrity

'55 Eldorado St Moritz

'55 Fleetwood Serie 60 Special Westchester

'56 Cadillac Castillian

'56 Cadillac Gala ('Wedding Car')

'56 Cadillac Palamino (!)

'57 Cadillac Series 60 Special Dictator

These were all mostly production-bodied cars with custom trim/ interiors and shown at Motoramas and other public shows.

It can be challenging to separate the factory prototypes/ styling exercises from the shown cars.

[GMTruckGuy74]

Hood are definitely different stampings as Roger stated:

-- -- -- -- --

The Palamino:

That is one gorgeous show truck!! I have never seen that picture of the Palomino before. The interior is leather - something that wouldn't be commonplace in a pickup truck for another 40 years! It truly was a one-off show piece, showcasing a lot of factory options and unique trim (the upper bed trim was not put into production, unlike the '57 Chevy Cameo). hyperv6, no offense was meant by me. Many non-GMC guys like to say all GM did was "cut a hole in the hood" for the GMC badge. Yes, a hole was stamped, but it is more than just "a hole" (again, not directed at you). As far as I know, only the gold Palomino existed; however, we know GM made more copies sometimes for different venues. I have never seen or heard of a red one though (only the gold). And the Town & Country/Suburban Carrier was also offered in 1958 with a very small number (like the Cameo, until the steel fleetside/wideside came to market). There is one '59 Suburban Carrier, and the collector you mentioned owns that one:

Ralph Wescott, Member #0005, owns this collection of 1955 through 1959 GMC Suburban Carriers. His 1957 Palomino and his 1959 are one of a kind trucks.

I'd love one of these fiberglass-sided trucks. To me that would be the "Holy Grail" of these classic trucks. I often regard the new Sierra Denali as the modern-day Suburban Pickup (back in the '50s the Cameo was considered a luxury truck, and the Suburban Carrier was basically to sit in the GMC dealer's showroom to sell options, hence why approximately 300 a year were made - one for each GMC dealership).

Now, for some pictures:

1955

1956

*Official GMC factoy photo from '56 with Oldsomobile hubcaps?

1957

1958

*This '58 was Steve McQueen's, the famous actor, truck

By the way, here's two photos of the '57 GMC Palomino from October 20, 2007 at a car show in Lakeland, FL:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/reddog3d/1662113645/in/photostream/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/reddog3d/1662982736/in/photostream/

Going back to the original topic of this thread, here's an interesting take on a '58/'59 Fleet option GMC (for those two years, GMC used the factory '58/'59 fenders but installed a '55-'57 single headlight instead of the dual-quad headlight setup). This one appears to have benefitted from some extra trim in its restoration (grille):

(here's a slightly modified '58/'59 Fleet option GMC):

[hyperv6]

That is one gorgeous show truck!! I have never seen that picture of the Palomino before. The interior is leather - something that wouldn't be commonplace in a pickup truck for another 40 years! It truly was a one-off show piece, showcasing a lot of factory options and unique trim (the upper bed trim was not put into production, unlike the '57 Chevy Cameo). hyperv6, no offense was meant by me. Many non-GMC guys like to say all GM did was "cut a hole in the hood" for the GMC badge. Yes, a hole was stamped, but it is more than just "a hole" (again, not directed at you). As far as I know, only the gold Palomino existed; however, we know GM made more copies sometimes for different venues. I have never seen or heard of a red one though (only the gold). And the Town & Country/Suburban Carrier was also offered in 1958 with a very small number (like the Cameo, until the steel fleetside/wideside came to market). There is one '59 Suburban Carrier, and the collector you mentioned owns that one:

I'd love one of these fiberglass-sided trucks. To me that would be the "Holy Grail" of these classic trucks. I often regard the new Sierra Denali as the modern-day Suburban Pickup (back in the '50s the Cameo was considered a luxury truck, and the Suburban Carrier was basically to sit in the GMC dealer's showroom to sell options, hence why approximately 300 a year were made - one for each GMC dealership).

Now, for some pictures:

1955

1956

*Official GMC factoy photo from '56 with Oldsomobile hubcaps?

1957

1958

*This '58 was Steve McQueen's, the famous actor, truck

By the way, here's two photos of the '57 GMC Palomino from October 20, 2007 at a car show in Lakeland, FL:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/reddog3d/1662113645/in/photostream/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/reddog3d/1662982736/in/photostream/

Going back to the original topic of this thread, here's an interesting take on a '58/'59 Fleet option GMC (for those two years, GMC used the factory '58/'59 fenders but installed a '55-'57 single headlight instead of the dual-quad headlight setup). This one appears to have benefitted from some extra trim in its restoration (grille):

(here's a slightly modified '58/'59 Fleet option GMC):

No offense taken I just could have used a better word.

