1959 Chevrolet 3100

Description

There are a lot of ways to build a cool ride without spending cubic dollars, and this 1959 Chevy Apache pickup could be used as a how-to guide for doing it right. Sure, it still packs its original six-cylinder engine, but that's all part of the charm, and the upgrades it does have are smart and stylish so it really needs no apologies.

The soft ivory color on this truck is quite close the original color this one was born with when new, and you have to agree it looks great on this truck. The bright red roof helps to complete a very 1950's nostalgia-inspired look, making this one of the more rare trucks you'll find at any show. Workmanship on the body and paint restoration was done quite nicely, and fit and finish are exactly right for a vehicle designed "for economical transportation" as the door tag suggests. It doesn't appear that this was ever a rusty truck and critical areas like the cab corners, fender edges, and the bed sides are solid. Speaking of the bed, it's steel and finished to the same level as the rest of the truck, so while it'll happily haul your gear, you'll have to decide if you're ready. There's some chrome and detailing on the working-class pickup, and it retains original-style white painted bumpers that are a nod to tradition.

No truck was this luxurious inside back in 1959, but the upgrades are certainly welcome. The original bench now wears brand new tan leather with red inserts to tie it in with the exterior paint, and the vivid red carpet, dash, and steering column provide contrast. That is the original steering wheel, painted red and placed within easy reach of the 3-speed column-mounted shifter. The instrument panel is stock with crisp markings and a look that was clearly lifted from the passenger car line. Aftermarket turn signals were fitted to the steering column (hard to believe that they were still not standard equipment on trucks in 1959), and this Apache stays true to its roots and doesn't include a radio. Sometimes basic is good.

In a world full of Chevy trucks with "me too" small block V8s, it's refreshing to see an original 235 cubic inch inline-six still under the hood of this Apache. Certainly willing and able to work hard, it has a great trucky sound and smooth torque that only six cylinders in a line can deliver. It's wearing the proper corporate blue engine enamel, an oil bath air cleaner, and single-barrel carburetor. The stock 3-speed manual transmission lives behind it and spins the original rear end, so this truck will still haul a load without breaking a sweat, and cruises happily at highway speeds. Who says you need a crate motor to enjoy your old iron? There are also new shocks, super clean floors, a brand new exhaust system, and stylish chrome wheels with smoothie hubcaps and 235/75/15 blackwall radials for the perfect truck look.

This is just a neat old truck with a lot of character that comes from both its age and style. Call today!