As a “truck” I think they quit making them because damage was difficult to fix. ‘58/9 they went to the Fleetsides with metal. A friend had one his dad bought new (‘57) I always liked them.
I vote 4 the Studie and Hudson as the first. The Chevy and GMC Cameo brought us into the then modern "Fleetside" look. The 1959 were stamped Steel sided Trucks (still had step sides 2). Cheaper and easier to make and install than the "Fiberglass" of the day, plus in both Short and Long bed were available...but I'm a big Cameo phan.
Not first, but jumped on the trend pretty quickly, the 57 Dodge with the station wagon quarters and huge fins.
The Hudson was my first thought, too. Interesting how Dodge could take the concept of a swoopy truck, and make it look so ugly! Nothing on it matches, it's just a bunch of parts stuck together. The Chevy is much cleaner looking. Of course, you need to find a picture of one without the stupid modern sunvisor add-on.
They didn't sell many of those Dodges. I don't remember seeing more than a half dozen in the past 58 years even when they were fairly new. There used to be one sitting in the same spot for years that I would see when I went past but can't remember where now. As for those ugly visors blame Lowrider Magazine for that nonsense. You can go back before the mid 70's and never see a visor on any car in a magazine except a stock car sitting in the background of a photo of the car that was the subject or see a Bomba that was at a quick and short mention of it being there. Then along came Lowrider Magazine and fools outside of the Lowrider lifestyle all the sudden thought that they needed to hunt down a visor and stick it on their ride but usually didn't and don't put a lot of thought into it and it ends up looking stuck on as an afterthought. I had a real bad want for a Cameo in the mid 70's and wanted one when I bought my 48 in 1973 but the only ones available then as now were way out of my price range. I even drove 100+ miles to see about one that a buddy told me about that had a decent price marked on the windshield only to be told that was the Down payment and not the full price.
https://auto.howstuffworks.com/classic-studebaker-trucks-channel.htm Studebaker in the 30s, 40s was a bit of a wild thing too...I think a Hamber mentioned Hudson and interestingly some were AI imagery if I'm not mistaken and the gold Stude above seems to have been part of the inspiration...nope @Nacifan mentioned Stude and the first image is the real deal as I shared again but the other 2 are AI kinda like the 40 I shared here...They were trucks that wore automobile front clips and that in many ways really made for an admirable combination influencing many a conversion on brands that didn't, like Ford... Credit to Photographers, Owners
A friend of mine bought a Cameo years ago under 1K in incredible condition and was told the engine didn't run...I can't remember if it was the original smallblock but it had one...he swapped in a new battery and starter and it was a runner...he moved it pretty quickly for a more elevated price as it was obvious they had no idea how rare and desirable it was...he did.
In 1972 just after graduation I had a chance to buy a Cameo that was set up for a 394 Olds and hydro but minus engine and trans for $75! I even had a 394 and 4 speed hydro but only had $50 and no way to scrounge another $25 so no deal was made. Maybe I would of been a Chevy guy today if I could of bought it? Dave
There were 3-4 of those running around Nampa Idaho in the late 60's, early 70's. I really liked them. There was a sweptside dodge as well.
The Jalopy Journal
