My 2nd real post - introducing my 59 blue fleet side

[VTX-Black]

Before I introduce the truck, here is the back story.
My wife got the itch for an old truck. Reasoning was that a well done older truck could be had and made reliable as an all season daily driver that you could dispose of in three years when it rusts out, and be way ahead of one year depreciation on something new and cool. (New is easy, new and cool is not).

I started buying truck mags and found an issue that had a red and white cameo. I'd never seen a cameo before but was struck by its lines. The next week I browsed the auto trader and BAM! I found this fleet side Apache (…at a price that would even fit it into the dispose after 3 years rust category).

[VTX-Black]

I'd never seen a fleet side Apache either. I didn't know that they existed, although I was familiar with the step side.

I grew up in Canada. Old trucks don't last very long on our salty roads.
A friend moved here from Texas in the late 70s, and had brought back a 55. I hand't seen one of those either at that point.

He and I used to drive to school in that. When I got a sports car, he always wanted to drive it so I used the 55 most of one summer.

…but the fleet side look was something very different to me, and those big four headlights! How could I have missed their existence for over 50 years? To my eyes this is every bit as nice (or better) than the holy grail 57 chevy Belair.

…and to find one a week after I discovered the Cameo article, and in chilly Canada where old trucks disintegrate no less. I bought it for not much money, long distance, site unseen (other than the pictures you see here), and picked it up a week later on a flatbed.

[VTX-Black]

said flatbed….

(This will make a fantastic surprise 50th birthday present for my wife I begin thinking…)

[olelefty]

That is one beautiful truck. Congrats. on your purchase.

[Kim57]

Very nice truck.
Kim

[VTX-Black]

Thanks ole lefty!

Kim, I just found your build thread. Wow!

[northerngmc]

Nice looking old truck......

Trucks in western Canada don't wrought quite as quickly.......

[daveshilling]

Awesome!! Just needs a set of chrome steelies and a 5" drop, and you're all set

[Daze57]

Very nice

[poncho_villa]

Yes. Very nice. Any details about the drivetrain?

[OrrieG]

Nice find, as time goes by you will appreciate even more the subtle differences the way the grille is integrated and the fender line runs back from the headlights, over the wheel opening and down to the lower body bump. And of course the great bed. Short fleetsides are almost, or more rare than Cameos because most fleets were used for working trucks and order in the long wheelbase. So post some pics of the engine compartment and interior.

[dubie]

great looking fleetside. We're just getting started on my wife 58 GMC short fleetside rodstoration.

Is it the stock frame and suspension under the truck? Looking at the giant wheels and the offset, it almost looks like the truck is on a newer model chassis

[VTX-Black]

This next post is a bit of a shocker.

To some, they will be appalled, while others will be thrilled!

Here goes:
Wayne

[buggy5872]

Good looking truck. I like the 6 banger in it. I have done many v8 trucks but am thinking it might be time for a 6.....have fun with it.

[Kim57]

The six is pretty cool.
Kim

[OrrieG]

Nothing wrong with the six, I drove mine for 8 years and about 70K miles on the 235. It had about 180 K on the odo, it was the second engine, a 58 car 235. Speedo quit working after turning over 200K and I drove it until the engine lost oil pressure 6 years later.

[VTX-Black]

I also have this just in case. Not sure if I will use it but could use some guidance on my decision:

[VTX-Black]

BUT…before I do anything to hasty I should show you these.

People asked me about the interior. It is as thrilling as the engine compartment

[VTX-Black]

And I was asked about the frame.

Stock

[VTX-Black]

And here is the box

[VTX-Black]

As for the wheels, they are 22s.

A little too Gangsta for me, but I like them in a strange way set against that art deco body.

The truck has been lowered by simply removing all the front springs but one.
Other than that, the truck is bone stock. More bone stock than many that look restored.

It amazes me how a stock 50+ year old vehicle looks so modern hot-rod with just a coat of OK paint and a set of wheels. That speaks volumes for the styling of these trucks back in the day.

Here is where i get "artsy" and put on my fake New England accent:

What I particularly like about this body style is the juxtaposition of old working class vintage cab set against the postmodern fleet side box, as in fleet of foot, not fleet of trucks

[fabguy]

SWEET looking truck man.

This is what goes through my mind when I look at my 58 or almost any 4 eyed truck.

"There ain't nothing in the world
Like a 4 eyed girl to make me act so funny make me spend my money
Make me feel real loose like a long necked goose
Like a girl,
oh baby that's what I like"
Yes its from chantilly lace. My wife thinks I am nuts sometimes because whenever I see a 4 eyed truck I will humm that song, and she just looks at me and shakes her head.

[fabguy]

Originally Posted by VTX-Black

I also have this just in case. Not sure if I will use it but could use some guidance on my decision:

Just my opinion, tear into the corvette (apart) sell the extra parts, then purchase the FlatOut engineering kit and there you will have a V8 and GREAT handling suspension to boot.

[_Ogre]

Originally Posted by VTX-Black

I'd never seen a fleet side Apache either.
...and those big four headlights! How could I have missed their existence for over 50 years? To my eyes this is every bit as nice (or better) than the holy grail 57 chevy Belair.

Originally Posted by VTX-Black

As for the wheels, they are 22s.

A little too Gangsta for me,

great minds think alike

it is a nice truck, now it's time to make it yours by tweaking what you have.
these truck came with factory v8s so if you like the manual trans, a v8 is bolt in.
nothing wrong with the old straight 6 either...
thanks for posting the pics and welcome to this forum

[Katrina/10]

Drive it till it rusts out?