1959 Chevrolet 3100 Apache Fleetside Deluxe NAPCO Pickup
Before General Motors developed its own four-wheel-drive systems, the company relied on an external specialist to provide go-anywhere capability for customers who needed more than standard two-wheel-drive pickups.
The Northwestern Auto Parts Company (NAPCO) of Minneapolis began offering “Powr-Pak” 4×4 conversions in 1942, with GM making the system available as Regular Production Option 690 starting in 1957.
The 1959 model year marked the final availability of factory NAPCO conversions, as Chevrolet’s 1960 redesign with independent front suspension made the NAPCO equipment incompatible.
The Apache Fleetside Deluxe represented the top trim level, featuring Bombay Ivory and Dawn Blue paint with chrome bumpers, grille, and extensive brightwork including side spears and a windshield visor.
Power came from the 235-cubic-inch Thriftmaster inline six-cylinder engine paired with a four-speed manual transmission and NAPCO’s Model 23 transfer case.
The four-wheel-drive option added approximately $1,200 to the base price by 1959, making these trucks significantly more expensive than comparable two-wheel-drive models, which resulted in very limited production numbers.
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