Dare To Compare, Which To Buy The 59 Or 70
 

DARE TO COMPARE, WHICH TO BUY THE 59 OR 70

here are my two options
59 apache, $4995 has a 1956 V8 milage unknown
or
70 SWB C10 350 v8 advertised with 126k miles $3500

Both have 3 on the tree, from the pics it looks like the apache has had more work, but I admit I am not sure if there is bondo under that paint or not. Please give me all your input, how to decide etc.... I will use it as a daily driver for my 6 min commute and some trips to lowes on weekends. Nothing heavy. I like the body style of the apache, but the engine is 14 yrs older
2 pics are attached, much more of both @ http://deanhardt.homeip.net/albums/Truck-Pics

http://deanhardt.homeip.net/albums/T...vylf.thumb.jpg
http://deanhardt.homeip.net/albums/T...001s.thumb.jpg

59 59 59 59 59 59

But that's just My opinion!!!! I'm a little Biased! :D

Tough call, but I think I'd go with the Apache.

Personally I would go with the 70 because it is a Short wheel base....and the body style is better of course ;)

I would go with the 70

I personally would go for the '70 it looks solid. The '59 seems to be more bang for the buck but you best look them other real good before you make a decision. If you are going to use this truck as a daily driver you may consider the '70 as it is newer.

I personally couldn't drive a '59 daily even if it was only a 6 minute trip due to the risks of having something happen to it from general daily driving conditions etc. It is the "rarer" beauty of the two. Something to consider I suppose. Both seem like great trucks!

Daily driver?
The 70 hands down. The 59 will be down for a week at a time while you wait for parts to come in.

Its probably worth mentioning that I have a Honda Accord that I use for my appts ( I travel some from time to time) so when I say Daily driver, I mean by choice not by necessity.

Hey Andy!!!!!!!!! SHHHHHHHHHHH.... you're forgetting the COOOOOOOL factor! :D:D

Yes yes the cool factor weighs heavily on my mind. I am leaning toward the c10 though, it looks like the 1956 265 cu." V-8 with power pack is a bit rare and may make it more difficult if I have to do some repairs.

I would go with the 59. The 265 will take the same parts as the 350 in the 70 so that really isnt an issue.

cocran, actually, you'd be amazed at how many parts would NOT fit that early small block. Lots of revisions made shortly after that.
I still say 70, not becouse I dislike the 59 (although, the grill does make me think of a checker cab) but the 70 will ride better, easier to work on, fairly modern in suspention and brake department (esp with a simple disc upgrade) new parts are easy to find, used parts are easy to find (wile both are almost non-existent on the 59) and the creature comeforts are either already in the 70, or added real easily. The 59 would end up being more of a custom by the time you would enjoy driving it.
Besides, vacume operated windshield wipers suck. ;)
Oh, it was pretty cool seeing you in chat tonight phelgm.

Your turn Shawna. (slams 68)

I have to vote for the 59, but all the points made about why to go with the 70 are definately valid.

i say the 59 because it is more rare than a 70 plus it is a fleetside, now honestly how many of those do you see around, then you could find a 67-72 model for a few hundred bucks and slowly fix it up.

I'm with Andy, the 70....But like Slam_58, I'm Biased :D

I will have to go with the '70 just because it is newer but the decission is your's to make. You might want to go and look at them because what you see might not be what you get.

James :flag: :flag:

Its really a simple decision, Buy them Both

There ya go!!! Can't go wrong then! :D:D:D

A red '70 C10? Who would even be seen driving a piece of $@#! like that? :rolleyes: Just don't check the parking lot outside. :D

I sold the '53 for all the reasons above. Cool yes, practical, IMO, no. If you're gonna use the truck, and therefore expect it to be dependable and easily maintained, the '70 is much better equipped for that duty than the '59.

...SSOW :bowtie:

If it was me, I would buy the 59. You could always swap the engine out after a while to a more common SBC at minimal cost. But havig that rare V8 will only up the value of that truck as the years go on. As much as I love the 67-72 style, the 55-59 is still the nicest Chevy body style produced.

Does the 59 still have the solid front axle or has it been upgraded to an IFS system? If it's solid axle, you wouldn't really want it as a daily driver. It would be like driving a lumber wagon

Thanks for the heads up on the axle, he mentioned that some upgrades were made to make it more comfortable for daily conditions, i will have to see what those are. thanks again for all the advice and keep it coming, when I tag myself a newbie I dont just mean to this BB.

