Daniel Goll of West Enfield, Maine, wanted a factory NAPCO Powr-Pak 4×4-equipped 1958 or 1959 Chevy truck. After a 10-year search, the locomotive engineer found exactly what he was looking for in Hershey, Pennsylvania, and made it his own. It’s an incredible 1959 Chevy Apache 3800 1-ton with six-cylinder power, a manual transmission, and plenty of old-school goodness. It spent most of its life on a ranch in Arizona, which explains its outstanding condition. We had the opportunity to meet Daniel and photograph his rig at the 2025 Summer 4-Wheel Jamboree in Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania.

Thriftmaster I6, SM465, Dana 23

Under the truck’s hood rests a Thriftmaster 235-cubic-inch I6 engine that’s topped with a pair of single-barrel carburetors. The engine has been enhanced with an Offenhauser intake and Fenton cast-iron headers. Engine power is routed through an SM420 four-speed manual transmission before being split to the axles via a divorced Dana 23 two-speed transfer case. The Dana 23 is PTO-equipped, and Daniel plans to use it to power a rear-mount winch he intends to install in the future.

Eaton Axles And A Hydrovac Unit

The Apache’s axles are the factory units. There’s an Eaton HO72 up front with Warn manual locking hubs and an Eaton HO72 full-float out back. Both are equipped with 5.14:1 gears. The truck’s originality continues with the factory leaf springs and shocks. Daniel says the truck also sports a Hydrovac unit that improves braking performance.

19.5-Inch Wheels, Period-Correct Hubcaps

When he purchased the truck, it was equipped with its factory 17-inch split-rim wheels. Daniel replaced those with a set of factory-optional “high-clearance” 19.5-inch steel wheels. He says that no manufacturer offers new vintage mud tires for a 19.5-inch wheel, so he purchased LT225/70R19.5 retread tires from Tire Recappers.

The truck’s hubcaps are from a 2WD Chevy truck of the era, and Daniel had the front caps opened up to accommodate the factory Warn hubs.

Over Six Decades Of Accumulated Exterior Perfection

The exterior of the Stepside truck sports over six decades of accumulated perfection, so Daniel left it mostly alone. One of the many unique things about the truck is its 9-foot-long bed. Daniel replaced the worn factory wood floor with new oak planks and reused the factory metal strips.

A Bench Seat And Metal Everywhere

Climb inside the truck, and you’re transported back to a time when trucks were designed to be income-producing machinery. Metal abounds, levers for the transmission and transfer case sprout from the floor, and a bench seat offers room for three passengers or a collection of tools, such as fence-building gear. Heck, there’s not even a radio. Fun fact: according to GM, the company offered 139 models on 22 different wheelbases for the 1959 Chevy truck line.

Influenced By His Dad’s 1964 Chevy K20

Daniel’s father influenced him to buy the Chevy and respect its history. “I started going to the Bloomsburg 4-Wheel Jamboree when I was a kid in the 1990s. My dad always had his 1964 K20 in the show, and today it’s something my dad and I still enjoy doing together. I grew to appreciate Dad’s truck because it was the first generation of factory 4×4 trucks. I always wanted a NAPCO truck to park at the shows next to his to showcase a time when most trucks weren’t 4WD. For me, owning this truck is about maintaining American automotive history. I try not to change much because of that.”

If you’re in the Northeast, keep an eye out for Daniel and his Apache. He often uses the truck for camping trips and trail rides.