The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk 1958 fleetside

Is it me or is there a lack of interest in the 58 and 59 fleetside trucks? I have a 58 swb fleetside i am working on. i am new to the stovebole page and just don't see alot of posts about these trucks.

Hey Cowboy, welome to the "Bolt"! I personally like the 58-59 swb fleetside but you just don't see many! I've got a 55 deluxe cab without the original bed and would kinda like to make it into a fleetside. The only task force fleetside I ever saw arond here was a longbed, and it was in real rough shape!

Hey Cowboy,
Welcome to the Bolt!! The 58-59 Fleetside trucks replaced the cameo in mid 1958. Although the cameo used to command the higher dollers on resale the Fleetsides are actually rarer having been produced for only 18 months. Most parts are interchangable on all Task Force trucks produced from mid 1955 thru 1959 and the problems are the same so all of us "bolters '
are in this together. I'm currently doing a frame off restoration of a 1959 shortbed fleetside 1/2 ton with the big back window, deluxe cab and stainless bed side trim powered by the venerable 235 which I'm adding overdrive to. This board is without question the best source of information for our trucks. This is probable a good time for the rest of you 58-59 fleetside owners to chime in......
Here's some pics of my truck at the beginning resto stages:
http://photos.yahoo.com/mailboxxman

Have fun Cowboy!

thanks guys! mine is a 58 with small rear window but the cool thing about mine is i know all the history. it belonged to my grandfather and it's only got 80,000 origional miles. but alas body rust and bed rot coaxed me into a frame off restoration. it's nice to find a place where others share the passion i do. locals tried to coax me into a swap for a 350 ci and a auto tranny. but there's just something special about the old 235 and 3 speed on the colum.
KEEP ON TRUCKING!

welcome to the garage, cowboy - you don't see a lot of posts here about the 8/9 fleets, cuz there are waaaay more AD owners here than fleas on a dog but we're here too:::>
[img]http://mars.ark.com/~red58/thumbs/t_58ferry.jpg[/img]
and if ya got questions, they'll get answered here! [sometimes by other cowboys ]

Bill w/ a red58 fleetside

Hey Cowboy,
Welcome to the Bolt!! The 58-59 Fleetside trucks replaced the cameo in mid 1958. Although the cameo used to command the higher dollers on resale the Fleetsides are actually rarer having been produced for only 18 months. Most parts are interchangable on all Task Force trucks produced from mid 1955 thru 1959 and the problems are the same so all of us "bolters '
are in this together. I'm currently doing a frame off restoration of a 1959 shortbed fleetside 1/2 ton with the big back window, deluxe cab and stainless bed side trim powered by the venerable 235 which I'm adding overdrive to. This board is without question the best source of information for our trucks. This is probable a good time for the rest of you 58-59 fleetside owners to chime in......
Here's some pics of my truck at the beginning resto stages:
http://photos.yahoo.com/mailboxxman

Have fun Cowboy!

Welcome Cowboy!!
I have a 59 Fleetside Longbed(32 series).It sometimes seems that there is more interest in older (55-57) stepsides but I get thumbs-ups every time I take mine out!! The people here are a great source of info and inspiration. Good luck on your project.
Jeff
http://www.stovebolt.com/gallery/abbott_jeff_1959.htm

I drive mine (59 lwb flt) to work twice a week, and get comments every time. Mine is what an unknowlegable person would call a beater. Holes in the rear lower front fenders etc. But I've got a replacement left fender in the shed and a patch panel for the right one in the basement. This summer is fix up and paint.
It's the small window, but on that window is a genuine American artifact: A 1968 Reader's Digest American Flag decal!

Welcome,

I like them! The fat short look can be very cool. My cuz in MS has one from an estate sale that I looked at a couple of years ago. I'm going to make an offer later this year if it is still around. Working on the early 50's right now.

Enjoy!

Buddy

I personally love the fleetside task force trucks. I wish I could find one but I've never even seen one around here not even restored. I think the step sides are not too attractive. They aren't proportioned right. You got this great big fat cab and front end and a little skinny bed, just doesn't look right on the task force or the '60-'66 models. Once you get passed the AD series I don't like any step sides. Just my humble opinion.

