How neat is this 1959 Chevrolet Panel Truck? Amazing patina combined with vintage graphics make this truck a stand out amongst other similar projects. Found here on Hemmings, this is one of many cool lots featured at an upcoming auction presented by Carr. The auction takes place October 6th in Great Bend, Kansas. You can read more about this awesome panel truck and the other lots here.
The “Keep on Truckin'” graphics have been around for about fifty years, however, there are varying opinions on the origins of the actual phrase. If you know what it is, leave a comment below. The graphics that are on this truck appear to have been hand painted in the 1970’s and are still fairly visible. It will be a shame if the new owner repaints the truck, but I guess that’s up to the winning bidder.
The ad says the straight-six and the rest of the drivetrain are original. The engine is said to turn-over, but it does not run. It looks like it won’t take too much to get the truck running again. Unfortunately, there is no information in the ad regarding the history of the truck, so the rest of the condition is a bit of a mystery. If you are an interested bidder, there are preview times before the auction.
The seats have obviously been replaced at some point. The rest of the interior looks decent with the dash and door panels appearing stock. The floor panels, as well as the back cargo area, appear in decent shape with minimal rust. What do you think about this truck? If you were the winning bidder, would you repaint it or try and keep the original graphics.
ooOOoo Cavalier seats. Swanky.
(Partial) body and interior look highland green, but firewall tells a different story? Nevertheless cool truck.
I love these panels
Looks like someone copied R.Crumb’s Mr. Natural Keep On Trucking graphic on the side. It’s sobering and amusing to hear Mr. Natural referred to as ‘vintage graphics’ and fifty years old! Tempus fugit. There were many of these on the road driven by wandering youth back in the day. Oh well……….
Mr. Natural is a comic book character created and drawn by 1960s counterculture and underground comix artist Robert Crumb. First appearing in Yarrowstalks, the character gained a following during the underground comix fad of the 1960s and 1970s, and has been extensively merchandised in various products. (So says Wiki……lol)
Patina? Who redefined that word to now describe a tired looking old piece of crap that is missing most of its (many different coats and colours of) paint.
‘Patina’ is an old Polynesian mountain tribe from the Alaskan desert word for ‘rusty piece of junk ain’t worth painting’.
while, this is a cool old ride. patina used to be related to antigue furniture?, it is overused by people to justify the crazy pricing on some older vehicles. the surface rust is extremely hard to clean up.it is what it is. an old panel that has been left outside for eons.
Keep on truckin’ – THE GRATEFUL DEAD – great song!
– and Band!
I never could get into the Dreadful Grate. Most overrated band in history.
One of the many, many great lines from The Simpson’s – Marge is showing Lisa a quilt she made when she was a girl…
Lisa: “Keep on trucking”? What does that mean?
Marge: I didn’t know then; I don’t know now.
Oh yeah; always had a soft-spot for these panels…
Nice find.
Too bad it’s not a Ford I would be tempted.
Nice truck…Chevy, Ford, Dodge or Plymouth. This is a real project that I could get into. Wish I had the …. you know.
If I knew where this writer lived, I would go to his home and pry the “p,” the “a,” the “i,” the “n” and the “a” keys from his keyboard. I would leave the “r,” the “u,” the “s” and the “t” keys intact.
Dear Ken
I just love the PATINA – that’s how old car’s are supposed to look, in my opinion.
(And i just love THE GRATEFUL DEAD, that’s how music has to sound, in my opinion)
Bless God we all are different, that’s what makes this world go round, in my opinion.
Ted Nelson, the inventor of hypertext, once had a Chevy panel truck like this; you can find a picture of it in FIRE IN THE VALLEY, an early history of Silicon Valley. I think he called it Mr. Snoid!