1961 Chevy Apache Fleetside
Longbox 1/2-Ton
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Owned by Adam Wiley Talking about this truck |
# 2632
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From Adam :
Hi, I'd like to show you all my truck. It's a 1961 Apache Fleetside Longbox, 1/2-ton. It's my first project vehicle. I wanted to find either a 1960 or 1961 Chevy pickup for a few years now, basically because I just love the looks!! I'm also a Chev guy when it comes to classics, so it was sort of a natural choice for me if I was gonna get a truck.
This is not only my first project, it's the first truck I have ever owned. Every other vehicle I've had were cars. There's something about driving a truck ... makes me feel so cool. I can't help but smile when I drive it!
I found the ad for this truck online. It was about five hours away, in Wainwright. So I drove up there to have a look at it and made the decision to buy it, not really knowing what I was getting into. It was just so sweet!
The next week, my brother came up with me and we got the truck. I drove it home while my brother followed in my car. The truck ran great the whole way, except the speedo cable went berserk, and then broke.
Being the oldest vehicle I have ever driven (I'm 28, still a youngun!), it was such an interesting drive! Almost like time travel. The wrap-around windshield was perfect to see all the country scenery. As I drove, I found it weird, and almost frightening, that this thing still ran perfectly and was totally drivable.
Seeing how I'm not married, I have no "doghouse" stories to share. Hopefully, I end up with a girl who can at least accept it! 
A bit about the truck -- it is all original, except for the 4 speed transmission, the paint, and the radio (which didn't work, I took it out). It has the 283 V8, still has the manual choke, and use to be a 3 on the tree, but someone took that out and put in a 4 speed.
Unfortunately, I have very little history on the truck. The guy I bought it from had it for a year but lost interest in it when a Mercury truck came into his possession. He said it spent most of its life as a farm truck, which explains the mud caked on underneath and the Alberta farm vehicle plate on the front dated 1961! Someone had done some bodywork at some point, but didn't do a very good job. They repainted the whole truck too. I believe it use to be a Seafoam green. Now it's blue.
It's one of those vehicles that looks great far away or in the dark. smile
I do have plans to restore it but have no garage at the moment. So I currently just drive it for fun as a second vehicle. I do little things on it here and there in the driveway when I can. I will need to get some welding done on it very soon however. The bottom of the cab is pretty bad ... kinda wonder how it's even staying up!
My plan for it is a mild custom sort of thing, but it will always be a truck, not really a show car. I intend to drive it still. The 283 is without a doubt staying with the truck ... not sure about that 4 speed though. It's geared pretty low.
Here's a link to some pictures. The engine looks better than that now ...I did some painting. 
Tell me what you guys think!
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