The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk '59 Apache 3800 - worth it?

Hello!

I'm considering buying a '59 Apache 3800, and I want to hear opinions as to the price. It's a Nevada truck, so, although the paint is crappy (old, badly done repaint), the body/frame/bed is very solid except for the cab corners, and they're not that bad. Engine is a (very likely) non-original early small block, probably a 283 or a 327 w/a 4bbl. It's got the orginal floor shift 4 spd and stock rear end. Bed is off, but it's in good shape, and comes with new bed strips and wood. Engine starts right up and runs strong, no smoke, and the owner says that it moves and stops, although it's got the original-type master cylinder and drum brakes. Truck does need some TLC...lights/signals don't work, don't know if all the gauges do. Glass is there, but the windshield is starting to delaminate on the edges, although it's perfectly usable as is. Seat is not original, but it's in good shape and comfy. Net, I can get it on the road with maybe 10-15 hours worth of work, and it will look pretty good.

Price is $4000. I live in CT, and rust-free trucks are rarer than hen's teeth.

Worth it? Not worth it?

Thanks...

Chris

Pictures?
Of course the value is debatable and ultimately will be what you or somebody else is willing to pay. For that kind of money I would expect an original truck with original components or a truck that is at a minimum daily driver condition, not all apart.

like 'mater sez, could be a fair price if you're willing, you're the one that decides how valuable it'd be to you .... a 1 ton stepside bed or factory flatbed with the original hardware, is relatively rare, if that's the kind of truck you want you'll look a long time for another

Bill

Forgot to mention - this is a fleetside...

Chris

that's a suprise, never heard of a fleetside 1T, and it's not on the list I have - maybe a 3600? not the original bed? wrong fender emblems? truck actually a collection of parts?

Bill

Ok...this is becoming interesting...now the question is, how do I tell if the bed is original? I'm certain that the hood emblems said 3800, so it's a 1 ton chassis. I can try to get a picture of the bed...

Chris

the 3/4T 3600 WB is 123" [no short version], the 1T 3800 WB is 135" ... the 3/4T bed is about 8'2" [same as long 1/2T], the 1T bed [step] is about 9'2" to match the longer WB .... it may be that someone came up with a fleet bed to put on a truck that had no bed - just do some measuring and see if the bed fits the frame, if the bed is 9' it's a very rare piece!

Bill

Ok...I'll have to see if the seller can get me the overall length of the bed, and check the original title to see what it says. Maybe I did mis-read the hood emblems! I'm fairly new to this, so I don't always know what to look for.

Chris

one last question - how many lug wheels does a 3600 and a 3800 have? I seem to remember that this truck had 8 lug wheels.

both 8

Bill

Not a good assumption. Never know what pieces have been swapped out in the last 50 years.

If the serial plate ID begins with 3E (or V3E for a V8) it's a 3/4 ton 3600. 3G is the 1 ton 3800. I don't think the frame stampings include these digits.

123" was the only wheelbase option for the 3600, and 135" was the only WB for the 3800. That is probably the easiest and most reliable way to tell between the two.

BTW, I'm nearly certain there was no factory Fleetside 1 Ton or any Fleetside box that is 9' during that run.

Thanks to everyone for their replies. Mystery (probably) solved...owner told me that the truck is a 3600, not a 3800. So much for me being positive about reading the hood emblems.

I also asked the owner to measure the center to center axle distances, as well as the overall length of the bed, so that should help with the ID.

Chris

Ok, the guy got back to me...axle center to axle center is about 124", and the bed is about 100" long overall (call it 8'), so I'm pretty certain that this truck is a 3600, correct me if I'm wrong. Guy swears that the bed is original, looks it too.

So, just to be certain, Chevrolet DID make a 3600 Fleetside in '59 (?).

Looks like this one is going to follow me home...

Thanks for everyone's help.

Chris

Hi Chris,

Here is a page from the 1959 Resto pack on Keith Hardy's fantastic site. If you haven't checked it out already many hours of fine reading here. http://chevy.oldcarmanualproject.com/chevyresto/59tld02.htm Sounds like the truck you are looking at (I almost typed "your truck") is a model 3634.

If you buy the truck I hope the purchase goes smooth as silk.

I think it is the '59 resto on Keith's site that is missing a good fistfull of pages.

Here's a new-to-me (thanks Stovebolters!) GM-direct link and the PDF itself