Mike

From "spotters guide" -
.....During the '58 model year, Chevrolet introduced the first Fleetside body style. The bed featured double walls, and the tailgate used chains to hold it in a horizontal position while owners loaded cargo into the truck. By the '59 season, the Fleetside had outshone the Cameo, but then the exciting new El Camino made its debut. And that, as we say, is a whole other story....

Hey Cowboy --- Weclome to the Bolt, and congratulations on your very wise choice to keep the 235. Just so you'll know, let me point out, it's possible to set that 235 up so that it eats average 350's like Chico eats tacos!

Boo Radley

The country was in a deep resesion in 58-59 & not a lot of trucks were sold.

like I said cowboy, ya see less mention of the 58/9 trucks on the 'bolt cuz the AD's were produced in such high numbers that's what most folks can find - per year there were as many 58/9's made

wrenchbender - light truck sales were down in 58, industry wide [tho' GM still maintained the lead ] but back up in 59 - the reason there's fewer 58/9 fleetsides about is that they were only a small portion of the 58-9 production of about 350,000 light trucks, whereas, the AD truck was made for over 8 years, totaling something over 1.5 million units - production was down in 54 as well, but it sure can't be noticed in how many AD trucks are around today!!

the main reason there's fewer 58/9 trucks about is that for decades, 'restorers' have shunned the 4 eyed TF trucks in favor of the first-of-the-breed 55, and they simply rotted in the field - just makes'em that much more valuable, and better survivors - considering there wasn't but a few thousand made it's surprising that ya see'em at all

same on the big window /small window thing - the big window is more sought after by restorers, so ya see more of'em at the shows, but by far, the most TF trucks sold were the small back window - I've got one of each

Bill

You should call Chevrolet for the scoop on your truck from the folks who built it. It's easy! It's free! They'll send you a complete package tailored for your year of truck containing copies of the original technical data sheets related to your truck. The information is invaluable if you are trying to interpret serial numbers, determine what standard equipment and colors were, what options were available, etc. They will also send a catalog called 'Past Model Information' that has a listing of hundreds of dealers of parts for old Chevy's.
        To request a free restoration Package from Chevrolet, have your Vehicle Identification Number and model year.
        Phone -- 1-800-222-1020 Ask for the "Restoration Package"
Or write to:
Chevrolet Customer Assistance Center
Chevrolet Motor Division, General Motors Corporation
P. O. Box 7047
Troy, Michigan 48007-7047

Greetings everyone. I read this thread with interest, because I've just put down a deposit on a '59 32 Fleetside myself. All I have to figure out is whether to pay to transport it to where I am, or to rent a tow vehicle and trailer and go get it!

For my money the looks of the Fleetside bed, especially the longbed, are hard to beat. I do like the front end of the earlier TF trucks, but the 58-59 grill is growing on me, and I love the quad headlights.

I have a whole bunch of books, and have a whole bunch of manuals ordered, but I do have a question out of the gate. Some of the 58-59 trucks have some fancy brightwork trim on the bedside, on the long style-bump (?) that leads to the taillight. Was that part of a particular trim package?

M.Rhoten [can we call ya rotten? or do ya get too mucha that?] the trim on the bedside 'rocket' was part of an optional exterior trim package, veeerrry scarce and not reproduced - if that truck has it, guard it w/ yer life! seems to have been the last option folks selected, and from what I've seen, usually the truck would have the other delux options like big window and fancier seat, best heater etc - good score, and welcome to the place to get yer questions answered, or at least cussed and discussed!

Bill

red58, you can call me whatever! Thanks for the info about the bedside trim.

The truck I'm buying is a small back window truck; I'm not sure what options it had from the factory. (Haven't ordered the "resto pack" yet, and the VIN only goes so far.) It's been through an older restoration, so perhaps the previous owner found the trim at a swap meet or something. I'll post here when I find out more.

-matt

red 58, guess what ,,i found one for sale up here in canada,,,pretty ruff,lomg box w/ torpedo that leads to lights,small window,big chrome torpedo style bumper in front,needs restoration,but not that bad,not in the bush ,,just sitting on a farm,anybody interested let me know.