Not a for sale ad, promise.. just mentioning my findings

Near me in alabama, there's a guy selling a 59 apache fleetside, big window. Looked decent but I saw some things that made me think he wanted way too much. the welds on the headers were still visible (each section was, and they weren't aligned well ) and he had put some extra chrome stuff on it. and i saw paint chipping around the headlights... body looked to be in good shape though, had a 350/th400 if i remember correctly. some funny looking add on gauges on the steering column (one for a supercharger that it didn't have). also had a F#%D rear end.. :(

Anyway, reason I mention this is while back I posted my dad has a 59 that has basically been sitting for 20+ years and is a mess. I wanted to see one of these puppies finished in person. The guy said that 35k was spent restoring it, but does that sound right... cuz there was some slack work in there... and was trying to sell it for 19k... sounds like a lot to me for the condition (wasn't being cleaned/maintained at all, just sitting outside). I'm getting numbers in my head for when I work on our truck... hopefully. Let me know.

As far as the value of a truck like these it really varies, I have seen them in great condition much cheaper than 19K as well as great condition priced higher than that. Got any pics?
I am sure it is over priced based on your description. Lots of guys think that they have something really special and rare but it's only worth what someone is willing to pay for it.
If you are asking what it will cost to restore yours that is also a complex question. What are you looking to do exactly and what exactly do you have to start with? There is literally no limit to the amount of money you can spend restoring a truck of any condition. If you come across a good deal on a parts truck or even on parts you can also get a driver on the road fairly cheap. Got any pics of your truck that you can post or a link to where you posted them in the past?

Well basically my dad's 59 is shot. I haven't seen it in years, and from what I can remember it was terrible when I saw it. im not even sure it showed any of the original paint still, but I dont remember seeing holes either. basically it'll need new/rebuilt everything in the drivetrain probably, all typical stuff (rubber, pipes, fluids, maintenance stuff) and all the body work (not sure about how many might need replaced).... but for what we're looking to do is rebuild it to look factory (two tone khaki/tan paint job) entirely on outside, but have PS, PB, and drive real well for an occasional cruise around town.

I know a lot of pricing depends on who's got what for how much, but we will do most/all of the work that doesn't require speciality tools ourselves... I figure it can be done for the lower end of typical rebuild costs...i dunno... rambling.

Actually... my great aunt (its at their house) took some pictures of the way it sits as of this morning... try not to cry , im close...

I can't really see anything from the pictures but I can tell it's going to need some TLC. I guess I would start by tearing it down to see how bad it is. Clean sheet metal is still out there although it is getting pricey. If you find you are going to need a lot of body parts you are best off getting a parts truck as they typically cost about what you will pay for two good fenders and a door. Just my opinion though. I say dig in and see what you got to work with. Keep us updated and keep the pics coming won't you please?

Yeah I know you cant see much, that's whats sad... it's turned into a shelf!

As for pictures, this whole thing is hard because im 2 hours away from where it (and the rest of my family) are. But im going home this weekend so im going to try to drag my brother/dad up there and uncover it and get some more pictures... we'll see.

Good Luck with her:)

Okay even though it was raining ugly this weekend, I managed to get out to the 59 (and our 68) with my dad and brother and took some pictures. It's not nearly as bad as the horror I had pictured in my mind, quite recoverable... just have zero dollars to put into it.

Anyway, here she is (im in the blue wind breaker, my brother in the black leather)

Or not... photo adder giving me issues and using paint to resize pictures is a pain, will post on my cardomain.

http://www.cardomain.com/ride/2047932

Wow, it's an original V8 big window fleet! It's worth saving that's for sure. If funds are low you can always start by sanding the rust down and sealing it to prevent worsening.

http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/7/web/2047000-2047999/2047932_10_full.jpg
http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/7/web/2047000-2047999/2047932_11_full.jpg
http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/7/web/2047000-2047999/2047932_12_full.jpg
http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/7/web/2047000-2047999/2047932_14_full.jpg

Your dash isn't even hacked! I would dig into that sucker, it's a good builder.
http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/7/web/2047000-2047999/2047932_19.jpg

as far as I know, none of it is hacked in any way. the rear bumper I dont think is the original, and the hubcap on one of the wheels and on the seat are from a panel truck.

