Chevrolet Task Force

GM redesigned their truck line for the second half of 1955, but sold both designs that year; the previous design became known as the 1st Series, and the all-new design as the 2nd Series 1955. Commercial trucks and various other heavy duty models were also available. Chevrolet and GMC named their new series independently. The trucks were differentiated by running gear and interiors; Chevrolet used Chevrolet engines, and GMC used GMC inline-sixes and Pontiac V8s (Oldsmobile V8s for heavy-duty trucks). For the first time in GM history, trucks were available with optional power steering, power brakes, and V8s. A column-shifted 3-speed manual transmission was standard, with an optional floor-shift 4-speed manual or Hydramatic automatic. The electrical system got an upgrade to 12 volts. The new body featured the truck industry's first wrap-around windshield, and an optional wrap-around rear window for Deluxe cab models. Headlights became integrated into the fenders. The cab is taller in size, and in-cab steps replaced the running boards of previous models. A "step" between the cab and rear fender aided access to items inside the pickup bed. Redesigned bed fenders were carried through the next generation body that ended in 1966. ==Differences==

The initial model of the Task Force body style was introduced midway through the 1955 model year as the 1955 second series. Fenders have single headlights and a one-piece emblem is mounted below horizontal line on fender. Beds are and ; 1955 was the only year for the mid-length 7-foot bed. The GMC inline-6 retained a 6-volt electrical system for 1955 only. For 1956, the Task Force received a wider hood emblem, with two-piece fender emblems mounted above the horizontal fender line. Last year for the eggcrate grille. 1957 was the only year for more open grille. Hood is flatter with two spears on top, similar to the 1957 Bel Air. Fender emblems are still above fender line, but are now oval-shaped, as opposed to previous versions in script. From 1958 all light-duty trucks were called "Apache", medium-duty trucks called "Viking", and heavy-duty trucks called "Spartan". First year for factory-equipped air conditioning. Significant redesign of front end, featuring a shorter/full-width grille, four headlights instead of the previous two, and Parking lights are now in the grille instead of being in the front of the fender. The hood is similar to 1955/1956 models, but with a flat "valley" in the middle. A new "styleside" all-steel bed replaces the Cameo/Suburban versions; called "Fleetside" by Chevrolet and "Wideside" by GMC, available in and lengths. For 1958, GM was promoting their fiftieth year of production, and introduced Anniversary models for each brand (Cadillac, Buick, Oldsmobile, Pontiac, and Chevrolet); the trucks also received similar attention to appearance, but staying essentially durable, with minimal adornment. 1959 was the last model year for the series, showing minimal changes from 1958. Most apparent was a larger and more ornate hood emblem and redesigned badging on the fenders. This was the last year that the NAPCO (Northwestern Auto Parts Company) "Powr-Pak" four-wheel drive conversion could be factory ordered. The Apache name carried over into the next generation through 1961. == Gallery ==

File:1955 Chevrolet Pick Up (9596053201) (cropped).jpg|1955 Chevrolet Task Force File:1955 GMC 150 pickup (152-8).jpg|1955 GMC Blue Chip 150 File:1956 Chevrolet 3100 Pickup in Cardinal Red, Front Right, 06-10-2023.jpg|1956 Chevrolet 3100 File:'56 GMC (Cruisin' At The Boardwalk '10).jpg|1956 GMC Blue Chip File:1957 Chevrolet Truck (2462441869).jpg|1957 Chevrolet Task Force File:1957 Chevrolet (14776456120) (cropped).jpg|1957 Chevrolet Task Force NAPCO 4WD File:1958 Chevrolet Apache 4WD pickup truck (NAPCO).jpg|1958 Chevrolet Apache NAPCO 4WD File:1959 Chevrolet Apache (32098220364).jpg|1959 Chevrolet Apache File:1959 GMC 9310 pickup truck (8049339402).jpg|1959 GMC 9310 == Variants ==

