When Bill Wulzyn saw his grandmother’s 1960 Chevy Apache on the back of a trailer — wearing Toyota wheels — he couldn’t believe he’d be fixing it up.
This particular truck has been in Bill’s family for three generations. The ‘60 Apache was purchased by his grandmother and eventually driven by his father. The Wulzyn’s used the truck on their farm for about 11 years. As Bill’s parents got out of the farming business, his dad started using it as a daily driver.
“I can remember going to the first grade in this truck, in 1960,” Wulzyn said. “And also bringing home my friends from college … that was in 1976.”
After his dad stopped driving the truck in the late 80s, they stored the truck in an open-air chicken house where it accumulated a lot of rust.
“He always told me to keep that truck,” Bill said. “Maybe one day, I would fix it up. And two years after he passed, I did just that.”
The truck needed a lot of body restoration. The chicken house didn’t have a good roof, so the elements severely damaged the cab of the truck.
“The fella fixing up the truck for me said, ‘You would be better off getting another cab for this truck,’” Bill said. “And I happen to find a cab.”
Bill found another truck with a perfect cab, which he purchased for $200. Bill’s truck only had 68,000 miles, so nothing under the hood needed replacing.
“A truck like that, there’s just so much simplicity on it,” Bill said. “That really helps.”
Bill hired Charles Taylor and his son to restore the truck. As a former teacher, Bill taught driver’s education for Charle’s son.
When Charles arrived to load Bill’s truck on the back, they realized all the tires were flat. Thankfully, Charles knew just what to do, and outfitted the ‘60 Apache with some temporary tired off a Toyota.
When it was sitting on the trailer, Bill remembers thinking, “I can’t believe I’m going to be fixing this thing up.”
Bill said it was a joy to watch the progress as Charles restored the truck. They sanded down the metal on the body to ensure a good paint job.
In 2013, Bill started having problems with his heart. He said the troubles caused him to lose interest in the things he used to enjoy, but friends would stop by and encourage him to get the truck out of the garage.
While Bill was able to salvage a new cab from another truck, many of the parts came from Classic Parts of America.
“I plan on ordering more now that I’m more able to do stuff like that,” Bill said.
For others wanting to restore their vehicles, Bill has some simple advice; if you want to do it, it can be done.
“It can be fixed. It can be restored,” Bill said.
Some parts in this build
Well done – keep’m running!
Awesome, I have my dads 1960 Apache c-10
What a great story and beautiful truck. Good for you Bill, restoring your dad’s truck. You’ll never regret it.
Love these stories!!
I have a 1960 chevy truck. Owned since 1988. In 1990 I changed the frame to a 1973 3/4 ton Chevy truck. Now has Disk brakes and power steering. Very nice driving truck..
Love the truck & family history!! We also have a 3rd generation 67 Chevy C10, white, automatic. My truck is all mostly original, have the original sale bill, drives great!! My husband is a gear head so he’s tuned it up.
Was the family farm truck till I moved it to town.
Finally , a real truck , 60’s pre 63 , rap-around / kneenocker ,
I have a 1960 Chevrolet Apache. It looks like the same colors. Mine was Neptune Green and Bombay Ivory. It was repainted before I purchased it. Current colors Neptune Green and White. I have the 235ci six cylinder with a standard transmission on the column. Mine is the short bed version.
I have the same truck. Same color and year.