Tag Archives: Thriftmaster

3/4 Task Force – Chevrolet Apache 32

Today’s featured pickup is a 1959 Chevrolet Apache 32 Pick up.

Chevrolet Apache 32, Bristol Classic Car Show, Shepton Mallet

In most respects the Apache 32 Cab and motor options were similar to the Apache 31 Fleetside I looked at last week.

Chevrolet Apache 32, Bristol Classic Car Show, Shepton Mallet

The ’58 and ’59 Apaches all shared twined front head lamps.

Chevrolet Apache 32, Bristol Classic Car Show, Shepton Mallet

This particular vehicle is registered with a non standard 3.5 litre 213 cui motor size, given that it is in the UK this may well be one of Britain’s popular all aluminium Rover V8’s that originated from Buick.

Chevrolet Apache 32, Bristol Classic Car Show, Shepton Mallet

The big difference between the Apache 31 and 32 is the wheel base 114 inches on the ’31’ and 123 inches on the ’32’ which also had heavier duty axles and springs to allow for a 3/4 ton load in the six and half foot long cargo box.

Chevrolet Apache 32, Bristol Classic Car Show, Shepton Mallet

353,509 Apache’s of all sizes were built in 1959 before they were replaced by the C/K series in 1960.

Thanks for joining me on this “3/4 Task Force” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres”, I hope you will join me again tomorrow. Don’t forget to come back now !

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Jet Pods – Chevrolet Apache 31 Fleetside

Today’s featured pickup is a 1959 Chevrolet Apache 31 Fleetside which replaced the Chevrolet Cameo Carrier as GM’s sporty pick up.

Chevrolet Apache 31 Fleetside, Yanks Picnic, Shakespeare, County, Raceway,

Like all ’59 Task Force models this Apache 31 Fleetside features subtly updated four head lamp styling featuring a narrower bonnet/hood badge to the ’58 Task Force models. The Apache Fleetside pickups were marketed with the strap line, “These are the best-looking truck cabs that ever came down the road!”

Chevrolet Apache 31 Fleetside, Yanks Picnic, Shakespeare, County, Raceway,

Like the ’58 Apache’s power came for either a 3.9 litre / 235 cui Thriftmaster in-line six or 4.6 litre / 283 cui Taskmaster V8, this particular example is officially registered with a 6 litre / 366 cui motor of yet to be determined origin.

Chevrolet Apache 31 Fleetside, Yanks Picnic, Shakespeare, County, Raceway,

Styling queues on ’59 Apache reflect mans technological advance into the space age following the launch of Sputnik the worlds first satellite in October 1957. Regular GALPOT readers might remember the front wing / fender Apache logo on the ’58 Apache featured last week resembled a jet plane, for ’59 the Apache logo resembles a rocket emitting red flames.

Chevrolet Apache 31 Fleetside, Yanks Picnic, Shakespeare, County, Raceway,

The big styling feature that differentiated the ’58 Cameo Carrier from the ’59 Apache Fleetside was the rocket shaped “Jet Pods” incorporated into the cab width bodywork which ran into the round tail lights.

Chevrolet Apache 31 Fleetside, Yanks Picnic, Shakespeare, County, Raceway,

Like the narrow width cargo box Apache 31 the Fleetside was built on a 114 inch wheel base chassis with a six and a half foot cargo box.

Thanks for joining me on this “Jet Pods” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres” I hope you will join me again tomorrow. Don’t forget to come back now !

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Short Step Side – Chevrolet Apache 31

In 1955 Chevrolet replaced it’s Advanced Design pickups with the Task Force range which along with squared front styling offered options that included 12 volt electrics, V8 motors and 6′, 7′ or 8′ bed lengths.

Chevrolet Apache 31, Summer Classics, Easter Compton

The Task Force or early era V8 Chevy pickups were built with three different cab styles from ’55 to ’59. In ’55 the first series Task Force pickups featured a cab with distinctively separate wings/fenders and bonnet/hood similar to the Advanced Design series which the Task Force replaced. Mid way through ’55 a new Task Force hood was introduced with integrated wings/fenders and bonnet/hood with a pair of head lights and in 1958 the Task Force Series cabs received a face lift distinguished by two pairs of head lights as seen here.

Chevrolet Apache 31, Summer Classics, Easter Compton

Power options for 1958 Apaches were either 145 hp 3.8 litre 235 cui Thriftmaster in line six or 160 hp 4.6 litre 283 cui small block Trademaster V8, today’s featured vehicle is officially recorded as having a 4 litre / 244 cui motor of yet to be determined origin.

Chevrolet Apache 31, Summer Classics, Easter Compton

The trim details on this workhorse were totally in keeping with the wonders of the late 50’s jet age, Apache 31 denotes that this is the 1/2 ton in the Task Force series.

Chevrolet Apache 31, Summer Classics, Easter Compton

After the introduction of the optional full width Fleetline bodies in 1959, an example of which I’ll be looking at next week, pick ups with non integrated rear wheel arches became known as step sides.

Chevrolet Apache 31, Summer Classics, Easter Compton

Apache 31’s were built on the shortest 114 inch wheel base option with a 6 and a half foot bed. With the introduction of the small block V8 to the Task Force Chevrolet maintained a dominant position in the Pickup market over Ford.

Thanks for joining me on this “Short Step Side” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres” I hope you will join me again tomorrow. Don’t forget to come back now !

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Black Sheep – Chevrolet Advanced Design

On the 28th June 1947 Chevrolet customers were able to replace their AK Series pickups with the new Chevrolet Advanced Design pickup for the first time.

Chevrolet Advanced Design, Yanks Picnic, Shakespeare County

The Advanced Design was built in 1/2, 3/4 and 1 ton sizes with three straight six motor options, 216 cui / 3.5 litre, 235 cui / 3.9 litre or 261 cui / 4.3 litre.

Chevrolet Advanced Design, Yanks Picnic, Shakespeare County

Today’s featured vehicle seen at Shakespeare County Raceway on 2011 and 2012 is known as Black Sheep and is run by Squadron Racing with a 5.7 litre 347 cui motor.

Chevrolet Advanced Design, Yanks Picnic, Shakespeare County

Officially this vehicle is registered as being built in 1946 however since Advanced Designs were not built until 1947 we know the officials made a clerical error, the split screen means this vehicle will have been built latest for the 1953 model year.

Chevrolet Advanced Design, Yanks Picnic, Shakespeare County

The absence of Thriftmaster or Loadmaster Logo’s suggests the vehicle was built earliest late in 1949.

Chevrolet Advanced Design, Yanks Picnic, Shakespeare County

The push button door handles suggest this vehicle was most likely built in 1952 when the push button units replaced the turn down door handles and when a 90 mph speedometer replaced the 80 mph speedometer that had been used hitherto.

Chevrolet Advanced Design, Yanks Picnic, Shakespeare County

The Chevrolet Advanced Design and its sister GMC variants kept General Motors at the top of the US Pickup sales league from 1947 until March 1955 when the model was replaced with the Task Master, three examples of which I’ll be looking at on Mondays in the weeks ahead.

Thanks for joining me on this “Black Sheep” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres” I hope you will join me again tomorrow. Don’t forget to come back now !

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