In 1959, Chevrolet’s Task Force trucks were in their final year of production, and this Apache Suburban Carryall has the kind of look that gets an old-truck guy’s attention. Finished in turquoise and white, with red steel wheels and whitewalls, this three-row family hauler is listed for $26,500 on Craigslist in Oxnard, California.
The 1959 front end has a personality all its own. The wide grille, quad headlights, and twin chrome spears on the hood give it a different look from the redesigned Chevrolet trucks that arrived the following year. It’s the last of the Task Force generation, and you can see why these trucks have held onto their following.
For 1959, Chevrolet offered the Suburban Carryall with a 235.5-cubic-inch Thriftmaster six or an optional 283-cubic-inch Trademaster V8. The six was rated at 135 horsepower, while the V8 delivered 160 horsepower. This one now has a 261 six and three-on-the-tree.
The seller lists a rebuilt rear end, new brakes, wheel cylinders and brake hoses, a new starter, new tires, and a copper radiator. Both front seats have been reupholstered. According to the seller, the heater, defroster, interior and exterior lights, turn signals, and spotlight all work. The seller also says the truck runs great and can be driven anywhere.
There’s an interesting story behind Chevrolet’s four-wheel-drive trucks from this period, too. Northwestern Auto Parts Company, better known as NAPCO, developed its Powr-Pak system to convert Chevrolet and GMC trucks to four-wheel drive. Chevrolet began offering the NAPCO setup as a factory-order option in 1957, making it possible for buyers to order a new truck with four-wheel drive through their Chevrolet dealer.
The Suburban was built to carry people and their gear, and this one has three rows of seating. It has the traditional split rear doors, though Chevrolet also offered a tailgate-and-liftgate arrangement. The barn-door setup gives the Apache a practical, work-truck feel.
The paint and bumpers show some wear, but they’ll clean up with a little work. Would you tidy up the cosmetics or leave it as is? Two thumbs up to Tony Primo for bringing this Burb to our attention!
This looks like a solid, honest Suburban. I’m typically the type of guy who like nice shiny paint, but I could live with this. Maybe I’d redo the bumpers, but I’d just leave the rest. Drive it and enjoy it.
Once again, nice find Tony Primo, and I enjoyed your write up too Conrado, thank you.
Nice one….most likely get the ask in Cali…..
It’s 4 am, and you know darn diddly well what I’m going to say. Can anyone drive a stick here? Anyone? ( crickets) I realize, like the Mustang heater core, I’m overdoing it, but unlike the heater core, this is a real issue today. I can imagine someone with a pocket full of cash( from the sale of dads 4 speed Chevelle), wants a retro vehicle to shlep the family around, what a disappointment it’s a stick. Nobody else seems to share my opinions on that, and why should they? If you are even reading this, you probably can drive a stick, but the reality is, it’s just not practical. When was the last time you saw someone in a column shifted vehicle? Folks today won’t even get it started, and since us “teachers” are fading fast, who is going to show them, “no, it’s that pedal to the right of the gas pedal”,,I can imagine the confused look. It’s a beautiful truck, would look great pulling the Shasta,,in the right lane, that is.
Howard, IF this Suburban had a factory installed Hydromatic or even a Chevy Powerglide it would be VERY RARE!!! And worth the full asking price.. I also had forgotten that Chevy used that floor starter peddle that late in production.
My daily driver 65 Corvair Monza has the 66 Saginaw Corvair 4 Spd with a 3:27 Posi Transaxle. “Get Rubber in All 4 Gears”.
Best Security system is a toggle on the electric fuel pump, the clutch pedal and handbrake under the dashboard.
Lol! I had a 1959 Apache pickup with a 6 and 3 ON THE TREE like this one. So, I, for one can drive a stick. Lol
43 years driving a stick for me Howard. And three of my four vehicles still are manual.
Yes, I can drive a vehicle with a manual transmission. 3 speed, 8 speed, 10 speed with a splitter, whatever. Nice old truck !
Morning Howard–I’ve driven sticks for over 50 years now. However, time and age have taken their toll on me so I now prefer an automatic. Power steering and brakes are a must too.(Until I get my L.knee replaced, the workout with a clutch is off the table)
Same here, learned to drive stick shift over 50 years ago and can still do it when needed.
I used to daily drive vehicles with stick shift as that was my preference when younger. However these days I prefer an automatic transmission due to arthritis and knee problems.
For all us old guys who frequent this site, I’ll bet the first 10 cars we owned were stick shift, column or floor!
First I have to agree with Drivinstile This a a great example of the late 50’s people hauler, and an excellent truck to show at many events. I would repaint the sunburned hood, front fender tops and primered repaired areas and bumpers and have a show quality vehicle.
I also have to agree with the other posters on an automatic transmission. I have gotten lazy in my old age!! I have driven a stick for 70 years, started with a 1951 Case VAC farm tractor, progressed up to 2 stick Mack’s, and many multispeed Eaton RR trannys in my later years. The 6 speed Aisin copy of the Allison in my 2014 RAM 3500 is a pleasure to drive.
