M2 Machines 1958-1959 Chevy and GMC Pickups

A few months ago I profiled the 1959 GMC 4x4 Pickup by M2 Machines in the new 1:24 scale form, and along with an identical 1:64 version that was released with the 1958 GMC Fleet Option in green.  However, since then there's been quite a few variations made in 1:64 for the Chevy and GMC trucks, each one has something unique about itself with little to no repeating of itself.  Now here's the latest of almost all of the variations for the Chevy and GMC trucks, though I don't have all of the variations, including a few 1:24 Chevy's and a few special-edition 1:64 versions, along with a tow truck that I really didn't care for in gray.  Otherwise these are most of the variations by far.

Click Here for Photo Gallery

The Early Stages

The very first release of the two appeared in August 2012, the Chevy was a 1959 Apache in Yukon Yellow, which looks more like orange, in 4x4 guise and with a stepside bed featuring the full-size spare on the left-side of the bed.  One of the sole unique features of this release is the tonneau cover over the bed, it's only release by far with this cover.  The casting has some sharp details from the quad headlights to the white grille and bumpers to the rear dual taillights and white chevrolet on the tailgate.  The doors open to reveal an interior with V-shaped gauges, 3-spoke wheels, wrap-around dashboard, and bench seat with floor-shifter.  The engine under the hood was the original I-6 through a 3-speed manual, and front and rear live axles with leaf springs.

Click Here for Photo Gallery

On the GMC side is the Suburban Carryall, basically the GMC version of the Apache Cameo.  The light-blue paint is decked out with lots of chrome trim, including the bumpers with Cadillac-style billets on the front bumper, rear bumper, and wire wheel covers with white-wall tires.  One interesting thing to note is that the Suburban Carryall lacks the side trim on the bed that the Cameo offers, yet still has everything else from the fiberglass bed to the oval rear taillights.  The GMC uses a different grille, front bumper, and badges, the latter having V8 badges on the front fenders.  The earlier engines used the Pontiac V8's, but eventually offered the same V8 as the Chevy's along the line, with 4-speed manual.  The 2WD models used the beam axle at the front still employing the leaf springs.  The dashboard uses a full set of round gauges over the V-shaped ones of the Chevy (except the Fleet Special).  Also note the white roof that features no shade, whereas the Chevy has the front shade on the roof.

Click Here for Photo Gallery

The Chevy Cameo

Later on, it was the Chevy's turn for the Cameo treatment as this one featured a sleek, if not that original, black with blue accents.  The big difference from the GMC version is the addition of the side chrome strip with Cameo and bowtie at the front of the strip on the bed sides.  As you'll see soon the Cameo, while stylish, does not offer as much cargo space as the Fleetside.  Otherwise it shares the same touches as the GMC Suburban Carryall from the wheels to the visor-less roof.  This was the same series that also released the Chevy Tow Truck (not shown) featuring the same tow-truck utility bed that first appeared on the 1954 Studebaker 3R, and along with that also comes dual rear tires and a front bumper guard.

Click Here for Photo Gallery

Just recently the Cameo returns, this time as a 4x4 model in stand-out yellow with black accents.  But how can a 1958 be a 4x4 when GM started to offer factory-based 4x4's in 1959?  Well, if you got a special conversion with NAPCO, you can get yourself one stylish 4x4 pickup without the wait of a year, which is great considering that 1958 was the final year for the Cameo.  I must say it looks really good even though the bed is smaller that the identical Fleetside that would appear a few releases later, and my example had some quality-control problem with the doors that thankfully is the only one of the group with such a problem.

