1958 Chevy Apache Proves a Simple Truck can Win Big at SEMA!
What did it take to win the 2019 Chevrolet SEMA Design Award for Truck of the Year? The consensus seems to reflect a person has to enter an over-the-top big budget freak to win anything good at SEMA and then along comes Levi Green’s simply styled 1958 Chevy Apache to snatch the Gold — proof positive a practical low budget street worthy build can win big! READ THE ARTICLE
Described in proper terms it’s called the newly designed mid-engine 2020 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray special edition trophy (insert link) and not only is Levi Green’s 1958 Chevy Apache built by Hammerfab Chevrolet’s Truck of the Year it broke Chevrolet’s rules doing it. Number 1 on the build qualifications to enter the Chevrolet SEMA Design Awards Program is, “Preservation of the Chevrolet Bowtie emblem, if originally equipped, on the front of vehicle.” An indication Chevrolet judges really admired Levi’s ’58 is the Bowtie emblem normally found front and center on Tri-five Chevy truck hoods has been shaved.
Other than the hood emblem the only way to distinguish the year model between a 1958 and a 1959 Chevy truck is the emblem on each side of the front fenders — a 31 indicates a shortbed and a 32 indicates a longbed. 1958 was the first year for the Apache and the 1958 Apache “shark fin” emblem is considered to be the most easily recognizable.
A nice touch adding to the clean look of the ’58 Apache front end is the 1955-59 chrome rear bumper flipped and mounted to create the appearance of a relief to enhance engine cooling. The drivetrain for Levi’s ’58 Apache is as basic as basic gets a 350/350 combination. The engine is a mild 350 with its first bore out to 355-inches and the transmission a TH350.
And also unusual for a SEMA truck Levi’s 1958 Apache wasn’t plastered with a bunch of sponsorship stickers. In true form to the truck’s simple design the sign board read, Racine Billet Wheels, AM Hot Rod Glass, Jon Wright’s Custom Chrome and Mar-K bed strips are mentioned as features and special thanks goes to Donnie and Evan Finger, Jay Schuller Upholstery, High Point Powdercoat, Valspar Debeer and Vastines Paint Garage.
