This 1959 Apache Pickup is less of a barn find, and more of a field find. It has sat out in the weather at a couple of different locations for a number of years, and exposure to the elements has certainly taken its toll on the old girl. However, there must be a few people who can see some potential in it, because at the time of writing, bidding has reached $1,000. Located in Richmond, Virginia, you will find the Apache listed for sale here on eBay.

The owner doesn’t back away from the fact that there are plenty of rust issues with the Apache. While the photos tend to indicate that the frame may be relatively solid, the owner does suggest that the Apache’s body may be well served to be bolted to a later chassis and used as the basis for a rat rod project. This may be a pretty decent option. There is rust in the floors, the bottoms of the doors, and a few other places around the vehicle. The floor of the bed is also gone, so that will also need to be replaced.

What lies under the hood is also an unknown quantity. The owner says that the engine definitely isn’t original, but he also doesn’t know its general health either. It may turn freely or it may be locked, so your guess is as good as mine. Backing the engine is an undetermined type of automatic transmission, and once again, the condition is unknown. This really is looking more and more like a basis for a rat rod to me.

The interior trim is basically long gone, and there are a few disappointing things to note. Holes have been cut rather crudely in both doors, while there are a number of small items missing from the dash. To put a positive spin on it, at least it will give the new owner a blank canvas to work from.

I have little doubt that to undertake a faithful restoration of this Apache is probably not a viable proposition, as the cost of the restoration would almost certainly outweigh the ultimate value of the vehicle. However, I do agree that it would represent a good candidate for a rat rod project. For those of you who might doubt the potential that is locked away in this vehicle, it is worth noting that in the time that it has taken me to write this article, there have been 20 bids submitted on the Apache. It is definitely going to take some work to get it back on the road, but I think that the vast majority of us tackle these sorts of projects because of our simple love for these classics.