Here's another thought. If you want the drivability and ease of parts locating, I would be more inclined to go with a 71-72 Chevy or GMC truck. They come from the factory with 5 lug axels (so cool rims are easy to find), also they have factory front disc brakes. The 70 model has 4 wheel drums and 6 lug wheels.

I still prefer the 59, because they didn't make a whole lot of Cameo trucks, and the value keeps going up every year. JMO.

Decisions- they are often so tuff to make . I say if its a daily driver you are seeking than go in person and inspect both trucks. choose the one that you feel will look and hold up the longest with out much maintiance otherwise you may end up with just another project on your hands John

Hi,
This is John's wife and my idea is that you buy the 70 and give me the # to the person with the 59

Hey John's wife (nameless? :D ) Welcome to the board to ya! You might as well go ahead and sign up for your own board name, this place is the best message board on the net, and you will end up posting here daily like the rest of us :lol: :lol:

It's not a Cameo Don, thats just a fleetside bed. :DThat style was only available for 58 and 59. The cameo has a recessed body side as opposed to the protruding sides. They did however make a Cameo bed for 58 but there were hardly any made. I am learing about the 55-59's as I research them, preparing to dig into Shawnas

Thanks Tim, I never know that about those trucks. I looked back and he said it's an Apache model. What is that, just a short fleet, as apposed to a short step?

hes right about that 3 days old and already addicted here...... work, what work?

Decision time is in 2 weeks when the guy is back from vacation, after that I will release his info for anyone interested in the one I dont buy.

You might want to see if the 59 has a heater and defroster...it was an option, and kind of a must have item.
I was looking through my books for broduction numbers, and they didn't list any at all, however, that engine wasn't listed either. Acording to the red book, the only engines were the inline, a 283, and a 348.

As much as i love 67-72 trucks, I have played with them for about a 1/4 century now.....I would welcome the change of a different style truck! one thing for sure, the older "toys" will cost more to build, but the older stuff is what i really like. I have a couple "pocket trucks" to play with for my boys(1 ranger, & an s10 ). The oldest son is starting into Hamilton tech, & the youngest wont be too far behind.....cheap rods are in my budget now, but I still think about the oooold trucks! I would really like to build a 48-52 F 1 Ford, & have a 351 clevland to build.....it would have to be "bad to the bone" tho(chopped, channeled, dropped, tilt nose, independent front suspension, ect)...big bucks! go with what you really want.....crazyL :burnout:

Both Both Both!!! :D

I like em' both!!! But its your choice, as far as parts goes both are '' CHEVYS " so thats not a problem. I'd say both are solid, just check the cabs for rust. Its easy to replace a door,fender, bedside etc. But the money is in the rust repair. My 69 is from NC and thankfully no rust. Good luck!!

I would purchase both too. :D But the best way to decide on which truck you decide to purchase would be more than what year, make or model. I would look at rust areas, how complete, were they well maintained, take them for a spin see how they drive to get a feel for them. Taking them for a spin should show more about them, verses just looking them over.

Back in high school a buddy of mine used to own a '58 Apache swb stepside that still had the front straight axle running drums all around with a hot 350 sbc under the hood. That truck sure could lay down 2 prefect tire tracks. :burnout: :D That truck would stop on a dime too, once it almost put my head in the windshield, the brakes were so touchy. :eek: But we would bounce around in the cab like we riding in a low-rider while hitting the switches. :lol: :D If it has IFS up front, that's a plus, but if it doesn't I would probably pass on it since it will be a daily driver.
David

Hi Longhorn, heater and defrost are intact and functional. The engine is an older 56, not sure when the upgrade was done. Someone local told me to pull it out and replace it with another SB, cause the 56 is probably worthsomething to belair folks of the same year. He said it was the only V8 chevy had from 55-57 but he wasn't for sure on the years.

being an owner of both models, a 55 STep and a 69 Suburban. i can say with out being biased that the 59 is the best bet. Right now 70 SWb's are still readilly available at a good price. But the TAsk force 55-59 trucks are getting harder to come by in good shape and a reasonable price. If both are solid trucks with decent paint. I would definately get the 59 Fleet. The motor is worth something to the tri-fiver's and any small block chevy will bolt right in it's place.

Ultimately it's your decision, but to me the old Iron is getting real popular and harder to pick up for a deal. ANd at that price, that truck is a deal.

I can't believe I am campaigning so hard for the 59, that is my least favorite of all the 55-59 models. but a very nice truck.