If you aren’t familiar with the Northwest Auto Parts Company, it was founded in Minnesota and provided 4×4 conversions for numerous manufacturers beginning in the 1940s. We’ve featured several NAPCO 4×4’s here on Barn Finds over the years. Although they were made in relatively small numbers, there seems to be quite a few still around. This one is from 1959 and can be found here on eBay with a current bid of over $11,000 and the reserve was met, so the top bidder should get it! Currently located in Omaha, Nebraska, it apparently spent some of its life on a dude ranch in Colorado Springs and from 1982 to 2014 it lived in Oklahoma. Let’s take a look at this beast and thanks to Ikey H. for the tip on this awesome truck!
The interior appears to be all stock and appears to be ready-to-drive. The seller describes it as “original” and “untouched.” The dash, door panels, and seat appear to nice as well.
Here you can see the driver’s side step has some rust holes in it, but they don’t appear too far gone. The seller highlights several areas that have rust including the cab corners, driver’s side lower hinge pocket, and lower portions of the front fenders. The bottoms of the doors have surface rust but no rot. Obviously, the wood floor in the bed needs to be replaced, but that shouldn’t be a surprise. Overall, the body doesn’t look bad for a work truck.
The engine is a 270 cubic inch straight-six. Other than mentioning the carburetor needs to be rebuilt, the ad doesn’t say anything about the running condition. Hopefully, that means it will be a solid runner with more reliable fuel and air delivery.
These NAPCO conversions are pretty neat. During the initial years, the conversion was done as a kit that the customer would order and install. You could purchase a two-wheel-drive pickup and order a conversion kit to turn it into a 4×4 over a weekend. Later, you could have it done as a “factory-installed option.” If you are interested in more details, you can read about NAPCO and learn about its history here. What do you think about these old 4×4’s?
This is quite a find. I thought for sure it must have been a forestry truck, or some municipal, as very, VERY few NAPCO’s made it to the private sector. They were pricey, and there just wasn’t a call for it, like today.Not to be the proverbial wet blanket, but NAPCO’s, like all early 4×4’s were crude machines, and with bias-ply tires and worn steering and low gearing, going fast was not it’s design, and it’s not a pleasant experience. Nostalgia up the ying yang, as ’59 was the last year but a very challenging ride, to say the least.
Oh, if I could just make a little room in my shop (and my budget) for this beast.It sure wouldn’t be a speed demon but I have no doubt that you would have a good stump-puller. That 270 engine was indestructible to say the least. I would actually put it against the Chevy unit; I think that GMC had the edge there. There were a few 4x4s of this vintage out west but I would have to say that International had the advantage with GM coming in second. I don’t think I saw a Chevy in this livery until ’61.
Absolutely a beautiful truck!!! This is something I would get mechanically right and drive just the way it is!! Well maybe some new rims and tires!!!
I agree with you. But you’d be driving it very short distances. These old 4×4 rode like Fred Flintstones rag top. This is by far a a great original NAPCO and one that would be more fitting of completing a collection. Long cruises would be a chore lol.
I have this exact truck that I imported to Mass from Montana. It is a little rough around the edges as far as handling as Howard A says, but makes me smile every spring when its time to break out the rolling stock.
Sure would be good to see this rugged old Jimmy brought back. Good luck and stay safe.
Cheers
GPC
Don’t need any stumps pulled, and don’t need 4 wheel drive, but I could sure see this brought back to original concours condition just for show.
God bless America
this is a really great looking ride. i would not do much to this one. repair the rust new old oak wood for the bed match the faded paint and keep the original body scars. this one is real american history.
I had a “regular” rust free 59 GMC long bed step-side in 1983 for which I paid $200, and another in ‘02 for which I paid $800. I now join the rest of you in waiting to see what the remaining 21 hours of this eBay item will reveal in terms of bid increases. Given that GMC and Chevy trucks of this era are relatively cheap to restore and that NAPCO parts are still available (if even needed), a price below $20K is still going to provide a handsome return for any flipper. The last well-restored ‘59 NAPCO I saw went for $51K via a private “classic” car dealer.
I have a somewhat rare ‘68 Ford F-350 factory-prepped NAPCO sitting in storage for about another month before I can start that restoration. All I hope is to be able to sell it off in order to buy a GMC NAPCO like this one. My Ford-loving sons don’t understand this, but we all know that a boy’s first truck will always be his dream.
Awesome find! Restore to stock condition and show it off.
Ikey H. you’re the man!
I am finally on the other side of the fence. I agree, this truck should be saved and restored to original. The 4×4 enthusists, would love seeing this truck in its original state as a tribute to all the 4 wheelers that are now basic transportation for many .
Can’t believe all of the complaining about the ride of a 1959 GMC Napco 4 wheel drive truck! Accept it for what it is, enjoy the experience, or climb back in to your new truck and move along! All this one needs is a clean up, inspect and make things safe and working, a set of tires, and drive it! And no whining!
wah wah wah . i think society is to spoiled…