1959 Chevrolet 3100 Fleetside Deluxe
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Vehicle Description

1959 Chevrolet 3100 $35,000

1959 3100 Short bed Fleetside with Deluxe cab, Panoramic rear window and Rare Factory Stainless spear bed trim. 235 CI, 3 speed on column. Original Numbers matching. Clean California title.

From Jim Carter Trucks - 1959 Deluxe Trim -

The bed side trim moldings were used on the second year Fleetside Chevrolet deluxe pickups for just one year, 1959. General Motors waited one year after the Fleetside introduction to give their dealers time to sell all their 1958 Cameos (The end of this model) so there was not two deluxe designs available at one time. The bed moldings added much to the 1959 deluxe pickup. In addition GM used many trim features that were once on the 1955 and 1958 Cameo cabs. These side moldings came on both 6 and 8 foot bed lengths. Thus, this bed trim was the main new expense General Motors had in creating a 1959 deluxe Fleetside. (And these new Fleetside beds could carry more merchandise than a Cameo!)

I bought this in March 2004, This is the original ad -

---For sale ---

1959 Chevy Apache 1/2 ton Pick-up

235 3 speed column shift. This truck is in fine mechanical shape, very dependable. This is a great example of an unmolested, stock \'short-bed\' Fleet side with a big back window.

Details: I bought this from a farmer in Portland in 2000. Things I have done to this truck in the last 4 years:

- Original straight 6 - 235 rebuilt by Bay Engine Rebuilders in Oakland. 3,000 miles on rebuild (receipts)

- replaced generator, water pump, new radiator

- Differential gear set upgrade kit from Patricks Trucks 3.38:1 (rebuild receipts)

- replaced oak bed

Weber 32/36 2bbl progressive carb (from Langdon's Stovebolt Co)

New exhaust pipes & muffler

New wiring harness

Comes with shop manual & parts book (and other odds & ends)

This is a numbers matching original truck with modern gearing for today\'s freeways and a new power disc brake upgrade to stop it on a dime.

It runs beautifully, goes straight down the road and is a pleasure to drive. I wanted to bring this back to the way it rode and drove when new but had to do something about the inadequate brakes Now it Stops on a dime and has a very nice rake with the 3 inch dropped front axle.

I have built quite a few vehicles in the last 20 years but every time I wasn't involved in something else I'd return to work on this.

To date, this is what I've done -

New Cen-pen 3 inch dropped axle installed

New King pins installed

Front spring frame bushings replaced

Front spring eye bushings replaced

New spring shackles and bushings on front springs

New spring U-bolts

New upgraded Tie rod and tie rod ends installed

Upgrade Tapered wheel bearings installed

Professionally Rebuilt steering box installed. New NOS upper mast bearing installed

Original restored steering wheel in like new condition

New NOS horn button

New NOS 3-speed gear selector box installed

New Disc Brakes (front) installed

New Brake booster installed

Reserve Vacuum tank for P/brake booster installed.

New Rear Brake shoes, cylinders, springs & hardware installed

New rear emergency brake cable installed. New Gas Tank, with new filler/vent hoses installed

New marine canister fuel filter/water separator installed

New flexible hose connector fuel line to tank installed

New floor gas line and sender wire grommets installed

Rear end cover removed/inspected, filled with new gear oil.

New shock absorbers installed (4)

Cylinder head re-torqued 3000 miles after rebuild

Manifolds removed and reinstalled with Clifford 1pc gasket and new alignment rings

*NOS Commercial truck emission draft tube with NOS PCV valve installed. The PCV setup is from a Large commercial truck of that era. It eliminates the crankcase down pipe and routes the gases through an NOS period correct PCV and into the intake manifold. This eliminates the smoking and oil dripping from a down pipe.

Generator rebuilt

Starter rebuilt.

New NOS distributor installed

New spark plug wires, cap, rotor installed

New voltage regulator

New coil installed.

New Fuel pump

New battery cables installed

New NOS turn signal switch installed

Day/Night rearview mirror

New NOS Temperature gauge installed.

New Temperature sender installed

New floor gaskets for steering column installed

New NOS headlight switch installed

New gas pedal, brake and clutch floor seals installed

New headlight dimmer switch

New firewall grommets installed

Emergency brake handle removed, cleaned, inspected and lubed.

