Apache Pickup Low Miles Very Original Western Truck Nice Patina Go Anywhere on 2040-cars

 1961 Chevy Apache Pickup from a very dry area of Idaho.  Nampa, Idaho gets about 8 inches of rain per year.  This truck spent most of its life on 2 farms in the area  before I brought it to Massachusetts.  It was a special order truck getting the 235 economizer engine, 4 speed manual transmission and limited slip differential.  It did not get a radio and never has had one with the radio delete plate still in place.

The Chevy has never been wrecked front or back  where it has very straight lines a near perfect grill and the bed is very straight.  There have been some dents in the sides which were repaired along with the front fender bottoms.  There are some dings but no dangs. The frame only has surface rust and the floors are also  nice originals.  The carpet is new along with the floor mats to keep it looking nice.  NOS sill plates too.

Mechanically the truck runs great,  it is tight and quiet.  It has a fresh and full tune up including points, plugs, condenser, wires, cap and rotor.  The valves were adjusted by the "boss",  my 80 year old mechanic friend that worked on these when they were new.  He also changed the belts, hoses, coolant, oil, filter, oil filter hoses, dimmer switch,  replaced the brushes in the alternator, gas tank float, gas sending unit, gas tank filler hose, rebuilt carburetor,  changed the rear end gear oil and installed new front wheel bearings. There are a couple of oil drips that we did not get to.  Warren had a good time with this one. 

The paint is about 1 year old with a polished patina look done in the original dark blue with red showing through.  The top is done in flat white along with the grill and rear bumper. There is also a hint of lighter blue under the dark blue. I give the paint a 7 something.  It was never meant to be a perfect trailer queen.  It is a vehicle to drive and enjoy that attracts a lot of attention.The door seals are new which have not seated yet,  the doors will close but hard until they flatten out some.  The paint inside is still original with some wear but not much for the age.

The engine compartment is nicely detailed down to the oil pan including the engine, bottom of the hood, inner fenders, air cleaner, horn, voltage regulator, crankcase tube, generator, intake manifold, master cylinder and heater core box, . The valve cover is the original blue paint. The oil pan and frame can be your project if you want to keep going

The bed wood is fresh along with new bolts and stainless strips.  It is local red oak from the back yard of my friend Dave.  He said I could have it but he didn't tell me we had to plane it, join it and daido cut the edges.  The wood has 3 coats of marine varnish to make sure it lasts another 50 years.

All windows work as they should.  The windshield has 1 rock chip.

All electricals work as they should including headlights, horn, turn signals, brake lights, and gauges. 

The tires are new Goodyear Wranglers 225-70-15 with new Wheel Vintique Smoothie wheels and caps.  The brakes are also recent. The emergency brake works too.

The truck drives very well. It is smooth and tight going down the road.  Not a bunch of rattles but this is a basic vehicle when trucks were made to haul not drive like cars to the Ritz.  I have had it on the highway but keep it under 60 MPH do to the farmer gearing.

It is a special order truck with the build sheet still behind the seat. Not too many of these got a limited slip differential or the economizer engine. The tire and jack tools are under the seat with the original spring type hold downs,  but the jack is missing.

The heater core is by-passed.  It has a new heater core but the control valve leaks which should be sealed or eliminated.