1959 Chevy Apache Fleetside

1959 Chevy Apache Longbed Fleetside

I bought this truck 20 years ago in Riverside, A. It was being stored on a former mink farm. Someone had started a conversion to and Oldsmobile engine…and stopped. It still had the straight axle front end. VIN decode reveals that the truck was built in Los Angeles.

I brought the truck to Northern CA, here I started the restoration. I had the frame horns lopped off, nd a Chevelle clip welded on, o the truck has power steering and power disc brakes, long with the independent front suspension (You can actually DRIVE it!) Also has a tilt wheel steering column, think from a Monte Carlo. I had a 350 and rebuilt Turbo 350 tranny. I drove the truck for a while, ncluding a long haul from Mariposa CA to Paso Robles CA. I needed the 350 for my commuter, o it came out and the truck rested for a while.

I brought the truck to Colorado about 12 years ago. I found a nice High Output 327 with Fuelie heads. Put that in, long with another rebuild on the Turbo 350 tranny. Not pretty, ut runs well, ounds great.

Painted the truck about 5 years ago. The body was very straight. All original body panels with never any collision damage. Very minimal rust. The ONLY metal patch on the truck is the left cab corner. Even the rocker panels are original and solid. The colors are 1957 Cameo colors, urquoise and Ivory. I took off the bulky hood nose emblem to clean up the appearance. Seat upholstery is 57 Cameo material. Still needs a nice carpet.

The truck was built as a factory automatic, ndicated by the small v8 fender emblems. I took these off for safe keeping, nd yep…can’t find them. I left the mounting holes, o they can be installed, hen I find originals…or replacements… The knock-out hole in the floor for the clutch pedal has never been knocked out!

The fleetside box was only offered for ½ of 1958, nd a full year in 1959. Only in 1959, as the box trim on the rocket, r “pencil” offered as an option. This is rare! And on this truck, t is original!

All trim items were options on these trucks, nd all are original and correct on this truck:

Rocket trim on Fleetside box stainless strips with pot metal ends.

Side and back window stainless

Windshield stainless

BIG back window in cab

All stainless has been straightened and polished. Potmetal is rechromed. Front has been dechromed, ut I can include a chrome grill and hood emblem if buyer prefers.

Front and rear bumpers are rechromed. Rear bumper is original, nd NOT a reproduction.

Box is refloored with Oak wood strips, tainless steel strips, nd stainless steel hardware.

Wheels are not a full set. They are same size and style, ut fronts are slightly different than rears. The fronts scrape a little in turning. The tires are OK in tread, ut some have crackled side walls. Buyer can outfit the wheels and tires to personal preference.