If I looked in my rearview mirror today and saw this 1959 Chevrolet Apache coming up behind me, I’d instantly be intrigued and hope we’d pull up alongside each other at a red light so I could get the scoop. However, back during its tenure of official use, this would have been one that the bad guys would hope to never run across, as it once served as a police transporter, or paddy wagon, as the seller calls it. If you’re already getting some ideas for a fun project here, this cool Chevy panel hauler is currently located in Ottertail, Minnesota, and can be found here on eBay. So far, the high bid of $2,500 isn’t enough for a sale, as the reserve has yet to be reached.
From my understanding, a “paddy wagon” can serve at least two functions, including taking a crew of police officers to the scene of an incident or it can be used to carry prisoners. The seller doesn’t provide very many specific details regarding the exact history of this one or what department it was used in, but there’s some decent occupancy room in the back, no matter what side of the law the passengers happened to be on. I’d like to have seen what kind of seating snd equipment was once located in this space, but it appears to have been gone for quite some time.
The state of the exterior is cool enough that I could easily understand a future owner wanting to leave it alone, as a patina like this requires decades to develop. There’s just enough evidence left on the side where some letters were removed that spelled POLICE, although the jurisdiction area underneath has been scraped away more substantially. Another fun factor is the single red remaining on top, back before law enforcement used more intimidating LED packages to get other drivers out of their way. I’d certainly consider leaving this one in its present condition and just think of it as a novelty, but the next caretaker will have to decide if he or she wants to do some bodywork and spray on a fresh coat of paint.
There’s no word on why the plug wires were pulled off the 283 or if the engine will still turn, but considering the background, it’s possible this one could have seen some hard use throughout the years. One detail the seller boasts about is the transmission, as he claims the factory-ordered automatic is sort of a rarity to find. I’m kind of torn on whether or not this 1959 Chevrolet Apache is a better candidate for restoration or even a Restomod, or to just get it running and let the cosmetics be. What are your thoughts here?
Interesting! Ottertail has got to be quite the place for gearheads. I’ve sold a lot of vintage International truck parts into Ottertail, besides seeing a couple of listings here from the same place.
Anyways, a V-8 powered panel. Not too many of them around. The lion’s share would surely be powered by the old standby 235 six. Nice change.
Well, in keeping with my traditional attitude, if the came my way, it would get the driver-quality restoration. I might try for a lighter color though, just to keep things cooler inside. I’d keep the 283 and even the Powerglide. Kind of lacking in power but it will still go reliably from Point A to Point B.
Nice unit! Well worth restoring…
Geomechs…would this be a 4 speed automatic, or was that only in a GMC?
In a Chevy it would’ve been a Powerglide. A GMC version of this would’ve had a Pontiac-based 336 with the full-bore Hydramatic behind it. But then, if it was a Canadian-built GMC it likely would’ve had the same thing as this. But (growing up and working in the border region you saw everything from both sides) I might add that I saw Canadian ‘53-‘58 GMC light trucks with the Chevy-based engines but Hydramatic transmissions.
Then I have to contradict myself. The Hydramatic plant burned down in ‘53 forcing the larger GM cars (and other makes such as Lincoln, Kaiser and International) to scurry around for substitutes for a while.
The Independents went to Warner Gear while GM sought out other divisions within its own ranks.
I never saw it but I heard that the minuscule amount of GMC light trucks with automatics in ‘53 and ‘54 actually ran Dynaflows (gasp).
The 50s were confusing but it seems to me that by ‘59 though, the Canadian GMC trucks were essentially Chevys in Wolf’s clothing…
From the image, it looks to be the 4 speed automatic.
Whoa, ho, how many here have seen that 2nd photo 1st hand? I’m sure it had some sort of bench seats at one time. In all my police encounters with trucking, mostly compliance, I’m proud to say, I was never “hauled in” in a paddy wagon. I was a good boy, at least the stuff no one ever found out about. Uses for this are as open as your imagination. Aside from the red light, it really has no connection not police, and the sky is the limit here. Practically all of these in civilian use were beat to smithereens. Years ago, the Milwaukee Journal used extended versions of these to haul papers to the carriers around the city. They generally hired HS seniors, that literally killed them all. Places that used these for delivery, was pretty much the same thing. The driver hated the job, and took it out on the truck. I remember the headlights rusting out on these too, so it’s a great find.
As a kid I spent a lot of time in the back of one of these. No, I was not a budding criminal, a neighbor had one with wooden benches on each side, and was contracted by the school district to haul the kids on our 5-mile gravel sideroad to the closest school bus stop. Mostly I remember the dust it seemed to inhale. Interestingly I went to a funeral today and ran into that neighbor’s grandson, and we both recalled that truck from 60+ years ago.
WOW, that thing is cool.
That’s not a powerglide shift indicator in the photo in the eBay auction. It has N 1-4 1-3 1-2, then something you can’t see down to the right of that. (R for reverse, most likely.)
A quick google search suggests that that is a 4-speed Hydramatic, available in both Chevy and GMC trucks in 1958.
Well, it looks like crow is on the menu for me–again! I just got educated and shut down from a comment I said to Big_Fun a few passages ago. In 50+ years of pulling wrenches I never saw a Hydramatic in a Chevy pickup, or a panel, but I now see that it was available in the panel at least. GMC light trucks ran them but all I ever saw in a Chevy was a Powerglide. I stand corrected. Thanks for pointing that out…
The Chevrolet truck data book for 1959 does show a 4-spd Hydra-Matic trans as an option for the panels and suburbans. Makes sense if that was ordered for heavy duty cop operations.
Owned a ’59 Apache Fleetside…350 sbc / 350 turbo. Late model disc brake front clip and lowered.
Got to love the dual headlamps.
I own a lake house near Otter tail MN and a big affirmative on the fact that there are a lot of older trucks in that area!
From Minneapolis but have a cabin on Battle Lake. Amazing vehicles to be seen if you hit the farm areas.
Just bought a 53 F100 panel/delivery truck. Trying to find a gas tank. You can find hundreds of F100 pickup trucks tanks but good luck finding one for a panel truck… Might have to fab one.