Vehicle Description
In the late '50s, Chevrolet trucks were unquestionably the
best-looking, most modern haulers you could buy. Today, trucks like
this 1959 Chevrolet Apache Big Window have an undeniable appeal
with lots of chrome, wonderful styling, and a bunch of still-usable
functionality. This beauty also happens to offer a burly 350 V8 LT1
motor, an overdrive automatic, gorgeous Teal paint, and a
tastefully upgraded A/C interior to go with it, making it vintage a
truck that you can drive anywhere.
Choosing the correct exterior color is one of the most important
decisions in any project, amplified tenfold on this '59 Apache -
arguably one of the best-looking vintage trucks of all time. The
high-impact, the top driver-quality Teal finish is the perfect
complement to the design of this late '50s slabside Chevy short
bed, a period-perfect shade that's loved by virtually all
generations. Truly, it would be hard to imagine a color that
accentuates these bold contours any better, and with the
contrasting white 'spear' on the bed and 'Chevrolet' block letters
on the tailgate, it POPS. Finished approximately 18 months and a
scant 642 miles ago, the paint and bodywork are still very fresh.
And while it isn't a museum-quality presentation and minor
imperfections can be seen upon closer examination, this is a
higher-end, driver-grade paint job that would acquit itself
incredibly well at local shows and cruise-ins, and the curb appeal
alone is worth its weight in gold. This Apache was professionally
converted into a Big Window and short-bed truck during the
restoration. The work was done so nicely that there's no trace of
the original small window/long-bed configuration. The upgrade
transforms the Chevy from a work truck to a glamour piece, further
punctuated by the smooth look of the deleted original hood trim,
lack of fender badges, and smoothed roll pan out back. The doors,
tailgate, and hood open and close flush and reasonably easily, and
from bumper to bumper, the gaps in the bodywork are uniform and
consistent. Details like the front chrome bumper, the shiny wide
grille, and quad headlights help strengthen the link between
Chevrolet's passenger car line and trucks and note the set of
old-school round taillights that look like they came off of a
street rod hanging at the flanks of the tailgate. And when that
tailgate is dropped, a beautifully finished oak bed is revealed -
lightly stained (as in the finish, not blemish) and protected with
chrome slats between the wood.
One of the cool things about this restoration is that there is no
weak link in the entire project. The interior is every bit as
dialed-in as the rest of the truck, punctuated by a beautifully
upholstered bench seat stitched to mimic the Teal-and White color
combination found outside. The metal parts of the door panels,
dash, and cab are painted Teal to match the body, and bright chrome
accents add the perfect bling. The dash is the star of the show,
highlighted by a leather-rimmed billet-banjo steering wheel mounted
atop a tilt column. The chrome bezel just beyond it was filled with
a full array of Dakota Digital gauges that keep an accurate eye on
the upgraded drivetrain. For convenience, a modern R134a A/C was
added (although it's due for a recharge). That custom center
console was neatly integrated and stitched to match the seat,
featuring extra vents, three 12-volt ports, auxiliary switches, and
a set of billet cup holders. Plush carpets line the floors and come
protected with thick rubber mats, and seatbelts were added to the
bench. Because the transformation to the Big Window cab was done
the right way (the entire back panel was fabricated in place, so
this is not just a window glass swap), the airy cabin feels very
spacious and upscale inside. You'll find the perfect balance of
beauty and comfort, nicely equipped and ready for all-day comfort
for you and a passenger.
A thumping 350 V8 LT1 motor delivers four or five times as much
power as the original engine would have, so it's extremely
entertaining on the road. Swapped in from a 1994 Corvette, an
electronic fuel injection system and cold air intake for snappy
throttle response feed it. With that giant aluminum radiator and
dual electric fans, this truck doesn't seem to mind sitting in
traffic. This Apache was driven four straight hours into our
showroom, bombing down the highway at 75MPH the entire way without
a single complaint. The block's been augmented with heat-wrapped
long-tube headers to pump up the already hefty horsepower and
torque production. With all the Corvette drivetrain elements
faithfully transplanted and seamlessly integrated, this sucker
moves! A few dress-up pieces make things look tidy under the hood,
especially with smoothed and painted firewall and inner fenders,
and the rumbling Cherry-bomb style dual exhaust system underneath
sounds wicked. Thanks to the modern 4L60E 4-speed automatic
transmission and 2.59-geared rear end donated from the same
Corvette, this truck is fast but easy to drive. It handles like a
dream with a fully independent front and rear suspension featuring
power steering and power 4-wheel disc brakes. Flashy American
Racing Torque Thrust wheels perfectly complement the Apache's
lowered-and-raked stance and are wrapped with sticky 235/55/17
Nitto performance radials with plenty of grip.
Beautifully restored and tastefully modified, this Apache Big
Window resto-mod is a one-of-a-kind truck that's missing just one
final piece - a new owner. Call today!