Cameo Carrier/Suburban Pickup }} The mid-1955 introduction of Chevrolet's Cameo Carrier pickup truck helped pave the way for the Fleetside. The Cameo offered an array of car-like features that included passenger-car styling with rear fenders continuing the cab's body lines to the back of the truck, two-tone paint, a relatively luxurious interior, whitewall tires, a chromed grille/front bumper/special rear bumper, as well as an optional V8 engine, automatic transmission, and power assist steering. The outer fender skins were fiberglass, attached to a standard, step-side steel cargo box. A standard tailgate was supported by retractable cables, with latches mounted inside the bed. The multi-piece rear bumper featured a door that accesses a hidden spare tire carrier. As always, there was a GMC version offered during the same time, called the GMC Suburban Pickup, with many similar features offered on the Chevrolet but without the bedside trim. In 1957, a special version was made for GMC to be shown at national car shows called the Palomino, which had a Pontiac V8 installed, borrowed from the 1957 Star Chief. Other pickup truck producers, including Ford, Dodge, Studebaker and International, began to offer flush-side cargo boxes on some of their 1957 models, such as the Dodge C Series, and the 1960 Studebaker Champ. Though GM replaced the Cameo Carrier and Suburban Pickup with the Fleetside and Wideside before the 1950s were over, in time, pickup trucks with flush bodies and wider beds would become the dominant standard throughout the industry. File:55 Chevrolet 3100 Cameo 1 2 Ton Pick-Up (9132998655) (cropped).jpg|1955 Chevrolet Cameo Carrier File:Chevrolet Cameo 1956 Pickup LRear Lake Mirror Cassic 16Oct2010 (14874856814).jpg|alt=Low rear view of a cream colored pickup truck|1956 Chevrolet Cameo Carrier File:Chevrolet Cameo 1956 Pickup Cockpit Lake Mirror Cassic 16Oct2010 (14690620510).jpg|1956 Chevrolet Cameo Carrier interior File:GMC Suburban 1957 Palomino Pickup 100 show truck RSideFront Lake Mirror Cassic 16Oct2010 (14690584709).jpg|1957 GMC Palomino File:GMC Suburban 1958 Pickup 100 LSideFront Lake Mirror Cassic 16Oct2010 (14876890302).jpg|1958 GMC Suburban File:GMC Suburban 1959 Pickup 100 solitary example RRear Lake Mirror Cassic 16Oct2010 (14876889092) (cropped).jpg|alt=Rear view of a medium blue colored pickup truck|1959 GMC Suburban Utility vehicles The Task Force trucks formed the basis of the fourth-generation Chevrolet Suburban/GMC Carryall. Competing against the International Travelall and the Dodge Town Panel/Town Wagon, the Suburban became a Chevrolet nameplate (as GMC adopted the Carryall nameplate). While marketed solely as a two-door utility wagon, the Suburban was offered in -ton 3100 and a 1-ton 3800 Suburban panel van was offered as an option. -ton 3600 Suburbans and Panel trucks were not available. Unlike the Advance Design-era trucks, there were no Canopy Express models offered. File:55Chevysuburban.jpg|1955 Chevrolet Suburban File:1955 Chevrolet 3105 Panel Truck; Annandale, MN (28397034917).jpg|1955 Chevrolet Panel Truck File:1956 Chevrolet 3100 Suburban (cropped).jpg|1956 Chevrolet Suburban File:57 GMC CarryAll (9121654432) (cropped).jpg|1957 GMC Carryall File:GMC Half-Ton Panel Truck and Suburban 1957s 100s LNoses Lake Mirror Cassic 16Oct2010 (14896999813).jpg|1957 GMC 100 Panel and Carryall File:Chevrolet Panel Truck 1957 6170858.jpg|1957 Chevrolet 3800 Panel in Europe File:Chevrolet 3100 Apache panel van.jpg|1958 Chevrolet 3100 Apache Suburban Medium and heavy-duty trucks Chevrolet and GMC continued to offer medium-duty versions of their Task Force and Blue-Chip trucks and GMC continued heavy-duty versions of their Blue-Chip trucks. Until the Task Force era however, heavy-duty trucks were exclusively the domain of GMC. Rather than offering the helmet-headed versions of the conventional trucks as cabover models, GM offered Low Cab Forward variants. These would serve as the predecessors to the B-Series trucks of the early-1960s. GMC began building heavy-duty cabovers again in 1959, which were completely separate from the Task Force/Blue Chip models, and both divisions resumed building medium-duty cabover L-Series trucks in 1960. File:Oldtimer event Waalwijk 2012 (8113562936).jpg|1955 Chevrolet 5700 Low Cab Forward model. File:1957 Chevrolet 4400 truck.jpg|1957 Chevrolet 4400 File:Chevrolet Viking 40 (15339998912).jpg|1958 Chevrolet Viking 40 platform truck in Australia File:Chevrolet (2285360464).jpg|1959 Chevrolet Spartan 80 ==References==