Instrument panel cleaned, lubricated new NOS gauges installed

New NOS ignition switch installed

New sealed beam headlights

New NOS Pedal pads included

New brake & clutch pedal brass bushings installed

New shift rod bushings

New inner fender seals installed

New Fender seals installed

Factory NOS Valve cover

Battery is one year old.

Needs your paint and upholstery.

I have been focused on the mechanics of this truck not the paint & upholstery and that is pretty much all that's left to do. All the hard work is done. The engine is rebuilt, I've put about a thousand miles on it since I got it so it now has about 4K miles on it. All the engine accessories including distributor, water pump, starter, generator, radiator etc are rebuilt or replaced. Fuel induction upgraded to a modern Weber 2 barrel for improved reliable performance and a brand new gas tank and NOS fuel pump with an additional Marine filter insures dependable operation.

Rear end gears are changed to a modern ratio that lets you cruise down the highway at speed and new power disc brakes with reserve vacuum tank along with all new rear brakes lets you stop quickly and safely from that speed. The front end is entirely rebuilt and upgraded with new dropped axle, new king pins, heavy duty tie rod and ends, bushings and tapered wheel bearings. The truck tracks as it should with all new shocks.

When I bought the truck in 2004, it was a licensed daily driver whose owner had begun restoration as he drove it. The body was clean and the stainless including the bed trim was in very good condition.

Body work that I have done in the last 20 years of ownership includes the following-

I replaced drivers side front fender due to quarter size rust hole in lower corner and I had a better fender available. I replaced the original door as the original had two large speaker holes cut in the inside and I had a perfect door that came off the same truck as the replacement fender. This door still needs the glass installed, all parts to reassemble plus extra parts are included. Original Wing window frame has been re-chromed and new vent glass and weather-stripping is included. Remaining glass and parts are original. Glass is as expected for being 65 years old but definitely usable to keep original if desired. A very nice passenger door is included to replace that door which also has speaker cut outs. It's in excellent condition, Passenger fender has had patch welded in to repair usual corner rust and repair needs to be skim coated.

I have a set of rare factory sealed NOS door seals so doors will shut properly as opposed to after market.

Also have an NOS Window Channel for passenger side

Outside sun visor installed when truck was new, still in excellent condition.

Not withstanding some surface rust, truck is rust free with the exception of a 4 inch patch starting to appear on the rear wall of the inside passenger step box. Cab corners are good.

Tailgate was replaced with an NOS Take Off original. Perfect condition except for very little recent surface rust.

Front windshield has always had a 6 inch� crack starting at bottom. Never grown in 20 years but will be the next project. Rear glass is original and perfect.

Stainless cab trim is all good with the exception of one piece which has a little dent in it.

Box Stainless is in Excellent condition.

Dash is uncut and in original condition.

Rear step bumper is original steel from outside vendor in 1959

Optional Under bed spare tire carrier is all present and being used.

Oak bed was installed by previous owner is solid but needs refinishing.

Seat frame is bare, has been painted and now needs upholstery.

History-

This truck was originally purchased by Henry Hernandez of Guadalupe, Ca in 1959. I have continuing owner history including original vehicle registrations up to 1980. Owner's from 1991 through present history also known.

Sale includes

Newly restored Deluxe Heater with super rare NOS heater core

Original Radio that has been serviced by professional and stored inside. NOS factory set of Door weatherstrip Seals

NOS window channel passenger side.

Original headlight re-chromed bezels. New set Rear Springs with shackles

Brand new, in box, heavy duty class III trailer hitch.

New factory reproduction rubber floor mat from Brother's

Original rare 1959 Power steering/Generator unit to upgrade to PS

New rubber factory reproduction floor mat from Brother's

Factory service, assembly and owner's manuals, reprints.

Original glove box liner

New NOS peddle pads

NOS Flywheel

NOS Clutch & Pressure plates (several sets)

Large collection of spare parts including spare passenger side fender and door in excellent shape, extra chrome grill (needs re-chroming), Extra door frames/tracks & glass, set of original brake drums + more misc parts.

I built this from a solid, rust free unmolested original vehicle with a known local history.

With hundreds and Hundreds of hours spent in labor, all of the hard work has been done and done right. Now all it needs is your choice of paint and upholstery to make it your own and finish this rare, very desirable truck.