Insane 1,500 HP 1959 ‘Alien’ Chevy Apache Is Truly Out of This World
Wild custom 1959 Chevy Apache is a real bejeweled showpiece, but it’s also packing some serious heat under its fiberglass front end.
The Grand National Truck Show is a fairly new event that’s only been around for a couple of years now, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t already one of the top such shows on earth.
Rather, the truck-only event is chock full of some of the most amazing builds on the planet, which should come as no surprise given the fact that it’s an offshoot of the rather iconic Grand National Roadster Show. This year’s outing in Pomona, California was certainly no exception, and it’s precisely where we spotted this amazing 1959 Chevy Apache pickup dubbed “Alien.”
View this post on Instagram
This wild custom 1959 Chevy Apache is owned and built by George Shields, along with Carl Rumsberger, who treated this vintage hauler to one of the more extensive makeovers you’ll ever lay eyes on.
For starters, the duo commissioned John Darby out of Dixon, California to hammer all of the body panels straight, while Coveted handled all of the fabrication work that included a tuck, shave, and chop for various panels to create on seriously smooth surface, complete with a removable fiberglass front section sporting Buick vents.
That entire surface was then painted by Jaime “Candyman” Ramirez, with a set of flames and graphics added by Steve Fernandez. The dark exterior certainly fits the alien theme, while the copper-like powder-coated hue adorning the trim work and wheels provides a nice bit of modern contrast to the old pickup.
Speaking of wheels, those are Team III ET Trans Am pieces measuring in at 18×8 inches up front and 18×12 in the rear, wrapped with beefy Michelin rubber – 335s out back, but those are needed to help put a lot of power to the ground.
That’s because this Chevy Apache is packing serious heat under the hood in the form of a Tom Nelson-built 427 cubic-inch LS sporting twin 77 mm turbos, helping it churn out as much as 1,500 horsepower, depending on the calibration.
It sends that power to the wheels via a Hughs Racing 4L80E automatic with a B&M shifter, along with a Dutchman 9-inch rear end stuffed with 4.56 gears.
Jim Meyers Racing provided the frame for this build, which utilizes rack and pinion steering, Wilwood brakes at all four corners, and an air ride suspension. If one opens up the suicide doors, they’ll be treated to an equally cool cabin full of custom threads and modern amenities such as Dakota Digital gauges, a Vintage Air HVAC system, and power windows, to name just a few.
This wild Chevy Apache is certainly a fine enough build that we wouldn’t fault the owner(s) for keeping it merely as a bejeweled display piece, but on the same token, we can’t imagine not wanting to drive this thing, either. After all, it has to be a total animal out on the street – or the track – which is precisely where we hope to see it one day.
Photos for Chevrolet Forum by Derin Richardson
Join the Chevrolet Forums now!
