Ridin’ High: 1959 GMC NAPCO 4×4
NAPCO or Northwest Auto Parts Company was founded in Minnesota and provided 4×4 conversions for numerous manufacturers beginning in the 1940’s. You could purchase a two wheel drive pickup and order a conversion kit from NAPCO to turn it into a 4×4 over a weekend. This truck is a 1959 GMC and can be found here on eBay with a current bid of $3,600. The truck currently resides in Fort Harrison, Montana and the seller says the truck has spent its life on a ranch in the West.
The interior of the truck is certainly utilitarian. It looks like it has been used but not abused. It shows signs of a dusty ranch life like the seller indicates but looks like it could be driven as-is or restored. You can see the transfer case shifter sticking through the floor. Other than that, this is a stock 1959 GMC truck. The doors and tailgate have been replaced from a donor truck. There are dents and dings, but overall this truck looks like it is in decent shape.
The engine is a straight six mated to a manual transmission. While it certainly will not win many drag races, this truck will probably climb any mountain in sight. If you’ve never seen the promotional video for the 1957 NAPCO trucks, check it out here. This amazing video shows these trucks climbing mountains and rock fields and not only is it a great video of the NAPCO conversion, it also is a bit of nostalgia.
Here you can see the NAPCO branded axles that were a major part of the conversion. During the initial years, the conversion was done as a kit that the customer would order and install. Later, you could have it done as a “factory installed option.” If you are interested in more details, you can read about NAPCO and learn about their history here.
If you’ve always wanted an out of the box truck, this may be the right one for you. If you’ve always wanted a truck that will climb darn near anything, this is definitely the truck for you. What do you think? Is this a diamond in the rough?
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Comments
Boy howdy, is it ever. This won’t be here long. Prices for Napco trucks has gone though the roof. Not because they are fun to drive, they aren’t, but because there were only so many made, before companies offered 4×4’s from the factory. 4×4’s, except for Willys, were almost non-existent ( if a set of “Town & County’s” on the family wagon, couldn’t get you there, you stayed home) and only municipal or forestry depts. had them. For what it is, probably the best deal to come through here in a while.
Agreed. If this wasn’t across the continent I’d be doing my best to snag it. Conversely, if it was across the continent, it would be swiss cheese.
Good buy.
Now THAT is a truck! Love it.
Love the history being in the neighborhood as a yoot. The whole junk yard scene back in the day in North Minneapolis was a Jewish conspiracy according to the old Germans in the area, my Gramps included.
Good story here about napco.
http://www.napco4x4.org/history4.htm
My uncle (a product of the depression/life-long heavy truck dealer) would always shrug and say; “the junk man’s kids always ate lunch…”
Every one of them died a millionaire in North Minneapolis.
The western prairies and foothills ranches is where you would see most of these. When I was a kid half the ranchers had a 4×4 of some kind; it just made sense. My dad had an IH S120 4×4 while the neighbors had a Chevy 3/4 ton NAPCO. Go east toward the Sweetgrass Hills and you saw a mixed bag of Binders, GMCs and Chevys. Rough-riding for sure but they were designed to do a job; and they DID their job. Our old Binder is still seeing daily service on a ranch between the buttes of the Hills….
Binder?
Scott, “Corn Binders” were International Harvesters and of course not just trucks but all kinds of Agricultural equipment,
So many people just say “Binder” and most know what that means.
I have a friend with a mildy customized Binder and fun to drive/Ride in.
This truck here is sweet! I agree aint nobody gonna want a cross country cannon ball run on the freeways with this (unless a sadomasochist) But for up in the hills and farms this is one cool truck.
My wife is a country girl and grew up with a jeep, whole circle of friends from High school for years would get together for “Bonnie Bashing” and wasnt fun unless 2 or 3 needed winching out of a Mudhole.
Wow, damn being across the country!
If I were so lucky to grab this, it’s one of the very few vehicles I’ve ever seen that I’d likely keep as close to when I originally obtained it as possible. That truck has personality and just screams it.
It’s a 59, it’s a GMC, & it’s a factory NAPCO conversion, what’s not to love about this truck?
Beautiful truck..wish it was mine.wow do I like it
I loved the video!
That is an honest truck, How about that back bumper? Man that thing is serious even by today’s standards. All I would do is clean it and fix what needed fixing and then leave it be even with mismatched colors.