History When did Chevy start using "Apache"....

[333 Half Evil]

I was wondering when Chevy began using Apache name on thier trucks? I was thinking it was 1958, but lately I've see several 55, 56, and 57 chevy pick-up that were called Apaches. I've seen pictures of the trucks, but no where on them did it say Apache, and a couple of them had the 58-59 fleetside boxes, but that wasn't original. I had thought that the Cameo came to end in 1957, and 1958 the Apache came to be.....

[Brandy]

Here lesbian bait:

1955 Second Series - First year for new body style. New "wrap-around" windshield - a truck industry first^[1] - and optional wrap-around rear window on Deluxe cabs.^[2] Power steering and power brakes are now available for the first time on GM trucks. Electrical system has been upgraded to 12 volts. Fenders have single headlights and one-piece emblem is mounted below horizontal line on fender.^[3]
1956 - Wider hood emblem. Two-piece fender emblems are now mounted above horizontal fender line. Last year for egg crate grille.
1957 - Only year for more open grille. Hood is flatter with two spears on top, similar to the 1957 Bel Air. Fender emblems are still above fender line, but are now oval-shaped, as opposed to previous versions in script.
1958 - First year for fleetside bed, significant redesign of front end. All ⅓-ton trucks are now called Apaches. Truck now has four headlights instead of the previous two and features a shorter, wider grille running the width of the front end. Parking lights are now in the grille instead of being in the front of the fender and the hood is similar to 1955/1956 models, but with a flat "valley" in the middle. First year for factory-equipped air conditioning.
1959 - Minimal changes from 1958. The last year that the NAPCO (Northwestern Auto Parts Company) "Powr-Pak" four-wheel drive conversion could be factory ordered.

[terd ferguson]

I'll add to what Brandy said. The '47-'55.1 trucks were known as AD or Advanced Design. '55.2-'59 were known as TF or Task Force trucks. As Brandy stated, the Apache designation began in '58.

[Saxman]

55.2 through '59 are known as Task Force series trucks, I believe. This includes the Apache, Viking, models etc. in '58 and '59.

Originally Posted by 333 Half Evil

I was wondering when Chevy began using Apache name on thier trucks? I was thinking it was 1958, but lately I've see several 55, 56, and 57 chevy pick-up that were called Apaches. I've seen pictures of the trucks, but no where on them did it say Apache, and a couple of them had the 58-59 fleetside boxes, but that wasn't original. I had thought that the Cameo came to end in 1957, and 1958 the Apache came to be.....

There were some '58 Cameos made but they are very few. I believe they also had the Apache designation but were only made early in the model year prior to the release of the Fleetside bed trucks. Someone correct me if I am wrong.

[zman]

Originally Posted by Saxman

55.2 through '59 are known as Task Force series trucks, I believe. This includes the Apache, Viking, models etc. in '58 and '59.

There were some '58 Cameos made but they are very few. I believe they also had the Apache designation but were only made early in the model year prior to the release of the Fleetside bed trucks. Someone correct me if I am wrong.

Yep TF until '59. The Deluxe trim for the Fleetside was a 59 only thing as well. But to the best of my knowledge the Cameo's were available along side the Fleetside, then disappeared. I really miss my '59.



It wasn't the prettiest but served me well.

[oldspert]

Actually the 58 style Fleetside bed came out in 57 as a special edition. Available in both long bed and short bed. Not many around now and for sure were not many sold in 57.

[333 Half Evil]

Originally Posted by oldspert

Actually the 58 style Fleetside bed came out in 57 as a special edition. Available in both long bed and short bed. Not many around now and for sure were not many sold in 57.

This was the steel fleetside bed? It may have came out in 57, but it was the 58 model year, right? The "fleetside" box on the 1955-1957 model year trucks was a fibreglass one, called a Cameo.

[333 Half Evil]

Originally Posted by Brandy

Here lesbian bait:

1955 Second Series - First year for new body style. New "wrap-around" windshield - a truck industry first^[1] - and optional wrap-around rear window on Deluxe cabs.^[2] Power steering and power brakes are now available for the first time on GM trucks. Electrical system has been upgraded to 12 volts. Fenders have single headlights and one-piece emblem is mounted below horizontal line on fender.^[3]
1956 - Wider hood emblem. Two-piece fender emblems are now mounted above horizontal fender line. Last year for egg crate grille.
1957 - Only year for more open grille. Hood is flatter with two spears on top, similar to the 1957 Bel Air. Fender emblems are still above fender line, but are now oval-shaped, as opposed to previous versions in script.
1958 - First year for fleetside bed, significant redesign of front end. All ⅓-ton trucks are now called Apaches. Truck now has four headlights instead of the previous two and features a shorter, wider grille running the width of the front end. Parking lights are now in the grille instead of being in the front of the fender and the hood is similar to 1955/1956 models, but with a flat "valley" in the middle. First year for factory-equipped air conditioning.
1959 - Minimal changes from 1958. The last year that the NAPCO (Northwestern Auto Parts Company) "Powr-Pak" four-wheel drive conversion could be factory ordered.

Wasn't the "Cameo" 1955-1957 considered a fleetside? Granted it was not a steel box like that on the 58-59, but it was a fleet side box...wasn't it? If not, why would it not be considered a fleetside? By the way, I know the differences in the body styles, emblems etc. the question was about the name Apache. Lately there has been a few 1955-1957 chevy trucks for sale and around that the owners were calling Apaches. I didn't think the Apache name designation was used on the 1955-1957 chevy trucks. Thanks.

