Pick of the Day: 1959 Chevrolet Apache 4-Speed

Pop quiz: What’s one thing that makes 1950s Chevrolet trucks even more attractive? Well, that’s kind of a trick question. The answer is two-tone paint. Our Pick of the Day is proof. You can find this 1959 Chevrolet Apache Fleetside pickup listed on ClassicCars.com by a dealership in Santa Rosa, Florida.

As I mentioned in a recent Pick of the Day, Chevrolet renamed its “Task Force” line of trucks and equipped them with quad round headlights for 1958. The light-duty model became the Apache. The following year, Chevrolet made minor styling revisions and equipped the Apache’s Thriftmaster 235.5ci I-6 with a new camshaft design that increased torque to 217 lb-ft (and lowered horsepower to 135).

The ’57s trucks were handsome, but the facelift was a success, managing to keep them looking good yet set them apart from their predecessors. This ’59 stands out even more thanks to its lighthearted light blue and white paint scheme, which is repeated by the light blue wheels and whitewall tires below.

Inside, there’s more two-tone, but it’s offset by the black and white vinyl bench seat. If you ask me, that contrast is a good thing because being too matchy-matchy is a bad thing. Plus, upholstery that matches the body’s and interior’s color scheme would make this truck look more delicate and toy-like. The aged wood planks that make up the floor of the bed give this Apache a touch of ruggedness.

The selling dealer doesn’t identify the size of the straight-six under the hood, but the ’59 Series 31 trucks like this one were available with a Thriftmaster 235.5ci I-6. Chevy paired that with a three-speed or four-speed manual gearbox; according to the dealer, this truck has the latter transmission.