Grandfathers 61
 

Hey guys, I just found these pics of my grandfather in his brand new 61 Chevy. I believe these to have been taken somewhere around late 1960 or early 1961. I was just sitting here missing him so i thought i would share some of my old memories with you guys.
http://i537.photobucket.com/albums/f...kMethvin/3.jpg
http://i537.photobucket.com/albums/f...kMethvin/4.jpg

Re: Grandfathers 61
 

How cool is that?
Be sure to pass our love of old trucks along to any youngsters you have around.

Re: Grandfathers 61
 

Very cool!

Re: Grandfathers 61
 

That is very cool.....looks like he got the full Custom Cab trim package......very rare truck to find these days.

Re: Grandfathers 61
 

i agree, very cool...& a very nice truck as well

Re: Grandfathers 61
 

must be nice to be able to buy one with no rust or dents!!
:lol:

Re: Grandfathers 61
 

Full wheel disk's jonz in the second picture?

Re: Grandfathers 61
 

a knee knocker cab, sweet.

thanks for sharing.

-W

Re: Grandfathers 61
 

yeah , but look like a custom afermarket set..

Re: Grandfathers 61
 

Thanks guys. I am sure my dad put those aftermarket wheel covers on, LOL. Funny thing though, that truck was top of the line and it did not even have a radio. To this day that still bugs my dad. He said he would go out crusing with his buddies and they did not even have a radio to listen to, LOL. I recently starting searching for this truck some 50 years later. I talked to my Uncle about it and he told me he thinks is was crushed in a local junkyard many years ago. I would have give almost anything to find it and restore it. Just the fact that was my Grandfather's truck would have been enough for me even if i never did anything with it. Here are a couple more that my mother took of him sitting in the truck a short time before he died in 1969. As you can see, Grandad wasn't much for worrying about scratching his truck. He used it and didn't care what it looked like, LOL. MAN! Where have the years gone?

Those of you from Mississippi. The first 2 pictures (1st post) are from Hazlehurst, MS where he lived. These are taken on Hwy 51 in Crystal Springs (just north of Hazlehurst) across from the Shake-N-Burger.

http://i537.photobucket.com/albums/f...kMethvin/1.jpg
http://i537.photobucket.com/albums/f...ethvin/2-1.jpg

Re: Grandfathers 61
 

Cool, I have my grandfathers truck, but no pics of him in it.

Re: Grandfathers 61
 

Great pictures, thanks for sharing. Amazing how fast these could deteriorate with enough indifference. But when these trucks were new, many owners didn't give them any more attention than they would a tractor.

The wheel covers in the 2nd shot seem to be the old "cone" style which were very popular in the late 50's - early 60's. Would be fun to build a clone of this truck in his honor.

Re: Grandfathers 61
 

You are exactly right markeb01. I have considered selling my 64 to find a 61 like this one and replicate it. That would be an awesome project for my dad and i. I still wish i knew for sure if this truck was crushed or not.

Re: Grandfathers 61
 

Just an update on my search for Grandad's 61. My uncle informed me a few months before he passed away that Grandad's 61 was indeed crushed many years ago. I recently was back home in Mississippi for my uncle's funeral. I stopped by the junkyard where his truck was last seen and there were no cars left and everything had been cleared out. So, i guess that pretty much wraps up any hopes in finding his old truck. I sure wish i would have thought many years ago to go down there and get the truck while is was still there. Live and learn i guess.

Re: Grandfathers 61
 

Memories are wonderful!! God Bless Mississippi!!!

Re: Grandfathers 61
 

Hey Zack, I just went over and looked at this truck at lunch today, it is a little pricey but very very straight. It is a 60 model but is stock as stock can be and driveable. He wants $5,000 might come off that price a little

http://tulsa.craigslist.org/cto/2429338741.html

I have his phone # also. Kieth :gmc2:


all you would have to find would be a SWB and you would be in business. oops it is a long bed ....my bad

Re: Grandfathers 61
 

Thanks for sharing "the rest of the story". Such a shame it was crushed, all that beautiful deluxe trim! Certainly a rarity today. Back in the 1960's my former father-in-law went through several 60-66 trucks. He'd buy one in beautiful condition, beat it senseless, take it to the junk yard and get another one. There was no thought of collectability in those days. These were just trucks and available everywhere.

Re: Grandfathers 61
 

LOL, yes Mark. That is pretty much how my Grandad's turn out. He ran it til it quit and got another one, LOL. I would love to have seen it the day he got it. My dad was with him that day and he told me the story of how they both walked into the local small town dealer, Grandad saw this truck sitting on the showroom floor and had to have it. A short time later dad said they drove out in it. What a great moment in time that must have been. Maybe one day i will find a good candidate that i can make a clone from, who knows.

Re: Grandfathers 61
 

Thanks Kieth, I will check it out. Not sure i can afford another one until i sell mine but it is definitely worth checking out. I know where there is an original untouched exact twin to his truck in a garage but the guy won't sell it. I would love to have it

Re: Grandfathers 61
 

That is really awesome man. Thanks for sharing!

