The Chevrolet New Roads Magazine has a running series called ‘Legends of Chevy Trucks’ that aims to retell some of the more interesting stories from the automaker’s rich pickup truck past. For the latest installment in the Legends of Chevy Trucks series, the New Roads Magazine editors turned their attention toward the iconic 1955 Task Force line of fleet trucks.
Chevrolet says that in 1955, pickup trucks “were still very much work vehicles, and not the do-everything-well family utility machines they have evolved into today.” This is where the Task Force lineup stood out, though. Thanks to a variety of standard and available creature comforts, the Task Force trucks promised to be comfortable for drivers throughout a long, tiring workday. These included the standard “Nu-Flex” bench seat, which was said to provide a more comfortable ride thanks to improved springs and multiple “air relief valves.” Customers who desired more comfort yet could opt for the optional “Airmatic” bench, as well, which allowed the driver or passenger to adjust their seat firmness with manual air pumps.
Other notable features of the Task Force trucks were the concealed safety steps, which were hidden by the doors and allowed for easy cab entrance/exit, and the exterior window moldings (dubbed “Glass Guard” at the time) which “showed the way forward in terms of protection and durability, as they were less prone to breakage,” Chevrolet says. All Task Force trucks were offered with a number of different powertrains in 1955, but the range-topping Taskmaster V8 was by far the most desirable option that year. This 265 cubic-inch V8 was good for 145 horsepower and 238 pound-feet of torque and was perfect for trucks that would be turned into load-hauling flatbeds, cement trucks, tow trucks and other heavier applications.
Speaking of the different Task Force body styles, the truck could be ordered as a can and chassis, with customers then ordering a commercial body (ex. cherry picker, garbage truck etc.) from an upfitter. There were also Forward Chassis Control (cabover) van bodies and three different school bus bodies ranging in size from 30-54 student capacity.
General Motors says the Chevrolet Task Force trucks “represented an important step forward for the category, with design and amenities offering unprecedented refinement for the day.” These trucks helped pave the way for today’s pickups like the Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra – currently two of GM’s most important and most profitable vehicles.
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Comments
I loved these old art work from the adds from the 50’s. It was so Saturday Evening Post like and Normal Rockwell.
I also loved the Fitz created Pontiac Ads from the 60’s.
No one does any of these kinds of adds anymore. Sad.
I’ve been waiting for Chevrolet to resurrect the Task Force name. Even if only for a line of their HD Silverado’s, work vans and larger work trucks. Then again, they might ruin it. The folks in charge of Chevy trucks seem a little out of touch lately.
The Heartbeat of America……
Dad had a ’55 panel truck with a 235 and three on the column; I learned to drive in that truck. It covered many many miles with never a problem; head and pan never off. The starter had no solenoid: a foot pedal next to the throttle pedal actuated a fork to engage the drive pinion and the mechanical starter switch!
Back when trucks were a tool and not a status symbol. I don’t think anyone bought a truck to impress the neighbor then.
Wish my new truck looked like a 55 chevy!
In 1955 heavy trucks had two engines of almost identical size, the 261 Big Six and the 265 V-8.
The V-8 was new that year and was not well-suited for heavy trucks unless it was wound-up over 2000 RPM’s. On the highway the V-8’s did not perform well at 45 MPH which was the speed limit for trucks at that time.
45 MPH was too fast for a truck in high gear and LOW range (for the 2-speed axle) which most heavy trucks had at that time. (But it wasn’t FAST enough if it was HIGH range). Putting 4-Barrel Carbs (power packs) on them solved some of that, but then they were gas guzzlers!
In fact the outfit that delivered the Chevy’s from the assembly plants initially used the V-8’s early in 1955, but quickly took them out and replaced them with the BIG SIXES! Another problem with the V-8’s was that they were very quiet compared to the SIXES and they threw-off the fan belts! That’s why in 1957 the V-8’s came with two smaller fan belts! They also blew-up (Rods) in the lowest gears because of the lack of noise, which was fixed in 1957 when the V-8’s all came with Governors at 4000 RPM’s. So ’57 was a far better year for the Truck V-8’s! We had two of them and up until then the Ford Trucks ruled the roads, but no longer!!!
Back when the trucks folks drove were smaller and the fish they caught were bigger.
Wow! Thank you! I constantly needed to write on my blog something like that. Can I implement a portion of your post to my site?
Go Riteway Transportation has a photo on their website of their founder standing next to one of the original 1957 Chevy school buses which I rode on in elementary school. Identical to the larger trucks in the article.
The folks were smaller too