Planning and Teamwork Saw this 1955 Chevy Cameo Come Together in Short Order
In today’s hot rod world, completing a full-build custom in a year is no easy task. From choosing a shop to sourcing the necessary parts and scheduling other collaborators, time is always a tough opponent, not to mention the sheer number of hours required to finish a vintage Chevy Cameo to high modern standards.
Congratulations to Curt Wittman for being named a Finalist for the LMC Truck of the Year Early with his 1955 Chevy Cameo.
For Curt Wittman, though, quickly working his way through that obstacle course produced a stunning example of what can be done with a rare 1955 Chevy Cameo pickup. Just more than 5,000 Cameos were built that year, so finding a suitable candidate was a challenge in itself. Curt found a Cameo that had been through an earlier build, so it was a prime candidate to be taken to the next level.
Turning to the teams at McLin Paint Works in Missouri and Graham’s Hot Rod Shop and Elegance Auto Interiors in California, the finished truck proves that speed and quality can go hand in hand.
The truck is based on a solid foundation in the form of a custom chassis built by Bodie Stroud Industries. It uses Ridetech coil-over suspension components, a 9-inch rearend with 3.70 gears, and Wilwood disc brakes on all four corners behind 19- and 20-inch Schott wheels wrapped with Michelin tires.
Power comes from a 376c.i. GM LS3 V8 that produces 800 horsepower, thanks to an assist from a Whipple Supercharger and a custom hydraulic camshaft. Custom headers feed exhaust waste through stainless steel pipes and Flowmaster mufflers, while a Mattson’s radiator keeps the engine temps under control. There’s plenty of chrome and polished aluminum adorning the engine, and power flows through a GM 4L80E transmission.
The tasteful body modifications to the Chevy Cameo include a smoothed firewall, fabricated inner fenders and radiator support, and billet hood hinges. Also, the front bumper was smoothed, wing vents were deleted, and in the bed wider rear wheel wells and a custom wood and stainless floor were installed. The Axalta custom red merlot paint by McLin Paint Works was complemented by gold-painted inserts on the fiberglass bed sides and the B pillars. Dapper LED headlights replaced the stock units.
The interior work by Elegance Auto Interiors utilizes custom leather that matches the exterior color on a bench seat from Tea’s Design. A Billet Specialties steering wheel sits on a Flaming River tilt column, while handles and pedals are from Billet Specialties and Clayton Machine Works. Dakota Digital gauges replace the stock pieces in the original dash and a custom sound system was installed by Full Audio Dynamics.
Curt says he plans to drive his Chevy Cameo regularly and he credits the relationships created with the build’s contributors for the finished result, especially executing in such a short timeline.
Photos: John Jackson
