1956 Chevrolet Pick-Up 'Modified' (LHD)

Chevrolet introduced an all-new range of pickups, panel vans and Suburbans in 1955, the launch - which had been intended to coincide with the 1955 passenger car line-up - delayed several months by the Korean War and the scope of the revisions.  Featuring the latest in cab forward design, Chevrolet’s latest pickup had a wraparound windscreen and an egg-crate grille that mimicked the latest passenger car range, bringing new levels of style and comfort to GM’s workhorse.  Updated for 1956 with new badges and bonnet emblem, the half-ton pickup was sold in two lines: the basic Series 3100 and the more upmarket Cameo, both available in either six-cylinder or V8 form.  The Series 3100 employed the signature ‘stepside’ bed while the Cameo featured a trend-setting full-width bed design using fibreglass wings, along with two-tone upholstery and full instrumentation.  The long list of options included heavy-duty springs, double-action shock absorbers, power steering and automatic transmission, plus convenience features like a heater/defroster unit, radio and even whitewall tyres and dress rims.  In six-cylinder guise the 235.5-cid ‘Stovebolt’ unit was rated at 140 horsepower, while the Trademaster V8 displaced 265-cid and developed 155 horsepower and the Series 3100 was sold on two wheelbase lengths, either 114 or the extended 123-inch platform.  One of the best looking American pickups of the period, the 1955-56 Chevrolets have become popular with collectors and customisers alike and, with interest in classic commercials booming, values have been rising steadily in recent years.