Chevrolet Task Force

GM redesigned their truck line for the 2nd half of 1955, but sold both designs that year; the older design became known as the 1st series, and the newer design as the 2nd Series. Commercial trucks and various other heavy duty models were also available.^[1] Chevrolet and GMC named their new series independently.

The cousins were differentiated by running gear and interiors; Chevrolet used Chevrolet engines, and GMC used GMC inline Sixes and Pontiac V8s (Oldsmobile V8s in the 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,^[2] and an optional wrap around rear window for Deluxe cab models.^[3] Headlights became integrated into the fenders. The cab got taller, 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.

1955 Second Series: First year for new body style. Fenders have single headlights and a one-piece emblem is mounted below horizontal line on fender.^[4] Beds are 6.5 ft (2.0 m) and 7.5 ft (2.3 m); 1955 was the only year for the mid-length 7-foot bed. The GMC inline-6 remained 6V for 1955 only.

1956: Wider hood emblem. Two-piece fender emblems are mounted above horizontal fender line. Last year for eggcrate grille.

1957: 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.

1958: All light-duty trucks are now 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 "style-side" all-steel bed replaces the Cameo/Suburban versions; called "Fleetside" by Chevrolet and "Wideside" by GMC, available in 6.5 ft (2.0 m) and 8 ft (2.4 m) lengths. For 1958, GM was promoting their fiftieth year of production, and introduced Anniversary models for each brand (Cadillac, Buick, Oldsmobile, Pontiac, and Chevrolet^[5]); the trucks also received similar attention to appearance, but staying essentially durable, with minimal adornment.

1959: Minimal changes from 1958, the 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.

1960: The Chevrolet and GMC C/K-Series replaced the line.

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  1955 Chevrolet Task Force

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  1955 GMC Blue Chip 150

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  1956 Chevrolet 3100

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  1956 GMC Blue Chip

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  1957 Chevrolet Task Force 4WD

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  1957 GMC Suburban Carrier

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  1958 Chevrolet Apache 4WD (NAPCO)

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  1958 GMC Suburban

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  1959 Chevrolet Apache

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  1959 GMC 9310 pickup truck

Discover more about Differences related topics

Napco Four Wheel Drive Vehicles

Napco Four Wheel Drive Vehicles

NAPCO was a four-wheel drive automobile parts manufacturing company founded in 1918.

Four-wheel drive

Four-wheel drive

Four-wheel drive, also called 4×4 or 4WD, refers to a two-axled vehicle drivetrain capable of providing torque to all of its wheels simultaneously. It may be full-time or on-demand, and is typically linked via a transfer case providing an additional output drive shaft and, in many instances, additional gear ranges.

Chevrolet C/K

Chevrolet C/K

C/K is a series of trucks that was manufactured by General Motors from the 1960 to 2002 model years. Marketed by both the Chevrolet and GMC divisions, the C/K series encompassed a wide range of vehicles. While most commonly associated with pickup trucks, the model line also included chassis-cab trucks and medium-duty trucks and served as the basis for GM full-size SUVs. Through its entire production, the model line competed directly against the Ford F-Series and the Dodge D series.

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, fiberglass rear fenders, two-tone paint, a relatively luxurious interior, as well as an optional V8 engine, automatic transmission, and power assists.^[6] As always, there was a GMC version offered during the same time, called the GMC Suburban, with the same features offered on the Chevrolet. In 1957, a special version was made for GMC to be shown at national car shows called the Palomino,^[7] which had a Pontiac 347 cu in (5.7 L) V8 installed, borrowed from the 1957 Star Chief.

Other pickup truck producers, including Dodge, Ford, 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 with the Fleetside and Wideside before the '50's were over, in time, pickup trucks with flush bodies and wider beds would become the dominant standard throughout the industry.

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  1955 Chevrolet Cameo Carrier

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  1955 GMC Suburban

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  1956 Chevrolet Cameo Carrier rear view

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  1957 GMC Suburban

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  1957 GMC Palomino

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  1958 GMC Suburban

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  1959 GMC Suburban rear view

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 and 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 1⁄2-ton 3100 and a 1-ton 3800 Suburban panel van was offered as an option. 3⁄4-ton 3600 Suburbans and Panel trucks were not available. Unlike the Advance Design-era trucks, there were no Canopy Express models offered.

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  1955 Chevrolet Suburban

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  1955 Chevrolet Panel Truck at a car show in Minnesota

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  1957 Chevrolet Suburban

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  1957 GMC Carryall at a car show in Minnesota

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  1957 GMC 100 Panel and Carryall at a car show in Florida

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  1957 Chevrolet 3800 Panel truck in Europe

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  1958 Chevrolet 3100 Apache Suburban

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Pickup truck

Pickup truck

A pickup truck or pickup is a light-duty truck that has an enclosed cabin, and a back end made up of a cargo bed that is enclosed by three low walls with no roof. In Australia and New Zealand, both pickups and coupé utilities are called utes, short for utility vehicle. In South Africa, people of all language groups use the term bakkie, a diminutive of bak, Afrikaans for "basket".

GMC (automobile)

GMC (automobile)

GMC is a division of American automotive manufacturer General Motors (GM) for trucks and utility vehicles. GMC currently makes SUVs, pickup trucks, vans, and light-duty trucks. In the past, GMC also produced fire trucks, ambulances, heavy-duty trucks, military vehicles, motorhomes, transit buses, and medium duty trucks.

Studebaker Champ

Studebaker Champ

The Studebaker Champ was a light-duty pickup truck produced by the Studebaker Corporation from 1960-1964.

Dodge Town Panel and Town Wagon

Dodge Town Panel and Town Wagon

The Dodge Town Panel and Dodge Town Wagon are respectively a panel truck and a carryall, manufactured between 1954 and 1966 in the USA and between 1954 and 1971 in Argentina by Dodge. The Town Panel and Town Wagon trucks were based upon the design of the Dodge C Series Pickup trucks with round fenders and wraparound windshields. Even after the Dodge D Series "Sweptline" pickup trucks with square fenders and flat windshields were released, the Town Wagons retained the 1958 sheet metal design of the C Series pickups and heavy-duty trucks. They were produced until 1966, when the Dodge A100 Commercial and passenger vans eliminated the need for the pickup chassis version. A passenger sport utility version of the Dodge D series truck was not again developed until the third generation D Series based Dodge Ramcharger, a competitor to the Chevrolet Blazer.