When it comes to classic trucks, few are as rare or interesting as the early factory optioned NAPCO GMs. While you could order a 4×4 system directly from NAPCO and install it on any truck, part way through 1955 GM decided to offer it as a factory option on their mid-year redesigned trucks. If you know your truck history, you know that in 1955, GM started the year building their previous truck design and then part way through ’55 they began to offer their “second series” of the newly designed Task Force trucks. Since they came to market fairly late in the year, they didn’t manage to build too many second series trucks and of those, even fewer were optioned with the NAPCO Power-Pak. Reader Andy L just so happened to find one of these rare 4×4 trucks and has decided to part ways with it. So he’s offering it as a Barn Finds Auction!
Andy’s truck might look a little rough and it is missing its original truck bed, but other than that it is actually complete and quite solid throughout. Having spent its life on a farm in Montana, it has surface rust and the signs of use you’d expect to see on any old farm truck. The cab corners and floors are solid, but there is some rust forming in the door jambs that should be dealt with sooner rather than later. The passenger side door shows a battle scare or two, but you might be able to straighten it out or find a replacement door.
Unfortunately, the original engine is stuck. It’s still there, but Andy hasn’t had any luck getting it to turn by hand. Replacement inline sixes are out there and aren’t terribly expensive. You might be able to rebuild the original, but it would be easier and cheaper to find a running engine that is ready to install. Thankfully, all the really important parts are still present. Andy took photos of both differentials and the 2-speed transfer case so that you can verify the numbers if you like. Without the engine running it’s hard to know for sure what kind of condition the 4-speed transmission, transfer case, or the differentials are in, but given how robust these trucks are, there’s a good chance they will work with nothing more than some fresh fluid and new seals.
Due to the rush to get the second series trucks to market, NAPCO had to rush to adapt to the newly introduced design. Given how short the 1955 run was for these trucks, very few received the 4×4 system. Add in the rough lives that most of them lived and there can’t be too many left. There aren’t any records on exact NAPCO production numbers, but overall production for the second series of 1955 trucks was quite low, so it’s probably safe to call this the Holy Grail of Chevy 4×4 trucks. Honestly, the only Chevy truck I can think of that is possibly rarer and more desirable is the Cameo.
As you can see, the interior is going to need work, but all the major components appear to be present. Some new seat upholstery is about all you’d really need to make it useable, but some fresh paint would clean up the doors and dash nicely. The floors do appear to be solid, but Andy notes that there is a small patch that the previous owner installed. As long as the major structural components are solid, you really wouldn’t need to do anything with the floor to get it back on the road.
Andy wants to see this truck go to a good home, where it can be appreciated for the amazing piece of automotive history that it is. So, if you want to bring this rare truck home, be sure to bid! And if you have any questions for Andy, please leave them in the comments section.
Bid On This Auction
Dereck bid $2,600.00 2019-06-09 13:55:30
Louis bid $2,200.00 2019-06-06 21:35:19- Dereck bid $2,000.00 2019-06-05 15:16:56
Mitch bid $1,800.00 2019-06-04 11:56:08
66bigblue bid $1,500.00 2019-06-03 10:28:50
Do you have a rare classic car or truck that needs to go, please consider listing it here on Barn Finds!
Wow nice an original 55 Chevy 4×4 what a great find this is!! I would have to get the bed from LMC lift it a couple of inches and put at least 32 inch tires on it and take it down the road!!!
One for Rick at CTR.
A super rare truck for sure. Major fix up would be in order but that would be par for the course considering its age. Montana winters were pretty easy on trucks. Almost no salt used on the roads. Some winters were open all the way so no salt at all. What made trucks like these rust was the accumulation of road dust in the cab corners and the front fenders. It didn’t do a fraction of the damage that could be done in the salt belt. Now, if this truck was to find its way to my place, I’d look around for a pickup bed and ditch the flatbed. Use it for what it was designed and it would last for a long time…
Interesting bit about dirt vs salt, geomechs-it’s always been a puzzle to understand when we see someone driving a ‘61 Apache with rusted out fender and door corners in the Nevada desert (no road salt used on the highways until very recently)..
