1958 Chevy Apache: The Perfect Rat Rod Candidate
All this classic Chevrolet truck needs is a drivetrain transplant, a shot of clear coat and a little bit o’ TLC.
Rat rods are all the rage these days. But with both collectors and restorers scavenging the county for suitable candidates, it’s getting harder and harder to find solid old trucks. And that’s what makes this 1958 Chevrolet Apache pickup so special. It’s quite literally the perfect candidate for a rat rod/restomod type treatment. We spied the truck in the Hemmings classifieds, where it was recently up for sale at a very reasonable $8,550 asking price.
In this day and age, folks are actually painting cars to look like they have patina. But this Apache, proudly wearing a few decades of weathering, needs no such treatment. A light sanding and a few coats of clear are all you need to achieve that coveted look. The well preserved exterior is a result of the truck’s California lineage.
The minor exterior work will allow the new owner to focus on the important stuff, like mechanicals. The original six cylinder engine doesn’t come with the truck, which is just fine. Because you’ll want to go ahead and swap it out with a modern V8 anyway. Heck, just remove the body and slap it on an entirely new frame like most folks do with old trucks these days.
In this day and age, folks are actually painting cars to look like they have patina. But this Apache, proudly wearing a few decades of weathering, needs no such treatment.
Throw in a restitched interior, and you’ve got the makings of an awesome ride. Find the right donor car, and you won’t spend a fortune doing it, either. And that’s the beauty of the rat rod movement: If you can appreciate the look that only Mother Nature and Father Time can provide, you’ll love this project.
