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 bright blue paint on this truck is called Marine Blue, and you have to admit that it looks fantastic in a subtle, very 1950s kind of way. Code 708A is this truck's original color so it looks right, especially with that white roof. The two-tone look doesn't overpower the basic goodness of the design, which is arguably the first "styled" truck, and one of the best-looking of the 1950s. Fit and finish are exactly right for a vehicle designed "for economical transportation" as the door tag suggests, and the recent work gives it a great shine that will attract admirers everywhere it goes. It's got some wood plants that appear to have been intentionally aged to give it an old truck patina, so you don't have to think twice about actually using it as a truck. There's some chrome on the bumpers and grille of this working-class pickup, and it retains original-style white painted grille surround that is a nod to tradition.

No truck was this luxurious inside back in 1959, but the upgrades are certainly welcome. The original bench now wears an updated seat cover with cloth seating surfaces that are a lot more comfortable than the original vinyl. That is the original steering wheel, painted satin black 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. Turn signals, a radio, and even the heater were still optional in 1959, although this one does have a later Kenwood AM/FM/cassette head unit in the center of the dash and a heater tucked under the dash. Nevertheless, nothing spoils the honest goodness of this truck; 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 only notable upgrade is a bigger radiator up front, but I think you'll agree that's a good idea. 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? Thanks to a frame-off restoration a few years ago, there are also new shocks, super clean floors, a new exhaust system, and stylish color-matched Rally wheels with 235/70/15 BFGoodrich T/A radials for the perfect look.

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