Thanks for the insight.
This is funny, all thats needed is to pull the plugs and fill the cylinders with coca-cola, let it sit for a couple of days and the fosforic acid in the coce have done the job. Hand turn the engine and suck out all coke, fill with diesel and keep hand turning. Put plugs back, change oil, and start! If it smokes bad, some the oil rings may be stuck, let it idle for a couple of hours and build heat. If this doesn’t help, it will need a set rings. The body work on this one is really simple. For the un-familiar, there are loads of videos on the tube to learn how. Otherwise, a 5 liter cummins with kog-belt driven pump would fit nicely!
No! please don’t put a different brand engine in the truck. Keep the original brand, and put in the new 3.0 liter Duramax inline 6 thats coming out in 2020 for the Silverado 1500.
What does napco stand for ?
I think it was Northwest Auto Parts Company
If I am not mistaken, that is a ’57 model hood on the truck ( that is because of the two raised ribs on the top of the hood) , but I may be wrong in that thought. In the video,I see that the truck was owned by EXXON at one point ( there is a’ghost image’ of an EXXON decal on the driver’s door) ….it also appears to have the starter button on the floor, just like my dad’s “SINGER (Sewing Machine Co.) Panel Trucks had back in the early 1950’s.
Bern – You are correct. This truck has a 1957 hood with 1955 bowtie emblem. That is not a 1955 hood. Those two raised ribs were called “windsplits”. See 1957 Chevrolet Engineering Achievements publication for details. Windsplits (aka “hood spears”) were introduced in 1957, then became larger in 1958 for next 3 years. These were added for rigidity to reduce hood vibration. Wondering if this truck had front clip replaced. There’s a lot of patch welding on door frame and sill.
Streamliner- Thank you for your reply. At seventy years of age, I cannot always rely on my memory being correct. You comment told me more than I already knew, that is for sure.
I had to sell my 1966 fleetside four-wheel drive to buy my house. I would love to have this project!
My uncle had one of these trucks ,a 1958 or 57 back when it was new and rare , 6cyl 4 speed short box step side . He used to plow with it for years .seems like youneeded a step latter to get into. Traded it for a Jeep Gladatior V8 auto long box !!fisher 4 way plow !! that also was a nice truck !!
Field find at best. Nice truck, good starting point.
Interesting. Yes Hard to find. Yes. Even cool. Buddy of mine spent a lot of time restoring one of these. The first time he took it off road was the last.Thing bounced him and his wife’s head off the inside of the cab roof. Look at the second to last picture of the underside and you’ll see the bump stop is about 1″ from the spring.
Upgrade the springs or add seat belts and wear a helmet.
My dad had a ’73 Dodge W-300 that actually bounced my head off the inner door frame and almost knocked me out. Yes, old trucks were NOT noted for their smooth ride; they were rough–parked.
Lot of expense just to get it home. Then engine work/replace plus new tires and wheels. To much for me.
God bless America
God bless you and America!
Hi .I live in Western Australia and my daily driver is a 56 chev pick . i would love to own this truck but Freight would be over the moon from down under . Still love it . The beauty about old trucks is that you have to drive them , not just site there , all bump and scratch`s are trophy winners to m. cheers
Great truck, both to rattle and hammer around town in as well as for the dirty looks from my neighbours. Make it safe and reliable, drive it as is…great old working truck that deserves an easy life now.
Do you know and have a transporter cost to York Pa. Dale .
Buy it now, for $8,900??? Is it patrtial gold frame or what.. Greed sees no end. No work done on it to warrant anywhere near the asking price. Come back when dents are out and it’ll at least go down the driveway by it self..
😄i hav👍63 gmc 6′ stylside big window 4+4 1drove it from larimie wyomi g 1979, i banged my head several time’s before i left there😎