Re: Grandfathers 61
 

Awesome story. Sad too, but great history. My Grandpa gave me a 64 GMC when I was 16. It had a utility box on it and I had no capability at the time to changes that or fix the ol' truck up so I sold it to help buy a sedan. He passed away a couple years ago and I regret selling that truck all the time. However. I am building my Suburban in his honor. That 64 is the main reason that I just had to have a GMC not a Chevy Suburban. Good luck to you in the future.

Re: Grandfathers 61
 

Thanks guys. If i could change one thing in my life it would be that i could have spent time with my Grandfather. From all i have ever heard he was AWESOME. I know i can't go back but it would sure bring me a lot of enjoyment when i am cruising down the road in a cloned truck of his. Life is too short and taken for granted too often.

Re: Grandfathers 61
 

Ok guys, i have some awesome news. I have known about a twin to Grandad's 61 for sometime now. I spoke to the owner tonight and he has agreed to trade me even for my 64. I am pumped!!! I cannot believe dad and i are actually gonna be able to build a clone to Grandad's truck. This is a dream come true. I will post some pics up when i get it back home.

Re: Grandfathers 61
 

that is some really awesome news, cant wait for pics/build thread

Re: Grandfathers 61
 

Thanks, there is no way i will be able to sleep tonight knowing that Sunday i am getting it. I am like a kid on the night before Christmas morning.:ennyd:

Re: Grandfathers 61
 

Very cool. Love the old pics. Can't wait to see more.;) Good things happen to good people.;)

Re: Grandfathers 61
 

Thanks Dave. I have waited a very long time for this. This will truly be a treasure for me and my dad.

Re: Grandfathers 61
 

OMG that is fantastic!! Good for you! Truly a once in a lifetime opportunity. Can't wait to see the pics. Good luck on the project.

Re: Grandfathers 61
 

That is very cool Zack :thumbs:

So are you trading him the '64 you are currently building?

Re: Grandfathers 61
 

Soooooo coooool.

Re: Grandfathers 61
 

I miss my grandpa too.
I need to find some old pics of him and his 65 Chevy 4x4.
Fortunately it's still in the family; my uncle has it now.
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Re: Grandfathers 61
 

That is some fantastic news!
I wouldn't be able to sleep either.

I'm a real nostalgic guy. Things like this always pull at my heart.

This is going to bind you and your dad's heritage.
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Re: Grandfathers 61
 

Perfect. I'm stoked for you. I hope you get more out of it than you can plan for. I'll be watchin'.

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*anxiously waiting for pics*

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Awesome story man, cant wait to see pictures!!

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Thanks for the pics, great looking truck.

Post some pics of the twin.

Re: Grandfathers 61
 

Thanks guys. I hope this will be more than just building another truck. I know every time dad sees it he will remember all the great times he and Grandad had when he was growing up. Dad has told me tons of awesome stories about him and Grandad's 61. This will definitely be a project that is priceless. I am sure you all can tell this is a very emotional thing for me. I miss not having a Grandad more than anything i can think of. Even though i never knew him i find myself thinking of him all the time and the stories dad has told me about him. I cannot wait to get the truck back home and get started on it. Thanks for all the kind words, you guys are great and great supporters. I hope to have some pics up for ya'll by tomorrow evening.

Fab................Yes sir. I am swapping him even for my 64. I hate to do it but this 61 is far more important to me and my dad. I am hoping this 61 will bring a great deal of happiness and alot of good memories back for him.

Re: Grandfathers 61
 

that is awsome I cant wait for pics. I have my greatgrandfathers 64 GMC shortbed, when I was 16 I needed a vehicle and my greatgrandpa had passed a year before he had a 64 that he drove to the trash dump and stuff. So we called my dads uncle to see about it and he was getting ready to cut it in half and make a trash trailler out of it. So dad and I found a junk 70 or 80s pickup and made a trash trailler for him and traded for it. Thats what I drove thru high school and about 4 years after, some day I plan on restoring it.

Re: Grandfathers 61
 

What's taking so long.:mm:

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LOL, I hear ya Dave. I am ready myself. I have spent allday today gathering up all my pieces and assembling my truck partially. Here she is all load up and ready for the trip tomorrow morning. Dad and I will be leaving about 7am headed to the Northeast side of Dallas to get the 61. It is a 2-1/2 hour trip for us but it should be fun. One mire night of restless sleep, LOL. The first thing i will do when i get home with the 61 is take a bunch of pics for you guys.

Hipper..............That is an awesome story too. Sounds you guys got to it just in time to save it. I love the stories of a truck being passed down thru a family. It is kinda like a member of the family so to speak.

One other thing guys. I am looking for someone who can tell me what size whitewall and size tire for the 61 Apache when it was new. I want to put the exact same bias ply tire back on it if i can locate the correct ones. The pics of my Grandads truck in this thread were the originals according to dad but he doesn't remember the size or anything.


Keep an eye out tomorrow evening guys. I should have some pics posted by then.

http://i537.photobucket.com/albums/f...n/100_0993.jpg

http://i537.photobucket.com/albums/f...n/100_0998.jpg

http://i537.photobucket.com/albums/f...n/100_0995.jpg

http://i537.photobucket.com/albums/f...n/100_0994.jpg