As for the engine, apparently thats a 350 v8 that they put in police cars back then, 330hp? something like that? I dunno the detailed specifics. But as far as our build, we want the outside to look stock (bring back the two tone paint job, put steelies and hub caps on it, no lowering) but more modern inside (newer/slightly used engine (LT1 came up... :P) PB/PS, Factory a/c, all the goodies. Still not sure about transmission.

EDIT: Meant to say the only thing i've noticed is a light was added to the engine compartment. Look in the closer engine bay picture, on the driver side fender well.

Yo! Not only is that a deluxe cab truck... That trim that runs down the side of the bed? -- That's valuable stuff (rare and desirable)! That truck is definately worth owning. Don't hesitate, snatch it up NOW!

:cong:

The truck actually pictured above my family does own. The one mentioned at the beginning of this thread is in much better shape. I just don't have pictures of it. Maybe one of these days I can start a build thread for that 59 piece of mess. Progess would definately not be as fast as some builds, but it would come along.

Right.

My point is this -- invest some time now and arrest that decay (washed, covered, on gravelled high ground if at all possible) so that when you do get around to building it the truck isn't a pile of rust flakes. :)

Do you have photos of the truck that you mentioned in your initial post?

Sure, some folks will drop 20 grand on one of these... Some folks drop a lot more (although they aren't usually stock). That '59 that your family owns is a fairly unusual truck -- it has a two-year bed with a one-year trim option. Plus (as Jebb mentioned) it has a V8 (original V8 truck? -- 283 for this year would have been... check frame motor mounts for rivets). If it's a shortbed it's worth even more.

Good luck on your search.

Just like my first one that I sold about 4 years ago. Man I wish I had it still. She even had the sunvisor and the hood bird accessory.
And was an orignal paint factory V8 Custom Cab short box fleetside and never restored but all original 72,000 mile farm truck. Sold it in Hemmings to a guy in Arizona for $6500. The guy spruced up the paint and put stock hubcaps and wide whites and sold it for upper teens I hear. I'll have all that much in my stock 59 restoration builder project now. Mark189380

That's a gem, Mark.

I passed one up ('59 deluxe with a 235) a couple of years ago. Wish I had that decision to do over. Oh well.

Just like my first one that I sold about 4 years ago. Man I wish I had it still. She even had the sunvisor and the hood bird accessory.
And was an orignal paint factory V8 Custom Cab short box fleetside and never restored but all original 72,000 mile farm truck. Sold it in Hemmings to a guy in Arizona for $6500. The guy spruced up the paint and put stock hubcaps and wide whites and sold it for upper teens I hear. I'll have all that much in my stock 59 restoration builder project now. Mark189380


Holy crap that is a beautiful truck. Isn't hood emblem something that only came with v8's?

Our truck is a short bed. It needs pass side long pieces of chrome, and driver side "fleetside" emblem as far as I can tell. also cab trim, but supposedly thats sitting with it somewhere!... good stuff

Yeah, the hood emblem in front of the hood has a small raised "V" under a noteable smaller bow tie emblem as you can see on my hood. The hood bird rocket on top of the hood was right out of the 58-59 GM accessories catalogue as was the painted metal sunvisor over the windshield. As Norseman said the front V8 motor mounts should be riveted to the frame and of course the first detail to a factory 283 V8 truck is the VIN# on the title and plate. It will read V3A59******* denoting a V8, 3100/114 inch wheelbase series, and of course a 1959 model. If it is missing that "V" in front of the VIN number, the truck was a standard in line 6 model from the factory anyway. Mark

Yeah my dad updated me on his truck. His was not an original v8, it was a 6cylinder. However, the guy's house that it's sitting at right now was into racing however long ago, and he's the one that got the 350 v8 police engine in there :metal:

The hood ornament is ok, eh, but the visor is neat. and obviously the rest of the truck is just awesome heh.

So, anyone got any spare space in a shop nearby (bama/tenn areas) where I can put this thing and work on it... or maybe i can talk him into putting in his garage and working on it slowly :P

Sweet truck!