1955 - 1959 Chevrolet Identification

Introduced by General Motors in March of 1955, the Task Force (TF) series truck ran through the 1959 model year. It differs greatly from the previous design; the Task Force trucks have a taller cab, "wrap-around" front window with an optional wrap-around rear window, body-integrated front fenders, and an optional V8 engine.

The new pickup design featured in-cab steps, all but eliminating the running boards of previous models. A "step" between the back of the cab and the rear fender aided access to items inside the pickup bed.

The pickup beds came in a number of lengths. The shortest bed was found on the 3100 model pickups. Today it would be comparable to the six foot beds offered by many truck manufacturers. 3200 and 3600 model pickups were offered standard with the same sized pickup beds -- nearly eight feet. The 3800 pickups had a nine foot bed as standard fare.

Attached to the bed were redesigned fenders. These fenders were carried through the next generation body that ended in 1966.

Notable for TF trucks was the Cameo option. Sold as a package, the Cameo featured a stylized "bed." However, the bed portion was virtually identical to the 3100 beds. It is the fiberglass fenders that and multi-piece rear bumper assembly that makes the truck a Cameo. The fenders attached to the top of the bedsides and followed the cabs body lines to the back of the truck. The rear Cameo bumper consists of serveral pieces, one of which serves as a door to access the "hidden" spare tire located in its own spare carrier.

General Designations

Model Years 1955 -1957

Model Number	Capacity (ton)	Wheelbase (inches)
3100	1/2	114
3200	1/2	123 1/4
3600	3/4	123 1/4
3800	1	135

Model Years 1958 -1959

Model Number	Capacity (ton)	Wheelbase (inches)
31	1/2	114
32	1/2	123 1/4
36	3/4	123 1/4
38	1	135

NOTE: Sub-designations did exist within the above general designations.

Model Years

The first year of the Task Force truck was informally known as the 1955 Second Series. While the hood emblem for this year resembles that of the 1954 and 1955 Advance Design hood emblems, this hood emblem was an entirely new piece. The one-piece fender spears, which displayed the model number designation, were positioned on the front fender below the body side style line. Trucks equipped with the 265 V8 engine had a "V8" emblem near the rear of the front fenders. Not the most flattering of descriptions, the grille is commonly referred to as the "eggcrate" style.

In 1956, the hood emblem changed. Optionally equipped V8 trucks could be indentified not only by the same '55 V8 fender emblem but by the "V" positioned under the Bowtie in the hood emblem. Fender spears became two-piece and were positioned above the body side style line. The grille remained the same as that of the '55.

While the hood emblem for '57 remained the same as '56, the fender emblems chanded dramatically; they became oval. The grille changed and so did the fenders, though ever so slightly, to accommodate the grille change. The hood received two bulges as styling ques. And the V8 fender designations lost the "8" of the previous two years and were moved from the fenders to the doors. For the V8 engine option, the 283 replaced the 265. Cameo beds received side trim. And for the first time, Chevrolet offered civilian trucks to the public with four wheel drive -- from the factory. This option arrived mid-year.

For this model year a significant style change takes place. The fenders grow to encase two lights each to give the truck quad lamps. The grille becomes one-piece and now encompasses the once fender positioned forward running lights. The hood becomes slightly larger and takes on a different shape. The frame grows about two inches out front. The hood emblem, while similar to that of the '56/'57, changes. Fender spears/rockets change. Here, the model number designation changes; the zeros are dropped (ex: 3100 becomes 31) and the model name Apache is added. The front license plate finds its way to the center of the front bumper. The Cameo option ceases to be available early in the production year and the "Fleetside" bed is introduced.

In 1959 the hood emblem and fender spears change. They are unique to this model year.