The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk 1957 Apache is within my grasp!

Hey guys,

I'm working on scraping up the funds to buy a '57 Apache. $4000. Supposedly numbers matching and complete, hasn't run in 2 years. What can you guys tell me to look for? Anything rare about these trucks, or anything I'll have trouble fixing? It's so close I can taste it, but I want to make sure I'm not wasting my time on something that's too good to be true. lol

a "57 Apache" would be so rare as to be non-existant the word Apache wasn't used by GM until 1958 as a "PR" name for the light trucks, 1/2T-1T, so if that's what the owner is calling it, be wary of anything else he says, especially if it has emblems that say Apache ..... "numbers matching" doesn't mean much in the 50's and doesn't really have any effect on price, but for 4000 I'd want to hear it run and see it move

look for rust in the cab corners, the door bottoms, rear bottom of the front fenders, and the low spots in the floor - anything can be fixed, but the body/paint is what'll be most expensive, and a truck with a useless engine could wind up being major work as well as expense

Bill

I have a '58 Apache. No Apache in '57 ! Look for double head lights-check VIN # - Which engine is in it ? Mine was changed out from the original V-8 to the 235 straight 6. 3 on the tree ? Give us some details about it ? RAK

It's got the 235. I don't have a VIN. It's the single headlights. Got the column shifter. It's a distance to drive, so I'm not sure I want to drive that far if I'm not going to buy it.

Jared - In Illinois (or there abouts) $4k should get you a running truck, or a truck body that is mostly restored.

I just brought home my 58 for $1800. It has not run in 15 years (though it was not stuck) & being from Arkansas there is very little rust - thought the cab corners & doors have started.

Now mines a 58 4 head light & the 57's are more popular so they will bring a little more, but unless the body is close to perfect I'd be talking him down a little.

Check out eBay & see what they are selling for. That will give you a good idea what you should be spending.

Also check out the trucks for sale here - again these will be pretty fairly priced.

57 Apache,no such animal.58 first year for Apache.Buying an old truck or any collector vehicle is just like buying any vehicle.If after you buy it,you feel you got a good deal,then you did.When i bought my 55 2nd,I know I overpaid for it,but with some updates and a lot of hard work,I now have a 55 that I am proud to take to shows and it is now worth every penny I have invested in it,plus a little.Prices vary in different parts of the country.What sells for $2000. in lets say Kansas or Missouri,will sell for twice that amount in the rust belt.Sometimes you just gotta go with a gut feeling,on a purchase price.As I said before when I first saw my 55 I was dissapointed,it came out of Colorado,and I paid to have it shipped to Ohio.But I made the best of a bad deal,and I now have something to be proud of.But one thing for sure is,take the time to look it over carefully,before you buy it.I bought mine sight unseen,which was not a good plan.

This truck's not in Illinois. It's in North Carolina, where I'm stationed. I'm having second thoughts about this truck, but I'm going to try talking the current owner down. Not sure if I can afford to have another truck sitting around, when I can't fix it.

Jared - the 235's are easy to get running if they will - clean the plugs and points, get a good battery in it, dump a bit of gas in the carb and see if it fires - if it was in use 2 years ago and has been protected [like in a garage] it should fire right up - I'd still wanna see a lower price unless it's really clean and rust free .... and remember it's not an Apache

Bill

The pictures show it's outside in a treeline. Is there a big and small window version of this truck?

Single headlights means not an Apache ,anyone agree with that ?

single headlights = 55-57, eggcrate grill = 55/6, clowns mouth grill and "wind split" ribs on hood = 57 only - dual headlights = 58/9 .... Apache on the fender spear = 58/9

yes, all 55-59 had a standard small window cab and an optional big window one

there's tons of pics in the gallery to compare .... although some might be filed in the wrong place

Bill

OK, I get the point, the guy lied, and I didn't know the difference. Isn't the point of this forum to teach, not to beat the point to death?

I don't know that I would say he flat out lied. Maybe that was what he was told about the truck and was simply repeating what he had heard.

Could just be a simple mistake. Still might be worth at least looking at the truck and seeing what shape it is in.

exactly what's happening here I think, just a number of folks answering in their own way - with thousands of members there's bound to be more than 1 that puts in their 2¢ and when it comes to TF trucks, I'll always give ya a nickels worth

Bill

Thanks red58: we all see things a little different or from different angles at times. There has been instances that ONE bolter may but it "in terms even I can understand".

Hang tight Jared. We're all here for you and to help.

The more I look at this truck, the more I'm not sure I want to pay 4 grand. I'd rather drop that into Grandpa's '47 Loadmaster.

Not sure what part of the country you live in but a pickup matching the description you gave here in Oklahoma would run between 500-2000 max
if is hasn't run in many years my guess is the engine will be locked and would also guess rats, squirels or some other small mammal has set up house so wiring would more than likely have to be redone

Make sure you take Midget Farmer's advice, and check out eBay for the price of comparables. Might as well check out Craigslist while you're at it, and also the Trucks For Sale section here on Stovebolt. If you get a feeling the price is out of line, you're probably on to something.

I'm sticking my nose into something I don't know much about, but could it be that (in Illinois) you might need a commercial drivers license to drive a Loadmaster? I thought the big bolts had less demand (less demand = lower cost to buy) due to size and parts availability. Make sure you do a fair comparison of a Task Force to a Loadmaster. Otherwise, you're dealing with "apples and oranges" and could overpay or miss a good deal.

Around here, I'd expect $4000 to get you an older restoration driver Task Force.

Bill

The Loadmaster's a family heirloom, so either way it's getting fixed. I was just looking around and found this '57 pickup. Just figured I'd ask you guys what it's worth.

I'll go with that. I like it. Never heard it expressed that way.
58-61 all had quads. 62 single but not an Apache any more.

To not beat the subject to death would mean we might not find all the possibilities. Reading all these "opinions", we can come away with many facts. Is someone documenting all of this?

of course, the Stovebolt archives!! that's why it's a good thing for all viewpoints to be added ..... and why the search function is so useful

Bill

That is why I was factitious in my post.