The red truck you posted is like the one that was near where I grew up. Man I loved that truck.

[balthazar]

The Fleet Option grille is a fascinatingly cheesy, period treatment.

-- -- -- -- --

The '55-56 is my favorite.

[Robert Hall]

The Fleet Option grille is a fascinatingly cheesy, period treatment.

-- -- -- -- --

The '55-56 is my favorite.

I wonder what the story was behind those....GMC dealers wanted a cheap model to compete w/ Chevy dealers? Strange...

[balthazar]

As is the majority case now, there are those that prefer Chevy & those that prefer GMC.

Fleet Option was obviously a value-priced option for those who wanted the most affordable GMC.

Remember- the Divisions were run independently then- this was not 'GM decided to pit Chevy against GMC', it was GMC fighting for sales against everyone else.

Edited December 2, 2010 by balthazar

[GMTruckGuy74]

http://cnj.craigslist.org/atq/2068088512.html

Still listed on Craigslist... I wonder what kind of shape it is in? The pictures look "ok", but you can never tell everything from pictures. All I'd need to do is find a chasis and the rest of the body parts. Would make an interesting project!

[balthazar]

I just ran the zip code on this- East Brunswick, the next town over from me.

Roger- I know you've said funds are tight- but you want an in-person assessment on this truck - let me know.

[GMTruckGuy74]

I just ran the zip code on this- East Brunswick, the next town over from me.

Roger- I know you've said funds are tight- but you want an in-person assessment on this truck - let me know.

I will keep that in mind, thanks for the offer and checking on the location of this cab.

[GMTruckGuy74]

It's back, and I think at an increased price too:

http://cnj.craigslist.org/atq/2160046976.html

I'm still slightly interested in this cab, and if I had a decent chasis, engine & trans I'd probably be more interested. Balthazar, I'd hate to send you out to kick tires (well, I guess fenders since there's no tires to kick ) if you had the spare time, but I'd be intrigued to get your persoanl take on the shape/condition of this cab and its worthiness in a resto project. Plus pictures of the interior & dash would be nice

[balthazar]

'59 GMC making a good show as the killer's vehicle of choice :

[GMTruckGuy74]

Oh great, now when people see these GMC's at shows they'll be known as the truck from that slasher film

Pretty cool that they found and are using a '59 GMC Panel Truck for a current movie.

[balthazar]

Sorry Roger; I completely missed that you asked me to take a look at that truck!! You should have PM'd me when I didn't get back to you!

To (partially) make it up to you, I thought of you when I shot this beefy brute today. Asking price was $5500, interior was very clean & original. Alabama truck, all steel, original 305 V6, I think it had about 50K on it. I could drive something like this all day long.

[A Horse With No Name]

Cars from the 1958-1960 Era are perfect for Slasher films...in the Book Christine, not the movie, bad guy drives a 59 Chevy IIRC....

[balthazar]

^ Whaa? Movie & book car are the same, 66: a '58 Fury.

[Camino LS6]

Depends on who you call the "bad guy". It's been a long time, but I do remember there being other cars in the book...

But yeah, '58 Fury in the title role.

[A Horse With No Name]

^ Whaa? Movie & book car are the same, 66: a '58 Fury.

Car driven by minor character in book is 59 Impala IIRC...yes it's a fury for the main character...

Depends on who you call the "bad guy". It's been a long time, but I do remember there being other cars in the book...

But yeah, '58 Fury in the title role.

Fury would be an awesome car to have in the correct white and Gold Scheme....IIRC they repainted the white and gold cars in the assembly line scne red to wreck later in the movie.

When was the last time anyone saw a 58 fury...been awhile for me...

[balthazar]

I kno the book pretty well. Arnie's friend drives a Duster. Arnie's boss has an Imperial (mentioned once, may have said it was a '66). Repperton drove a Camaro. Would swear there was no '59 Chevy featured in Christine and no character in the present time of the book drove anything from the '50s. Flashback scenes did of course mention cars from when the Fury was new.

The '58 Fury came in 1 color only- Buckskin Beige. 'Autumn Red' was not an option and I've never heard of a Fury factory painted other than BB. King flubbed a lot of details about the Fury in order to 'mainstream' the car in some cases (adding door lock buttons, changing the trans to a shift lever, calling it a 4-door, etc) and I believe just didn't bother getting some of the other info factual ('58 Plymouth red was called 'Toreador Red').

The body length 'check mark' was gold anodized textured aluminum, the same spear was optional on the Belvedere (at least).

Most of the movie cars were Belvederes painted up to look like Furys on the line; none of the cars interiors visible in the movie used the Fury's exclusive gold & white interior.

Even in 1983, Furys were known by the production company & the hobby to be too rare & valuable (tho that would explode after the movie) to intentionally mash up.

