I have to begin with a sincere apology because I am not sure who sent me the link to this truck. The last week has been flat out nutso and there has been stuff flying every which direction, including sweet links. That being said, whoever did send it gets two gold stars for their forehead because this truck is one of the sweetest we have ever shown on BangShift. It is not the first 1957 NAPCO truck we have shown as there was this amazingly rare crew cab model that I openly drooled on. This is obviously not a crew cab truck, but a one ton panel truck that was used by a logging or forestry type outfit at some point in its life. The worn patina is absolutely amazing and the truck looks to be 100% stock right down to the lug nuts. The seller states that he thinks it is the only one in existence and while they are certainly rare, this is not the only 1957 one ton panel truck with NAPCO four wheel drive.
It seems wild to think about a time when four wheel drive trucks were enough of a niche business that GM would actually contract with an outside supplier/contractor to convert them into that configuration. Unless you lived on a farm, worked some sort of construction job, or spent time in the forest, four wheel drive was not something “regular” people used in day to day life. The NAPCO axles with their name cast right into the tubes and the spartan interior mean that this was a truck used for work and work only. The inline six and four speed transmission (granny low and three forward gears) mean that the top speed is probably about 60 mph but this thing would lug itself up steep hills like a goat and it was probably pretty decent for dragging stuff out of the woods if necessary when in low gear.
If we bought this truck we’d paint it and letter it as it was back in the day, we’d refresh the engine, and leave the interior bone stock (maybe we’d add a bench seat for the kids), and we would fill in the hold that was made in the side of the body to put the window in that is visible in a few of the photos. Restoring the axles can be a tricky business as parts are getting really scarce. That said, we’d give them some r&r as well. We’re in love!
SCROLL DOWN TO SEE ALL THE PHOTOS AND THE LINK TO THE EBAY AD FOR THIS 1957 CHEVY PANEL TRUCK WITH NAPCO 4WD
CLICK HERE TO SEE THE AD FOR THIS 1957 CHEVY PANEL TRUCK WITH NAPCO 4WD
That is awesome! I would rock it as is!!!
Hey Brian, you forgot to put the description “highly desirable” in your story line opening 🙂
It’s absolutely perfect as is. That’s one awesome ride in exactly the right condition. I’d love to own it.
If it’s too slow for some people I’d drive over them in it.
Amazing. I hope somebody doesn’t buy it and paint it up. It looks perfect.
Very nice!
Great workhorse engine and driveline, nice utilitarian platform, massive leaf packs means it was mean to be work hard.
My only concern are those lift blocks over the rear axle, swap in some built-to-match Alcans on all four corners and you’ll probably have a nicer ride, better articulation and no axle wrap.
I was thinking the only thing I would add would be a “Gear-Vendors” overdrive. I do know they only work in 2 wheel drive mode (according to Freiburger). I changed my mind with thoughts of this big puppy doing more then 60mph on the local interstate. I wouldn’t change anything else either! (except removing that ad-on side window) 🙂
Wow beautiful. Reserve not met at $7300… wonder what he expects, 10 k? I think that is fair. 20 k? Well maybe, what do you guys think?