In the sweet spot between museum piece and junkyard carcass
There are two extremes when it comes to classic vehicles: at one end of the spectrum are those which are never driven and forever stored in a climate-controlled garage; at the other end are vehicles that have been used hard and driven to the point of cosmetic decay, if not outright mechanical failure. Luckily, there’s a middle ground on which classics are let out, but not driven to absolute ruin. That’s where our Pick of the Day, a 1958 Chevrolet Apache listed by a private seller on ClassicCars.com, has roamed.
Introduced in 1955, Chevrolet‘s Task Force line of trucks was updated for 1958 with new names: Apache for light-duty, Viking for medium-duty, and Spartan for heavy-duty models. Apaches received a new grille, sheet metal, quad headlights, and interiors, among other updates.
The seller of this ’58 Series 32 states it was a “P&A (parts and accessories) Demonstrator,” according to Jim Perkins, the former general manager of Chevrolet. That explains its front bumper guards, external sun visor, wheel covers, and dual spotlights.
Not much has changed since then – even the tires. The seller, who has had this Apache for the last 32 years and can provide owner history dating back to 1976, states this stock and unrestored truck rides on its original “original U.S. Royal tires” (a matching spare is mounted in the bed). The Anniversary Gold and Sand Beige paint seems to have held up well through the past 66 years, no doubt due largely to the fact that this truck only has 28,379 miles on it. The same goes for the handsome two-tone interior.
Do the math and you’ll see that that equates to only 430 miles a year being put on the original 283ci Trademaster V8, which was factory-rated at 160 horsepower and 270 lb-ft of torque (both figures gross). It’s been serviced and detailed, so this Apache is ready for cruises, drive-in movies, trips to the ice cream parlor, and even parades (which add to the odometer count, but verrrrrrry slowly).
To add this truck to your vehicle lineup, it’ll cost you $125,000. That’s a lot of money, but at the very least, you wouldn’t be paying to put yourself in a velvet prison. This truck has been driven so you wouldn’t have to feel self-conscious or guilty about taking it out on the road and enjoying it.