Thank you Brocky. You have quite a history driving a lot of different types of “Sticks” in your past.
Two really short comments: $26,500 ??? My friends, I don’t care who you are, that’s crazy talk.
Also, I’m a little confused by the history lesson on the Napco units since this is two wheel drive.
Do not be confused.. Just file that information in your memory bank for future reference when a 4X4 shows up.
Wow! I’d sure have a big place if I could herd all the desirable cars and trucks my way.
A suburban of this vintage isn’t a common sight. Lots of panels in the day but Burbs? Everyone else had to get stung by International before they could realize the potential of the Burb.
Interesting the number of people who can shift an actual stick-shift but can’t seem to grasp three-on-the-tree. My wife and daughter can drive a regular stick shift in a car or even a pickup. My daughter, upon finding out that a 5-speed in a 3-ton shifts like a regular manual, had no trouble with a heavy truck transmission (well, a crashbox is confusing). But she cannot begin to shift my ’49 Chevy’s 3-speed on the column. I keep trying to tell her that it’s the same as a stick but she can’t seem to figure that one out. Best to turn her loose and develop her skills…
That’s why they call the 3 on the tree a built in antitheft device.
GEO that reminds me of the seriously overloaded Jeep brush truck our volunteer fire dept had in the early 60’s. 4 banger, 3 on the tree and normal 2 stick transfer case. I was just 18 and had the chief / engineer with me. Slipped the transfer case into low then started out of the garage,1-2-3 on the column, then left hand thru the steering wheel and right hand on transfer case lever. back up to 2nd in the main and the transfer case into high, all in one motion. An upshift which made a 5 speed out of it. After he picked his jaw off the floor he asked “just what in hell did you just do????”
You drive an outfit long enough and you develop all kinds of methods to do a job. I remember my dad showing me how to start the Cat with the Pony motor. He whipped through that in a blur, then told me to do it. I was mesmerized and he had to show me step for step.
I never forgot. In fact it went with the territory when I got into the repair business. One winter a call came into the shop. “Any of you know how to start an engine with a Pony motor?”
Me and a big Englishman were the only ones out of a dozen mechanics who could still run a Pony motor. We got sent out to an oil operation to educate the staff. That ended up being a story in itself. Long story short, we showed them…
cool bus for sure. looks solid too.
Script: 1959 Chevy Carryall Apache, originally a fire station truck. Half-ton with a 261 6-cylinder engine and a 3-speed transmission on the column (three on the tree).
Rebuilt rear end, new brakes, wheel cylinders, and brake hoses. New tires and copper radiator. Both front seats have been reupholstered. Heater and defroster work great. All lights, turn signals, spotlight, and interior lights work as well. New starter.
Truck runs great and can be driven anywhere.
For more information, call Lefty at show contact info .
Asking $26,500 or best offer.
Open to trades + cash (no junk cars or motorcycles)
Looks like a good platform. Lots of potential 27K i don’t know if it would come in at that though. I’m pushing 70 now just us old beards left to appriciate trucks like that mine 54 ford panel 351C auto. Don’t like hill starts anymore
I still prefer manual transmissions and preferably with O/D.
Nice Carryall! What is with the gray paint on both of the bottom rear fenders? Rust cover-up or repair?
Very cool. 😎 6 inline, and 3 on the tree included.
After 20+ years rowing gears in my OTR rigs, the last thing I wanted to do was row gears in my POV’S! All of my vehicles had automatics even my 66 Chevrolet truck, PG from the factory!
I spent six weeks in The Republic of Ireland this summer. My rental was a 1.2 liter with a five speed floor mounted shifter. Of course you must shift with your left hand. I drove over two thousand kilometers and I think I stalled twice. And that was mostly due to the stupid stop start linked to the clutch. I’ve driven quite a variety of cars in Ireland over the last forty plus years that I have been going over there and they have always been manuals. It’s really only been in the last five years or so that automatics have been available. More to my point; I have always had at least one manual vehicle in the stable since I got my first car in 1969. If I had a dollar for every time my left leg has depressed a clutch I bet I would have enough money to buy that 1959 Chrysler 300 R we all drooled over today. Shift for yourself ain’t dead yet and I know plenty of young people who not only know how to shift but enjoy it too. As to three on the column; I had to show my then 21 year old son how to do it exactly one time. Save the manuals!
I’ve driven manual rental cars in Ireland also. The automatics are almost twice the price, if you can find one. Distracted driving is rarely a problem in countries that have a majority of manual vehicles.
Absolutely correct, Jack M. Drivers also receive more rigorous training and have to pay strict attention to their driving to safely navigate the narrow urban streets and rural lanes.
Just the thing to haul around a bunch of kids . Get em toughened up. To become real men . instead of pampering them in the Cadillac Escalades .
And kids get just as car sick in Cadillacs…
But you can clean it up with a garden hose on this one!