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50th Anniversary: 1958 Chevrolet 3100 Apache

Chevrolet offered the Task Force series of trucks between 1955 and 1959, the successor to the Advance Design series that debuted after World War II. The 3100-designation applied to 2-wheel drive, while 3600 meant 4WD. By 1958, the smooth-sided Fleetside had joined the ranks and all light-duty trucks would carry the name Apache. This truck is a 50th Anniversary Gold Edition and looks to be completely original. It will come across the auction block here on Barrett-Jackson in Las Vegas, Nevada sometime during June 17-19, 2021. This will be a no reserve event, so there is no telling what it will go for once the gavel comes down. Thanks to eagle-eye Larry D for bringing this piece of 1950s Americana to our attention!

With the Task Force series in 1955 came a wrap-around windshield, which would be a first for production trucks. Other firsts for GM pickups would include available power steering and brakes along with a standard 12-volt electrical system. The 1958 models were instantly identifiable from their predecessors with four headlights instead of two and factory air conditioning was added to the options list for the first time. The series was discontinued after 1959 to be replaced by the C/K line of Chevy and GMC trucks.

Chevrolet would build more than 278,000 trucks in 1958, a down-year for the automotive industry. Excluding sedan delivery and the high-end Cameo, some 269,000 “regular” trucks would be built, which also entail the seller’s Anniversary Gold edition for which no production numbers are available. The exterior and interior are both finished in gold and beige to tie in with that promotion. The body is in great shape and the paint has loads of patina. The chrome, glass, and wood in the bed all look good and the only known rust is a couple of holes in the fender by where the hood closes. Also, there is a questionable area on the chassis.

As the limited story goes, this truck was originally purchased in Denver, Colorado in 1961, but no mention is made of what was going on with it for the three years prior and the 60 years after. The interior shares the same old truck look as the exterior, but you may not want to do a thing to it other than recover the bottom of the bench seat. The Apache is powered by a 283 cubic inch V8 paired to a 3-speed manual transmission and we’re told it runs well. Everything is said to be functioning properly, except for the heater and speedometer, which should be easy fixes. With the deal comes an extra back window, sway bar from a ’57 Chevy van, and a tow hitch.

This truck looks like a vehicle that someone grew to appreciate later in its life, and thus was kept in dry storage when not used. With its patina, this Chevy would be a great show truck just the way it is, after all, they’re only original once. The Task Force trucks seem to be quite popular with collectors and Hagerty estimates top dollar to be $66,000 in Concours condition. But given the originality and longevity of this pickup just the way it sits and because it’s consigned to Barrett-Jackson, this truck could raise the bar on what it takes to own one.

Comments

  1. Avatar gaspumpchas

    Love the apache. 283 3 on the tree, whats not to love? Patina my @$$, this would look stunning back in the gold and white. To each his own. Good Luck and happy motoring!
    Cheers
    GPC

    Like 11
    • Avatar Robert boggs

      I have a 58 anniversary edition with more paint left on it than that one. But its missing a front fender hood and deiver side door. It has a bed with no wood its an oklahoma truck and it could be bought for the right money. Even has title

      Like 0
      • Avatar Rob Koolen

        Hello I am interested in your truck if it’s still kicking around

        Like 0
  2. Avatar Bud Lee

    The only thing worse than patina is fake patina

    Like 19
  3. Avatar angliagt Member

    We all know how this will go – some guy with WAAAY too
    much money will pay WAAAY too much for this.

    Like 10
    • Avatar Dave

      Don’t get mad, get e-Trade.

      Like 3
      • Avatar Shane

        Thanks this literally made me lol!!!

        Like 0
  4. Avatar Norman Wrensch

    3100 was half ton 3600 was 3/4 ton, in these years I believe that 4×4 was an aftermarket addition, Nice truck though.

    Like 8
  5. Avatar bone

    The 55 Dodge pickups also had wrap around windshields

    Like 0
  6. Avatar Bareman

    Worth about 11-15k. Now watch someone pay 25-35 because it’s at Barrett Jackson.

    Like 1
  7. Avatar karl

    I’m assuming he means a sway bar from a 57 panel truck ? No Vans in 57 unless you’re talking about Metro style trucks.

    Like 0
  8. Avatar Russ Ashley

    For old car guys, old being the car, not the guy, if you like patina look at this and copy it. This is genuine and you can’t duplicate it. I’ve never seen a vehicle that had painted “patina” that looked right. I like this truck and would probably just protect any spots that were completely down to the metal and drive it like it is. It will be interesting to see how much it brings.

    Like 1
  9. Avatar Terry J

    Karl: Well it’s been a while but in the old days I had a few of these 55-59s and I can’t recall a sway bar. Starting in ’60 they had torsion bar front suspensions and trailing arm rears unlike the 4 leaf springs up to that time. Sedan deliveries were based on the passenger car, whereas the panel truck was a version of these pickups. The rarest thing about this little truck isn’t the wrap around rear window of which I’ve seen many, but what looks like a Fleetside short box which is very unusual. Owned/seen short narrow beds but shorty Fleetsides? Very cool. :-) Terry J

    Like 0
  10. Avatar Darryl White

    Yes 57 cameos could be ordered with a front sway bar thuogh very rare the fleetside short box es are hard to find but they are out there. I own a 1958 golden anniversery short wide and a 1957 cameo and a 1955 short narrow 4×4 napco. Of all the 55-59 chevy trucks Ive owned the golden anniversry is by far worth the most due to its low production numbers and it just plain cool!

    Like 0

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