1961 Chevrolet Apache – Reader Resto

By: Jack Harris with Guy Allen, Photography by: Guy Allen

Date: 24.11.2023

For Jack Harris, this Chevrolet Apache represents a special time in his childhood.

ORIGINAL CAR – 1961 Chevrolet Apache

OWNER – Jack Harris

LENGTH OF RESTORATION – 2 years

This truck has been around as long as I can remember. We (my family) were coming into Bourke (NSW) when I was five or six and I remember the Apache as part of a fleet for a travelling carnival.

It was owned by the Laurie family and the retinue included a bigger truck towing a steam-driven merry-go-round. There was a girl in the truck about my age – I was going to marry her! And behind it the merry-go-round.

The Chevrolet must have made an impression, because I remember it as plain as day.

Frank and Pat Laurie bought it in Yass around 1963-64. It’s a factory right-hand-drive, which is a rarity. You talk to classic Chev people when you’re chasing parts and they say they’ve never seen one.

The Apache and merry-go-round.

Pat used to drive it a lot. She’s looking forward to seeing it in the magazine!

Frank Laurie was something of a legend – at the time every kid in NSW should have gone to his funeral.

We had no money in those days, and this bloke knew who was who and, would let the kids ride a lot longer than they paid for. He’d give you a few extra rides – just a wonderful man.

As years went by, my sister married into the family that owned the carnival. Eventually, the Chev ended up in a shed in Dubbo – it was parked in 1974. It and the merry-go-round were at the Laurie farm.

The Apache is also known as Task Force in its first generation, and then became the C/K Series from 1960.

The new design was originally developed as a truck chassis, but included a lot of passenger-car thinking in the Apache. The pickups had what was called a drop-centre frame that allowed for a lower cabin and centre of gravity.

Rough and ready – The Apache was in tatty condition, but wore its original rego plate.

Chevrolet made a big deal out of the 'Comfort-King' cabs, promising: "There’s a world of room inside; plenty of head, hip, hat and leg room for three big men."

Engine offerings included a 135hp 261ci (4.3lt) Thriftmaster straight-six (the engine that was originally in this car), or a 160hp 283ci (4.6lt) Trademaster V8.

Busted and rusted – The body was in very poor condition.

They were available with several different manual and auto transmissions. Most were two-wheel-drive, but 4x4 versions were also on the list.

As you might expect, there was a huge amount of customisation available, including the choice of fleetside or stepside rear trays. That was in addition to taller full-truck bodies.

First coat – In bare metal, the Apache has never looked so dull.

About eight years ago I learned the Chev was still at the Laurie farm, so I approached the family and asked to buy it. They gave it to me. 

It was in poor shape after sitting for so long. The roof guards and bonnet were rusted out.

Bright again – The new hue transforms the Apache with no shortcuts.

We managed to get replacement panels out of the USA – the parts supply over there is surprisingly good. There seems to be a mini industry over there for Apaches.

A bloke called Rob Treen in Stony Creek (Vic) did the panel and paint for us.

Framed – The interior gets the colourful treatment.

We did the interior locally. That was one of the easier aspects of the job – tidying it up, painting it, then making new upholstery along the same lines as the originals. 

The engine was originally the six, but it was pretty tired and we decided to convert it to a 350 (5.7lt) V8. We put a beefed-up, four-speed manual transmission behind it, using a custom bell housing.

UFO - Apache bonnet takes on an alien look.

A lot of that work was done by Justin Elliot in Stony Creek. It’s beautiful – you put your foot down and away she goes.

It’s still running hydraulic drum brakes, while the suspension is standard. That means independent front with torsion bars, and a live rear axle with coils. Chevrolet switched the two-wheel-drive models to front coils in 1963.

I see an Apache door – And I want to paint it brilliant orange.

The horse in the tray is not from the Laurie merry-go-round, but another of the same era. I restored it by memory of the original and it adds something to the Chev when I show it.

What’s it like to drive? You’ve got to hang on to it. If you were going to give it a bit of a flogging, you would need all of the road – that’s just what they were like.

The horse is from Jack's childhood.

It’s used regularly. I just jump in it to go to town. You can see it from a mile away and it turns heads!

That carnival coming to town was one of the best parts of my childhood, so it brings back some wonderful memories.

VITAL STATS

1961 CHEVROLET APACHE

Body: Two-door pickup

Engine: 4277cc straight-six

Power: 99kW

Torque: 294Nm

Gearbox: 3-speed manual

Suspension: Independent (f); leaf spring (r)

Brakes: Drum (f); drum (r)

Wheels: 15-inch

From Unique Cars #484, Oct 2023

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