1961 Chevy Apache 10 Short Stepside

Owned by Brian Johnson "colettesbro" Bolter # 10258 Owatonna, Minnesota

From Brian :

          Hello again. I joined the Stovebolt community earlier this year and have found it to be a wealth of information and GREAT resource during the restoration of my 1961 Custom Apache 10 Short Fleetside. NOW, I have both a '61 Short Fleetside and this '61 Short STEPSIDE !!!

          Well, Thanksgiving weekend I made a road trip thru four states and purchased myself another '61 Apache project. This time I have a short Stepside. Altho this truck has already gone thru a partial resto mod (started some years ago in California), it needs some TLC since there were a few years of use since that "restoration" (resto-mod).

          It is a California truck that apparently spent it whole life in California. [ View from the driver side ] Then, this past summer, the current owner moved to Kansas. It was built at the Oakland plant and sold new by the dealership in the fall of 1960. Because of some health and financial issues, the current owner reluctantly had to sell this truck to help pay ongoing medical bills.

          The truck has a rebuilt 350 engine and automatic transmission installed from a Camero. The front and rear suspension (front spindles, rearend, disc brakes, etc.) were from a late 1960s or 1970s truck. So now it's a 5 lug hub instead of the original 6 lug drum/hub setup. Power brakes and power steering had been added as well. New PAINLESS wiring and new instrument cluster gauges were installed this past summer. Interior was done also at the same time.

          Having already experienced the time, energy and money of restoring and modifying my '61 Fleetside, I really appreciate the effort spent on this truck thus far. Altho I may have chosen to do a few things differently, the overall changes allow me to do my things slowly over time and still have a driver everyday.

          Altho this has gone thru restoration / modifications over a lengthy time during the past few years, it is showing use since those mods were originally started, esp'ly the paint and body. The paint is chipped in spots and clearly the bed has been used for moving and hauling many things during the recent years. A few dings here and there. Clearly the owner believed a truck should be used and not just for show.

          I will make a few fixes and changes on it, however. I plan to use it as a daily driver and enjoy it as a truck should be enjoyed during the week. I do not intent to do a full resto again on it, at least not to the extent that I did on my '61 fleetside. (Of course, that's what I said about that truck too. )

          Thanks for allowing me to be part of the Stovebolt Community and to meet and talk to so many fine Bolters. Here is a link to the Photo Album for my 1961 Apache Short STEPSIDE.

          And, YES, I have a very understanding wife. (Of course, she will appreciate that I won't be spending day and night, 7 days a week continuously for months, restoring this one!)

           As of 2008, Brian has three 1961 Chevy trucks ... a 1961 Chevy Apache 10 Short Fleetside Custom; a 1961 Chevy Custom Apache 10 SWB Fleetside; a 1961 Chevy Apache 10 Short Stepside. He's a happy Bolter! ~ Editor

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