Check it:

http://www.plymouthcentral.com/Christine2.html

http://www.forwardlook.net/features/billandeds.htm

I saw a concours-restored '58 Fury a year or 2 ago at the Lead East show here in Jersey, gorgeous correct car.

Edited September 26, 2011 by balthazar

[Robert Hall]

Too bad Christine wasn't a '61 Fury..far more evil looking front end than the '58.

[balthazar]

^ It is, but overall the car is about as sexy Aretha Franklin. Pass.

[Robert Hall]

^ It is, but overall the car is about as sexy Aretha Franklin. Pass.

Plymouths didn't look good IMO until around '63.

[balthazar]

Well, you're biased against '50s cars, but the '57-58s are true beauties with excellent proportions and no goofy details. Inspired.

I would call '64 the return to 'good looking', cohesive Plymouths, but they're still not inspired like the aforementioned.

[Robert Hall]

Well, you're biased against '50s cars, but the '57-58s are true beauties with excellent proportions and no goofy details. Inspired.

I would call '64 the return to 'good looking', cohesive Plymouths, but they're still not inspired like the aforementioned.

I wouldn't say 'biased against', '50s cars are just mpt not my area of interest..I prefer the crisper 60s designs..

Of late '50s Mopars, I find the '57-58 Chrysler 300 especially attractive...clean, not much chrome...

Edited September 26, 2011 by Cubical-aka-Moltar

[Camino LS6]

I've been re-reading alot of King lately, but Christine isn't one of his better efforts - so I don't know that I'll be getting back to that one.

Still, I love how he interweaves cars into his stories.

[Robert Hall]

I've been re-reading alot of King lately, but Christine isn't one of his better efforts - so I don't know that I'll be getting back to that one.

Still, I love how he interweaves cars into his stories.

I read his latest short story 'Mile 81' recently. About an evil '70s vintage station wagon. Strange little tale..

[Camino LS6]

Wow!

That invoked a memory for me. When I was about 11 or 12 (on a family trip to Maine of all places), we came upon a Ford Country Squire wagon fully engulfed in flames along the side of the highway, flashers still going as flames roared inside the car and black smoke roiled behind the windows.

The really odd part was that there wasn't a soul in sight. No cops, no family huddled together along the road, no other cars on the highway, no one at all.

Maybe I should read the story...

[Robert Hall]

Wow!

That invoked a memory for me. When I was about 11 or 12 (on a family trip to Maine of all places), we came upon a Ford Country Squire wagon fully engulfed in flames along the side of the highway, flashers still going as flames roared inside the car and black smoke roiled behind the windows.

The really odd part was that there wasn't a soul in sight. No cops, no family huddled together along the road, no other cars on the highway, no one at all.

Maybe I should read the story...

It's an odd little tale.

Your memory reminds me of something I saw on I-80 back in June '97 when I was driving cross country from Chicago to Colorado Springs when I moved west..I had stopped for the night outside Omaha, and around sunrise was driving west in my 5.0 and saw a late '80s Caprice on the opposite side of I-80, lights and flashers on, fully engulfed in flames with flames coming out the windows..no one around.

[Camino LS6]

Spooky stuff.

It sure impressed me - I can still clearly see the woodgrain and paint sort of retreating from the hot cabin of the car as it burned...

A real WTF moment.

[GMTruckGuy74]

Okay, how did we lose sight of this GMC topic by moving to Plymouths and now ghost cars burning in the night?!?!

[balthazar]

I've been re-reading alot of King lately, but Christine isn't one of his better efforts - so I don't know that I'll be getting back to that one.

It has it's inconsistencies (years ago I actually re-wrote my own version 'fixing' details & events to my satisfaction), but the concept and a bunch of the early imagery is straight up my alley. It helped that I picked the book up from a friend with absolutely no idea of the storyline.

King gets fairly predictable after a half dozen books, but I am still willing to suspend reality with him for a tale.

[Robert Hall]

Okay, how did we lose sight of this GMC topic by moving to Plymouths and now ghost cars burning in the night?!?!

Such is the nature of conversations on internet forums...they can fluidly move from topic to topic..

[Camino LS6]

I've been re-reading alot of King lately, but Christine isn't one of his better efforts - so I don't know that I'll be getting back to that one.

It has it's inconsistencies (years ago I actually re-wrote my own version 'fixing' details & events to my satisfaction), but the concept and a bunch of the early imagery is straight up my alley. It helped that I picked the book up from a friend with absolutely no idea of the storyline.

King gets fairly predictable after a half dozen books, but I am still willing to suspend reality with him for a tale.

Don't get me wrong, I think the guy is one hell of a craftsman. I just like some of his stuff better than the others.

[Robert Hall]

Did you read 'From a Buick 8'? 'Mile 81' is reminiscent of that book.