Click Here for Photo Gallery

The Fleetside

After the Cameo's popularity, a simpler steel bed would be offered in 1959 called the Fleetside.  This bed offers a more square appearance (instead of the Cameo's rear fins) with round taillights that follow a bullet side trim on the bed, Fleetside in cursive on the upper rear corners of the bed, and CHEVROLET on the tailgate.  It looks just as good as the Cameo's bed, but with a more practical and contemporary look.  The first release came in the 2-packs featuring the very cool (and realistic) lift in the package.  The top one is the 1959 Chevy while the lower one is the 1959 GMC.  The first release was a stock look without graphics and normal wheels, but was quickly subsided with the next release (shown here) with Edelbrock on the Chevy (bottom) and Hays on the GMC (top).  Not only do both have the same V8 motors but also the same custom wheel setup with larger slicks at the rear.  Very sporty!

Click Here for Photo Gallery

Now the Fleetside can be had with 4x4 trim in blue and white two-tone or, show here, the butterscotch tan with white two-tone.  I like this version for the three-tone interior color.  It is more practical than the Cameo, yet also revives the I-6 from the first Apache.  Note the trim differences from 1958 and 1959: The bowtie sinks lower on the front hood trim, while the fender badges eliminate the spear in the middle of the badge.

Click Here for Photo Gallery

The Work Trucks

The GMC Fleet Option Truck has seen it's share of work, mostly in the Moon Pie series and as a special parts delivery truck.  Recently, two more trucks have come for work, but neither are the Fleet Specials, and both are based on the mint green National Park Ranger versions.  The first one is the 1959 Apache 4x4 with Forest Ranger on the doors, siren on the right-front fender, and light on the roof.  In the bed is three Gerry (sic) cans that are used as portable fire extinguisher's.  Those three cans can also be found in the 2WD version with utility bed, red hose reel, and Fire Prevention Unit on the sides and rear.  The dual rear wheels make a reappearance here as well, as does the siren, roof light, and Forest Ranger on the doors.  Even though the utility version has all the tools, the 4x4 is more versatile around the rugged terrains of most national parks in the U.S.

Click Here for Photo Gallery

The Wal-Mart Special 1959 Chevy

Finally is the recent Wal-mart special, your choice of a mint-green Parts Delivery truck or (shown here) black Task Force Truck with red interior, the latter featuring a three-tone look.  The bumpers are white, as is the Chevy grille, black steel wheels with chrome center cap (and yes the bowties work great here), Task Force Trucks on the side doors, stepside bed with side spare tire, and the tailgate wtih CHEVROLET in white.  The bed has a nicely-detailed wood-grain floor, while the blacked-out roof has the front visor.  The engine is the same V8 motor as the prior versions with a 4-speed manual.  The interior is nicely-done with the three-tone look and has the same details as the GMC save the V-gauge cluster.  The greatest thing about these Wal-Mart specials in 1:24 is the Buy One, Get One Free deal: a color-matching 1:64 in the bed that rides along with the 1:64 version.  How classy!

Click Here for Photo Gallery

So far it's been one cool ride with these variations, and I wouldn't be surprised to see more unique variations from M2 sometime in the future.

Click Here for Photo Gallery

Update:  As if the first release of the Wal-mart-only M2 1:24 and 1:64 Chevy pickup duo wasn't enough, for 2016 they did it again and this time the GMC pickups get the treatment.  I went for the beautiful turquoise model with white roof top, wood grain bed, and on the 1:24 new hubcaps on color-matching steel wheels.  This is my first 1:24 GMC since the red 4x4 and now balances out my 1:24 M2 GM truck collection to two and two for Chevy and GMC.  As usual the details in the engine bay are excellent, as is the exterior version.  The interior has a nice cream color with accents of turquoise on the dashboard.  It's a stellar casting to look at!!!  The 1:64 seems to be the Debby Downer of the two as it looks less polished (keep in mind that M2 used the low-end Auto-Detroit casting with fewer opening parts and components for these sets), plus the slighly-crooked bumpers don't help much, either.  Also what is with M2 and the GMC numbering system?  It says 150 on the grille, so why does it say 100 on the base?  The same thing occurred on the red GMC 4x4 as well.  Oh well, still a nice duo.

Click for Photo Gallery