1959 CHEVROLET PICKUP TRUCK

Description

Private party owner offering my 1959 Chevrolet 3100 Apache Pickup Truck for your consideration. I have owned it for almost 10 years. I wanted to find a great old truck to restore and enjoy. I found this old ranch truck in the high desert area of Colorado. I wanted to complete a restoration close to 1959 showroom with some added touches to dress up the truck for shows and parades. Every part on this truck has been off, apart, restored, reconditioned and made part of my quest to "save and restore" a beautiful vintage 59.
We are now retired and building a retirement vacation home in another state and exciting life change brings the need to let a new owner enjoy this American Classic. I have owned and participated in several classic car restorations over the years and this 1959 Pickup is far and away my favorite. It is not muscle, it is not sporty, no luxury bling..... it is just PURE AMERICANA from the era of CLASSIC beautiful one of a kind every year!
The goal of a complete and total restoration was undertaken for 2 years doing each component one at a time and either sent out or tackled as funds and time allowed. Someone is going to own a nice classic truck with the value of the restoration ALREADY DONE! If you have been involved in one of these projects you already know that a sale NEVER recoups the dollars or time invested but the satisfaction of 'Saving and Restoring" is always there.
The original 235 straight 6 cylinder was sent out to professional AUTO MACHINE in St. Charles, Illinois for a complete rebuild. $3496.28 dollars later (detailed work invoice) the famous Chevy straight 6 was made brand new and ready for another 100,000 miles. A modern HEI distributor that has a vintage appearance of cap, coil, vacuum pickup etc was added to eliminate the need for points maintenance and insure smooth running all the time. The big oil bath air cleaner was powder coated and shows as new. A period correct chrome optional cleaner is also shown at shows.
The manual 4 on the floor transmission was completely rebuilt as new and is smooth as butter. It has the stump puller low low non synchronized 1st gear as factory. These trucks were built when the Interstate Highway system was mostly non existent and fast meant about 50 mph!
The old school manual brakes and steering and suspension were rebuilt with new components after the frame was blasted, epoxy primed and painted. This truck drives, stops and handles as new in 1959. (which means it has not been hot rodded, tons of torque in the like new motor, big steering wheel, no power steering; and pay attention with stopping distances with the brakes we ( my generation) all use to have before power everything. The truck stops on a dime with no anti lock anything! It is exhilarating to experience pure driving again as the truck is pure nostalgia and head turning fun every time.
The cab, doors and hood are factory original as were the rear fenders and were sent off to Ethics Auto Body in Maple Park, Illinois for the owner and my old friend Dennis to work his magic on a bare metal restoration. A brand new pickup box and tailgate were blended into the restoration along with new chrome bumpers, grille and trim. I have lots and lots of detailed receipts from Classic Parts, Jim Carter Classic Trucks, LMC Truck, American Classic Truck Parts, NAPA, MAR-K. The truck was painted with an original Chevrolet color called Aqua-Marine Poly and is simply the BEST quality about the truck. EVERY single show, parade or outing, the color and paintwork of the truck is a hit. Full disclosure: it is a correct Chevrolet color from 1964 as 1959 offered the farmers, ranchers and small business owners that bought pickup trucks only a few basic non spectacular finishes. I decided to capture the era with a 1964 color that is WONDERFUL and turns heads always. I added a couple of our Christmas Card Winter photos of the truck in the driveway also!
The original wheels were stripped, blasted and powder coated with the chassis black medium gloss and Deluxe dog dish chrome hub caps were added (remember hub caps!) Purists will remember the trucks often had painted white wheels, bumpers and grille but these "dressed up" pickups look quite special with the shine and class of chrome.
A Bruce Horkey complete pickup bed kit was installed using special ordered hardwood and stainless. At over $1500 dollars and many many hours of finishing it is safe to say the work aspect of the truck is "retired" and unless it is the cover or soft towels.... the bed has not been worked hard.
The deluxe heater (optional in 1959!) was disassembled, and rebuilt and works like new. 2 speed fan was quite the big deal with the optional deluxe heater defroster in 59.
A brand new gas tank and mounting hardware was installed. You remember those are behind the drivers seat! Amazing by todays standards. New special order curved windshield glass was installed (twice.... dont ask! : )
The gauge cluster was rebuilt and shows as new. New or rechromed knobs bezels, screws cables etc. I have added a small oil pressure gauge separate to the old needle component as I wanted exact feedback on my several thousand dollar engine rebuilt all the time.
All new wiring harness and electrical throughout. Starter, generator and the original "foot stomp" starter on the floor of the cab were all made like new again. Turn the key on and make sure it is in neutral or the clutch pedal pushed in and push the foot stomp starter button down and she fires up immediately. Pure 50's pickup truck.
The interior seat was completely rebuilt and recovered with the "deluxe two tone dressed up" cover. The factory rubber floormat were replaced with a correct original style and makes the interior present as original style. The old pull style air vents near the floor were restored and work perfectly. The combination of wing vent windows and those air vents make for a cool breeze when summer cruising to shows or parades.
The truck has been a joy to find, research and restore. It has given us many summers of fun and pride to show and parade. It is not perfect but it is not a trailer queen and has a small chip here and there. I drive the truck to local shows and cruises. It has won lots of shows and always draws a group of admirers. It still needs a correct speedometer cable that mates the manual 4 speed to the gauge cluster....has been IMPOSSIBLE to find. (finders fee if you know of one or I will purchase outright) Since the truck tops out at about 50-55 I never worry about speeding but I would LOVE to have it correct if I find the gear driven cable insert for the transmission. The windshield wipers are stainless and new for appearance and show great but no wiper motor is istalled for hook up as I did not EVER want to think about the truck getting wet. No wipers...no rain. The truck needs nothing to use and enjoy. If you are a hot rod person looking for the right truck to use for your project, you will love this one but I sure do not want to know about it. : ) Actually if you save the original frame and driveline along with the perfect 235 straight 6.... I can see it also!
This 1959 Chevy 3100 (half ton) pickup is ready for enjoying now for considerably less money than you could EVER hope to spend to do one of these classics. It shows great and ALWAYS gets attention. Add it to your garage. Values on the older American Pickup continue to rise and saving this one has been enjoyable.
IF YOU ARE SERIOUSLY INTERESTED and want to have a look please contact me. Happy to answer any questions and discuss the truck with you. I have several hundred EBAY transactions in the last 15 years involving mostly parts, tools and hobby interests so selling a vehicle is a bit different for me but encourage SEEING THE TRUCK IN PERSON IF POSSIBLE. I have 100 % POSITIVE SELLER FEEDBACK. I would like to sell the truck at this point in our life as many new and exciting things are going on. NO RESERVE. I am offering the truck by word of mouth locally so if you are considering the truck please let me know.
No MARKETING contacts, NO EXCESS SHIPPING SCAMS.... NOT INTERESTED IN CONSIGNMENT OR SAD STORIES. Forget about the bad check scam... I spent 30 years doing criminal investigations..mistake to even try. Somebody is going to get a great well documented and well cared for 1959 Chevrolet Pickup. No Shipping. Clean title in hand. Good luck!