Stepside pickup Apache 350ci motor 4 speed manual

Description

This 1959 Chevrolet 3100 Apache is a truck that shouldn't need any excuses. It looks great, it packs a strong 350 cubic inch V8, and it's still practical enough to actually use as a truck. If you want a do-everything hobby vehicle without breaking the bank, you could certainly do worse than this blue stepside. Today, honest vintage pickup trucks that are still ready, willing and able to go to work are getting harder to find all... the time. Fortunately, this one is ready to rock and that's all original steel that has likely never required major surgery, and the Brigade Blue paint shows it off to great effect. Instead, it has been properly maintained and lightly used for the past 53 years, and presents in solid condition today. The doors open and close solidly, the hood fits well, and the whole truck looks eager to get back to work or go show off. In the bed, you'll find a beautifully finished oak floor with color-matched slats, and it was finished to such a high level you'll think twice before you throw any old dirt or tools back there. There's also a lot of neat accents on the top-of-the-line Apache, including the painted ornate grille, matching big bumpers, and those cool emblems on the front fenders, all of which are in good condition overall, although the rear bumper is showing its age. "Chevrolet" script is outlined in red on the tailgate to match the Bowtie up front and on the back window, and even though this truck isn't perfect, it shines up great and is truly vintage Americana at its best. <BR The interior has been very nicely finished as well, and shows you just how basic these machines were when they were new. Forget luxury, these were little more than tools and nobody in 1959 was buying a pickup truck without needing to haul something. The seat features a new black vinyl cover, there's a correct rubber floor mat on the floor, and the door panels are painted to match the exterior. The black-and-white dash features a single stylish triangular pod for the speedometer, along with four smaller auxiliary gauges that are built right in, and those simple units are you need for this simple machine. You'll also note that this Apache has a 4-speed manual transmission, something familiar to more than a few of us who learned to drive out in the country, and a nice upgrade over a "3-on-the-tree" that most of these are equipped with. The big steering wheel makes it easy to wheel the truck around and it's surprisingly nimble given its utilitarian roots. No frills, no flash. Heck, there isn't even a radio inside the cab. And that's exactly how we like our vintage pick-ups. Roll down the windows, hit the gas, and let the Apache do all the singing. Pop that big hood and you'll be pleasantly surprised to find a 350 cubic inch V8, which wasn't on the menu in 1959 but is very welcomed here today. Nicely detailed with Chevrolet Orange paint along with finned Edelbrock valve covers and a chrome Edelbrock air cleaner, it looks right at home in the big engine bay. It uses a 4-barrel carburetor to help build power, but the overall look is very much in tune with the period. Underneath, it's very solid, from the frame to the suspension. A newer dual exhaust system gives it a little bit of a growl, and there are no signs that this was ever a rusty truck. Manual drum brakes do their job properly and live inside a set of mag wheels with fat 235/75/15 Michelin white-letter radials. Clean, honest trucks like this are getting hard to find, but they're worth the search. Imagine driving it to work on nice days, then hitting Home Depot or the local garden center on the weekends. Just because it's old and cool doesn't mean it can't earn its keep. This Apache is a solid, reliable, well-maintained truck that's ready for another 60 years of work.