Dan Brown's 1960 Chevy Apache Short Stepside

"B'hoob"

08 February 2008 Update
# 1767

From Dan :

          Well, it was fun and thanks for posting my 1960 Chevy Short-step. It has moved on to a good home and may show up again your way.

Thanks,

Dan Brown

03 January 2007
# 1767

From Dan :

          What an awesome array of old GM iron! Cruising through other “Bolter” postings has inspired me to put together one of my own.

          In the ‘70s, my Dad had a ’57 2 ½-ton stakebed with hydraulic hoist. When he wound up the 235 to tilt the bed, the engine made (according to my younger brother) a B'HOOOOOOOOOB-B-B-B-B-B sound. Ever since then, Stovebolt trucks to us have been “bahoob” -ers. Between my brother and myself, we’ve owned probably 15 of them. All but two of them have been 6 cylinder, mostly held together with baling wire and duct tape.

          I bought my first b'hoob at age 18. It was a ’61 long Fleetside and I used it to deliver furniture all over Southern Illinois and Southeast Missouri. Over the years, whenever I’d see a ’60-’63 GM truck for sale, I’d buy it (usually $50 to $500), fix it up, drive it for awhile, sell it, then start over again. There’s never been a more reliable or easy-to-fix vehicle. My favorites are the ’60 and ‘61s -- outcasts to some, but I think they really look cool.

          The ’60 ‘hoober that you see here was one-family owned until I found it in 2003. The original owner’s grandson had removed the fenders and hood (presumably for restoration), primed it, then lost interest and stopped paying the storage fee. The rental unit owner got the title and pushed the truck outside where it sat for another year (10 years total) before I saw it.

          You know the drill -- I had to rescue it. Upon inspection, the outstanding condition of the pedal pads, original seat, glass, and suspension components supported the odometer’s claim of 39,000 actual miles. The engine appeared to have never been apart. To put the truck back on the road, I replaced the entire brake system and fuel systems, put on new tires and a battery. I bolted it back together and applied the first paint job of my restoration career (on a carport, with a cobbled-together air compressor that broke down between coats, and a thunderstorm came up half-way through).

          I put the very nice original seat in storage and now ride comfortably on some later-model swap-meet bench.

          The truck has no options, no radio, only one mirror and sun visor (I’ve added a passenger-side mirror for safety). I salvaged a full-instrument dash from a big truck, including tach and air pressure gauge.

          Except for the seat and instruments, it’s bone-stock original down to the hub caps, which are rusting again and to my knowledge are virtually irreplaceable unless you go chrome. Since this truck had no chrome from the factory, that’s how it’s going to stay as long as it’s in my garage.

          I am in search of a genuine step bumper for it. However, there’s no evidence that it ever had one installed at the dealership.

          B'hoob isn’t afraid to haul lawn equipment or firewood, and serves as a second mode of transportation. My wife and I took it down Route 66 (we’re huge fans!) from St. Louis to Claremore, OK one summer and only wanted for A/C. Otherwise, the ’60 truck cruised at 60 on US 60 on the way back home to Jackson, Missouri.

          Thanks for letting me share my stovebolt experience with you.

Dan Brown
"jxn-ndn"
Bolter # 12990
Southeast Missouri