In 1961 my Grandfather went down to his local Chevy dealer and purchased a 1961 Apache half-ton SWB that was sitting on the showroom floor. His truck was the deluxe “top of the line” model with side trim and chrome everything.
My Dad (a teenager at that time) vividly remembers that day. Dad has told me all about that special day over the course of my life.
The Apace was Tampico Turquoise and Cameo White. It had the whitewall tires w/chrome dog-dish hubcaps. Sadly for me, Granddad passed away three months before I was born. But from all the stories I have heard of him, he was a truly AWESOME person, loved everyone and never met a stranger. So, in a sense, I feel like I knew him somewhat from all the stories.
Anyway, I'll make this long story short. I have spent the last 2-3 years looking, trying to find his old truck. I have had no luck. But, before my Uncle passed away, he told the truck was crushed after sitting in a local wrecking yard for many years. So, my search came to an abrupt halt to say the least.
As luck would have it, I found a 1961 Apache that is an exact duplicate of my Grandfather's truck. I came across it a year or so ago, not far from where I live. After some wheeling & dealing, I recently acquired this truck and now have begun the restoration process on it.
It came from Kansas and is a one owner, bone stock truck that has the original 283 V8 still in it (numbers matching). Nothing on this truck has been modified.
I had been searching for the two missing door trim pieces but have recently located and purchased both door side trim pieces (NOS, never installed) and a mint condition replacement aluminum grill for it (mine is damaged).
I currently have the cab, frame and suspension striped awaiting blast, prime and paint. This truck will go back exactly as my Grandfather's was including the original Tampico Turquoise and Cameo White paint color.
This project is a labor of love for me for how much I love and cherish my Dad and Granddad. I know Granddad is not here but if he were, I sure hope my completion of this truck would make him proud.
I will try to keep pics coming as I progress along. The first pic is my Granddad shortly after he bought his new '61. The others are mine the day i got it.
