The last thing you might expect to see inside the lobby of American Honda’s corporate office is a Chevy pickup, but that’s exactly what you’ll find as a centerpiece inside the space. Specifically, the truck is a 1961 Chevrolet Apache 10 that was restored in 2019 and showcased at that year’s SEMA show in Las Vegas.
Photo Credit: American Honda
The truck is a re-creation of the original fleet of Chevrolets that were used to deliver motorcycles to dealerships around Southern California after Honda first opened for business in 1959. The restored example was painstakingly modeled to look like one in the above photo of one of the original trucks at Honda’s headquarters on Pico Boulevard in Las Angeles. Honda celebrated its 60th anniversary in America in June 2019, so the project commemorated that milestone.
According to a press release that was distributed at the time, the early years of Honda were instrumental in paving the way for the company’s success in North America. By 1965, the company was the best-selling motorcycle brand in America with a market share of over 70 percent.
Some of the truck’s features include quad headlights, dual side mirrors, body side moldings, eight-foot bed, embossed tailgate, and steel wheels wrapped in whitewall tires. The restoration even included replicating the logos and lettering with the original Pico Boulevard street address.
The truck was locked and had the windows rolled up, but I was still able to get a pretty good look at the interior. The bench seat was upholstered in neutral-toned, patterned cloth. The rest of the cab was pretty spartan: no radio, A/C, or modern creature comforts here.
Honda said that the truck is powered by a 283ci V-8 mated to a three-speed manual transmission. It probably hasn’t been put to use for any motorcycle deliveries recently, but I would imagine it could be put back into service in short order if needed.
And what about that cargo? Inside the truck bed were two vintage Honda motorcycles. One of them was a Trail 90 (originally CT90) which was produced from 1966-79. It used a peppy 89cc four-stroke engine and a semi-automatic four-speed transmission, and it was one of the bikes that helped Honda build its reputation and leave its footprint in the U.S. transportation industry.
I wonder if the folks at General Motors are pleased to see one of its classic models on display at a competing manufacturer’s headquarters. Then again, GM and Honda have partnered on a number of projects over the years, including the now-discontinued Acura ZDX, which shared underpinnings with the Chevrolet Blazer EV.
That being said, I’d still be shocked if GM ever displayed a Honda truck inside its corporate lobby.
