1958 was a pivotal year for Chevrolet-built trucks because it marked the debut of dual headlights and the Apache model, a name that would only last for 4 model years.
The Apache Fleetside editions were a stylish pickup with subtle rocket-styled bulges along its rear quarters, likely designed to celebrate the early years of the Space Race.
Jim Sutherland
Bonnie Plican is the unusual owner of a 1958 Chevy Apache Fleetside pickup because she is a young woman who was born many decades after her truck left the GM dealership. People from her generation are not typically drawn to 67-year-old trucks originally purchased by people from the Elvis era, but Bonnie clearly blazes her own path in life.
Bonnie told MyStarCollectorCar that she comes from a family of car guys, so Bonnie was undoubtedly influenced by their unbridled enthusiasm for the vintage vehicle hobby.
She purchased the ’58 Chevy truck in 2015 and was able to bring it back on the road by 2017. It had been off the road for many years and left outside to face the elements, along with numerous small caliber bullets when it was used for target practice. Fortunately, the bullet damage was light because the shooter used a light weapon and not a 50-caliber cannon that would have destroyed the old truck.
Hence the ’58 Chevy truck was a survivor in many ways when Bonnie became its owner 10 years ago. Her goal from the start was to preserve as much of the truck’s history as possible during its revival process.
Consequently, her truck still has GM’s famous 235-cubic inch straight-six engine coupled to a 3-on-the-tree manual transmission. Most of our older MyStarCollectorCar readers will already know a 3-on-the-tree tranny is attached to the steering column (tree) and was a popular choice during a bygone automotive era. However, it disappeared from vehicles many decades ago and is largely unknown by younger generations.
Bonnie is an exception to the rule because she now has no trouble using the old school 3-on-the-tree in her Chevy truck to travel from Point A to Point B, although she described mastering the shift process as a “learning experience”. Most of the time Point B is a car show because Bonnie and her family enjoy these events, given they are a car guy family.
As mentioned, Bonnie likes to stick with originality on her Chevy truck, but the bench seat needed a big makeover so, as a hands-on owner, she reupholstered it herself. Bonnie also switched out the truck’s generator and replaced it with an alternator for greater efficiency, plus she had to change out its side mirrors because they were beyond repair.
One of the more interesting original features on Bonnie’s vintage Chevy pickup is its windshield because somehow it was able to survive the past 67 years in the truck. Additionally, her ‘58 Chevy Apache still has its push starter on the floor.
There were many curious onlookers around Bonnie’s truck when MyStarCollectorCar interviewed her, including one guy who asked her if she wanted to sell it.
Her answer was an emphatic “No, I’m never selling it”. After all, she comes from a family of very dedicated car guys.
Jim Sutherland
BY: Jim Sutherland
Jim Sutherland is a veteran automotive writer whose work has been published by many major print and online publications. The list includes Calgary Herald, The Truth About Cars, Red Deer Advocate, RPM Magazine, Edmonton Journal, Montreal Gazette, Windsor Star, Vancouver Province, and Post Media Wheels Section.
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