M2 Machines 1:24 1958 Chevrolet Apache Cameo

About a few years ago M2 released their first 1:24 scale version of the 1958-1959 Chevrolet and GMC pickup castings to the lineup after the successful 1:64 scale versions had gone through several variations.  I've reviewed the 1959 GMC 4x4, and ironically since then the red GMC was the only 4x4 casting in 1:24 scale.  Since then the Chevy has donned the stepside, and both have donned the two-wheel drive setup, two of them with a matching 1:64 on top.  One casting that I avoided at the time was the Chevrolet version with the Cameo bedside because personally I didn't care for the look.  Then this latest release had me hooked and finally got me into the 1:24 Cameo version.

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In 1955 the Cameo bedside was introduced to offer a stylish take on the pickup bed, which has always been the stepside look, for a more car-like appearance.  Using similar techniques to produce the Corvette the bed was made in fiberglass so it was not prone to heavy-duty hauling like a typical pickup should, but boy did it attract a lot of customers, so much to the point that GM dropped the Cameo option and replaced it with a sturdier, steel fleetside option that would become popular and today be the de facto design for pickup beds.  The cab also got a stylish touch to go along with the bed, which in 1958 followed the Chevrolet passenger car-line with the introduction of quad headlights.  Powering the Chevy/GMC duo was a range of engines from the I-6 to the newly-introduced V8 (GMC used the Pontiac motors for the first few years).  The 283 CID V8 is paired to a 4-speed manual with a floor-shifter.  The details in the engine are nicely done from the silver block to the black air filter, the radiator hose, and drive belt design, all in 3-D fashion.  What I didn't know at the time was my tester was missing the battery: no problem, I took a battery that was used in the junkyard of failed plastic model kits to retrieve one from a 1990's GM truck to fill in the void.

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The chassis shows off excellent details like the view of the engine from below, the driveshaft, the rear axle, the separate frame, and the exhaust which I complained in the GMC 4x4 review that is missing the connection to the right-side header.  The wheels are chrome hubcaps with a pointed tip along slim tires with whitewalls, and those whitewalls go great with the ivory/red two-tone color that really attracted me to this model.  This is what I remembered Cameo's the most!  It looks classy and premium-looking.  The front has chrome headlights with separate lenses, chrome grille with integrated signal lights and CHEVROLET lettering, and a chrome bumper with push pads.  The cab has Apache badges on the front fenders, dual exterior mirrors, external antenna, door handles, gas cap, and red around the window trim and the roof.  The bed sides have red inside the chrome trim leading to the Cameo and bowtie logo at the front, then peaks off to the rear with the large oval taillights with chrome trim, red bowtie logo on tailgate, and car-like lower bumper with a mixture of chrome and matching ivory white paint.

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The tailgate was rough to open, and after a while trying to figure out if it opened I finally got it to work.  Lift up and swing down to expose the bed with wood-trimmed planks with silver strips and red inner walls to really add to the stylish look.  The doors open up to the interior with matching ivory white and red accents.  The dashboard has red on top and white below with V-shaped gauges, red 3-spoke steering wheel, detailed radio and switches in the center, and the 4-speed manual shifter in black out of the red floor.  The doors also have the same white/red two-tone with detailed ridges and chrome handles for door and window, while the bench seat oddly enough goes for gray instead of white with red inserts.  Then the roof has the crated pattern also done in red color.

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Never before did I saw a stylish pickup like this 1958 Chevy Apache Cameo come alive than this one where the ivory white and red work in tandem, along with the chrome, to make this truck stand out no matter what angle you look at it.

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