Many people think the word "Apache" on later '50 Chevy pickup trucks refers to a trim level, like "Cheyenne" or "Silverado. The truth is, that all light duty Chevy trucks of this era were badged as Apaches. All the medium duty trucks were called Spartans and heavy duty trucks were all "Vikings".
Well, I'll be damned... this is the best hobby for someone like me that loves to learn more stuff that's been around forever, but that I've never seen or learned of... I guess the heavier duty Spartans and Vikings were all used up, but many Apache pick ups still exist because they were easily and cheaply repaired.
Just checking around on the internet, several sources say that the Vikings were the medium duty trucks and the Spartans were the heavy duty ones. Can any experts confirm which was which?
Yes, I think that the Spartan badges would draw a few double takes - at least from us old enough to remember when Chevy used the name designations. I think that sometime in the mid 60's, they started using just alpha numerical designations instead ( C70, C80, etc.). By the way, I have just now come across a poster for Chevy's 1961 truck line up, including the Viking and Spartan lines. https://www.flickr.com/photos/greg_foster/4641193672/
Many people think the word "Apache" on later '50 Chevy pickup trucks refers to a trim level, like "Cheyenne" or "Silverado. The truth is, that all light duty Chevy trucks of this era were badged as Apaches. All the medium duty trucks were called Spartans and heavy duty trucks were all "Vikings".
ReplyDeleteWell, I'll be damned... this is the best hobby for someone like me that loves to learn more stuff that's been around forever, but that I've never seen or learned of... I guess the heavier duty Spartans and Vikings were all used up, but many Apache pick ups still exist because they were easily and cheaply repaired.
DeleteJust checking around on the internet, several sources say that the Vikings were the medium duty trucks and the Spartans were the heavy duty ones. Can any experts confirm which was which?
DeleteSteve, you are probably right. I was just going by memory and the fact that the truck pictured above appeared to be a equivalent to a two ton truck.
DeleteWouldn't it be cool to put those Spartan badges on a '59 resto-mod pickup truck? I bet you would get a lot of double takes at car shows.
Yes, I think that the Spartan badges would draw a few double takes - at least from us old enough to remember when Chevy used the name designations. I think that sometime in the mid 60's, they started using just alpha numerical designations instead ( C70, C80, etc.).
ReplyDeleteBy the way, I have just now come across a poster for Chevy's 1961 truck line up, including the Viking and Spartan lines.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/greg_foster/4641193672/
Thanks! Posting!
Delete