A 'virtual garage' of antique Chevy & GMC trucks from around the World

1971 Chevy Cheyenne Longhorn and 1961 Chevy Longbed Fleetside Apache

	Owned by Dave and Angie Martell "440Dave" Bolter # 17460 Duncan, Vancouver Island BC, Canada

From Dave :

           Hi all. I'm here with an update to my Gallery page. A year ago yesterday, I trailered home from Oregon my 1961 Apache. It was solid, had little rust, and just the usual old truck stuff to deal with.

           The truck sat for the winter waiting for my attention. In mid-March I rolled it into my makeshift body shop and started to dismantle it. I'm a rookie at bodywork and paint. I have just the Internet and "trial and error" for training.

           Those long slab sides were a little tough to smooth out. I repainted it several times because some flaws only became apparent once it was shiny and had the right light on it.

           Yesterday, I peeled the bandages off for the last time (I'm out of paint!) and rolled it out into the sun. I put the front clip, tailgate, bumpers, door handles and emblems back on. I installed my home-fabbed exhaust (with custom chrome tailpipe made from a camper table leg) and pulled out the camera. Here's a view from the rear and here's one of the engine area.

           I still need to find a short in the turn signal / brake light circuit. I also need to give it a final wet-sand and polish.

           I'm pretty happy with how my first real truck effort turned out. I think I'll do a shortbox next time, less paint to buy.

           Here's a link to a Photoshare gallery with a start to finish slideshow. Time to go get the test light and find that short.

Dave and Angie

05 March 2008
# 2262 & # 2263

From Dave :

           Greetings from the wild west coast. I'm 440Dave, so called because when I feel the real need for speed, my 1971 440 Cuda fills it at 11.86 at 121 mph. Angie is "crashtopass66" on Thundervalleyracing.com.  

           Our stable is rather eclectic and includes three Chevy trucks, one 1991 Corvette Convertible, two Buick Skylarks -- a 1970 hardtop and a 1971 convertible; a 1969 Ford F250; three demo cars; the previously mentioned 1971 Cuda street car; an unfinished 1970 Cuda S/G drag car; and my personal fave - our 1960 Pontiac Ventura 2 door bubbletop, sporting flames and wide whites.

           Our Chevy trucks are a 1972 parts truck, my 1971 Cheyenne Longhorn tow vehicle and daily driver, and my current resto project -- our 1961 Longbed Fleetside Apache.

           The '71 I've had for about nine years and it's currently for sale. I has been a great truck (the Ford tows better, sorry -- although the Chevy will kick the Ford's butt in a drag race). It's done Yeoman duty as daily driver, parts chaser, construction hauler, and race car tow vehicle. It has a GMC front. It was in a fender bender, cost me the grille and one fender. A local guy offered me a rust-free GMC front for 100 bucks. I just had to climb down a blackberry covered and wasp-nest infested mountainside to get it. Probably 500 bucks worth of labour, ha!

           The Apache is also one of my favourites which I brought home from Portland last summer. It's solid and about 95% rust free, with just the usual old truck issues -- some waves in the lower body panels, a drivers door that got over extended, horn that goes off when turning right, etc. It had a tendency to wag its tail when I got it due to a missing panhard bar. So I fabricated one. It needs a pipe and muffler and the master cylinder leaks. It gives a puff of blue on startup, but doesn't smoke after that. The 6 cylinder motor and 3 speed column shift tranny are original I'm sure. It still starts right up and runs like a clock.

           I got it from an upholsterer. He put in a new gas tank, re-did the seat, carpet and visors. The pics are from when I got it. I'll post some progress pics later.

           Also, a pic of the '71, "Flamin' Gumby." Here are some more pictures on our photo-share site.

Thanks,

Dave and Angie

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