Produced from 1955-59, Chevrolet’s “Task Force” generation of trucks helped bring style and comfort into the pickup market. While previously seen as purely utilitarian, trucks could now offer a comfortable ride, attractive trim, and even some creature comforts previously reserved for passenger cars.
An advertisement said, “Because they’re tough — Chevrolet’s Task force ’58 trucks are ideal for rugged farm work. Typical of Chevrolet’s can-take-it lineup is the new Fleetside pickup. It’s built to do your toughest farm chores and come up smiling. And it’s styled to make the lady of the house proud of its good looks on trips to town. Husky frames tote king-size loads on or off the road, sturdy axles and spring suspensions protect loads, add long life, keep upkeep costs down.”
I took a few minutes to admire a nicely restored Apache on display at a car show recently. One of the main design enhancements to the exterior of the Task Force trucks had to do with the greenhouse: A new wraparound windshield gave it much improved visibility when compared to the outgoing “Action Line” trucks. Other exterior features on the truck I saw included quad headlights, chrome bumpers, driver-side mirror, dual squared-off exhaust outlets, and chrome wheels wrapped in Michelin white-letter tires.
The bed had been lined with wood planks and stainless steel hardware. Beverage not included!
The badge on the fender read “Chevrolet Apache 32,” which corresponded to a half-ton truck built on a long wheelbase (123.25 inches), as opposed to the Apache 31, which was a half-ton with a short cargo bed and a 114-inch wheelbase.
The “Fleetside” designation on the rear bedsides meant that the truck had smooth-sided design as opposed to the “Stepside” alternative. Whoever ordered the truck when it was new clearly wanted to maximize cargo-carrying space.
The interior of the cab showed some unique touches such as black vinyl bucket seats, Nardi Torino woodgrain steering wheel, B&M shift lever, auxiliary gauges, and power windows.
Given the unique needs of truck buyers, Chevrolet offered a myriad of engines for its pickups in 1958. At the lower end of the lineup was a 235ci Thriftmaster inline-six that was rated at 145 horsepower. From there, offerings included 265ci and 283ci small-block V-8s, and depending on the weight class and series, a big-block 348ci V-8 could be ordered.
Aside from the inherent versatility that a pickup truck can deliver, one of the most compelling reasons to own one is the availability of aftermarket parts. Various companies, including LMC Truck as an example, specialize in things like body components, bumpers, fuel system, interior, and everything in between. As someone who has struggled endlessly to find parts for some obscure late-model Japanese cars, the thought of just being able to order stuff online for a classic vehicle is enticing!
I hope whoever drove this clean ’58 Fleetside to the car show enjoys it for many years to come.