[333 Half Evil]

Just had this in an email to me:
Chevy Task Force Pickups
1955-59



Phil Skinner

For 1958 a total redesign of the front end sheet metal gave the Task Force trucks a new look. Topping the design was the employment of the industry-wide adoption of quad headlights, along with a massive front grille. Also new on for Chevrolet trucks was a model name: Apache. Base Apaches featured a light beige or off-white grille, front bumper and hubcaps, which could be substituted with bright metal trim for a price. While the Cameo had not been a big seller, it did spawn new design ideas for pickup beds. Another new term was introduced: Fleetside. The Fleetside replaced the Cameo early in the model year, and saw strong sales. Devoid of individual fenders, these new trucks had all-steel contoured side panels and a larger bed capacity than the Cameo or other units with independent fenders, now known as "stepsides".
Prior to 1958 Chevrolet trucks with four-wheel drive had to depend on outside suppliers, most notably NAPCO, to perform 4WD driveline conversions. In 1958, a GM-designed unit became available for all basic Chevrolet light and medium duty trucks. Another option new that year was Cool-Pak air conditioning. This was a dealer installed factory-authorized system.

(C) Copyright 1999-2001 VMR International, Inc. This article originally appeared in the March 2000 issue of Collector Car & Truck Market Guide

There was much more info, but this covered what I was looking for. Thanks Tim for the email.

[squirrel]

The cameo had smooth outer bedsides, but it was a step side bed, not a fleetside. It was also expensive. 58 was the first fleetside the bed could hold a lot more than the earlier trucks, and it was the first Apache.

[oldspert]

Originally Posted by 333 Half Evil

This was the steel fleetside bed? It may have came out in 57, but it was the 58 model year, right? The "fleetside" box on the 1955-1957 model year trucks was a fibreglass one, called a Cameo.

Nope, they were 57 cab with the steel 58 style fleetside beds, very few made.

[Rocky]

Originally Posted by Saxman

55.2 through '59 are known as Task Force series trucks, I believe. This includes the Apache, Viking, models etc. in '58 and '59.



There were some '58 Cameos made but they are very few. I believe they also had the Apache designation but were only made early in the model year prior to the release of the Fleetside bed trucks. Someone correct me if I am wrong.

You're right...I had a '58 Cameo. Came with more trim than the 55-57s. Mine was a tacky light green and white tutone..My ex brother in law loaned it to a buddy who piled it into a telephone pole...wrecked the front but the back was unharmed.

[333 Half Evil]

Originally Posted by oldspert

Nope, they were 57 cab with the steel 58 style fleetside beds, very few made.

Where did you get this info? I would like to know more about this truck as it must be very rare. What model number was it? Was it offered in long and short? 1/2 and/or 3/4 ton? This is opposite of any info I've had, as the fibreglass side box was used into the early 58 production run, then the steel fleetside box was used.

[333 Half Evil]

Originally Posted by Rocky

You're right...I had a '58 Cameo. Came with more trim than the 55-57s. Mine was a tacky light green and white tutone..My ex brother in law loaned it to a buddy who piled it into a telephone pole...wrecked the front but the back was unharmed.

Rocky, did your truck have both designations on it? Cameo and Apache? Or was it just Cameo? Do you have pics of the truck? Thanks.

[Rocky]

I don't remember seeing any Apache emblems on it...I never clicked a photo of the truck...even after I sold it to my borther-in-law who painted it flat black and changed the rebuilt 283 for a hotrod 327/4 speed.
I think it had Cameo designations on the bed sides tho..been a long time!
The only Apache emblems I ever remember seeing were on the B-pillars of 60 and later trucks...I had a 64 Apache with aluminum Apache emblems on each B-pillar.

[49ratfink]

so the big question is, were ther stepsides called stepsides before there were fleetsides?

[cosmo]

Originally Posted by 49ratfink

so the big question is, were ther stepsides called stepsides before there were fleetsides?

No. You see, when there is only one type of bed (ie: Step Side), it is not called any but "pickup".

It's like WWI. It was called "The War to End ALL Wars" Then another large scale war, and TWtEAW became WWI. Up until then, it wasn't 'first', it was 'only'.

Think of it this way: you are not Frank Sr. until you have a Frank Jr.

Cosmo

[squirrel]

Originally Posted by oldspert

Nope, they were 57 cab with the steel 58 style fleetside beds, very few made.

when did you see this truck? If it was after 1957, and you have no documentation that it was originally that way, I'm betting that someone put a 58/9 bed on an earlier truck.

[jonzcustomshop]

to my knowledge all 58's had an emblem on the front fender that said cheverolet, and the numerical designation on the front, and apache on the back of the emblem.
the 58 cameos also had the cameo emblem on the bed, and the fleetsides had a fleetside emblem on thier bed.

567 trucks just had the emblem on the front fender with the chevrolet and the model designation.

what you are running into is misinformed people calling early trucksapaches, because they think they are the same as the 58-59.
it is just the same as people refering to 59-60 chevs as bubble tops.

[Saxman]

Originally Posted by oldspert

Actually the 58 style Fleetside bed came out in 57 as a special edition. Available in both long bed and short bed. Not many around now and for sure were not many sold in 57.

Never, ever, heard that. I think someone is pulling your leg...or you're pulling ours.