it took me a minute to confirm what my initial impression was: this ’59 Chevy Apache pickup was shot in the UK (Marshwood, England, specifically), by Simon White. The building and its style of windows was my first tip-off, as well as the letter box. And then I finally tumbled on the best confirmation: it has RHD. Was this truck an original import to the UK in 1959? Seems rather odd?
But I’m not sure how else to explain it. Can you?
My guess would be that it was originally a USAF vehicle.
That’s a really good guess, and one I wouldn’t have considered as a possibility. If that’s the case, I would wonder if it was converted to RHD after the US government sold it off.
Maybe someone who was stationed in a country with left-hand traffic can weigh in as to whether the US military’s vehicles were RHD in those countries. It wouldn’t surprise me, however, if LHD was the norm, given that military vehicles are built in bulk, assigned to a pool, requisitioned to be sent where needed, and moved elsewhere once they’re no longer needed.
I’m pretty sure they would be LHD if it were military, and most American cars imported to the UK remain LHD, but it’s amazing what the English get up to in their sheds. Cars which are most likely to be converted are air-cooled VWs and British returnees like big Healeys because they are relatively easy.
Along with all the dealers bringing cars from California, there was a company I noticed years ago which was advertising rust free, RHD American classics from South Africa.
It might have come from South Africa or Australia.
If that where the case, I would think it would have LHD. Any USAF vehicle sent to UK. wouldn’t have been modified for UK roads, as they would most likely be used on the base itself, wouldn’t it? Not having ever been stationed there, can anyone who has offer some insight?
And, with what had to be really high fuel prices back then, as now, why would GM, modify and import a big pick-up like this for UK market? Post war economy there struggled the longest time, and probably wasn’t good, even by late 50’s.
Love when this happens…I was composing my message – and multitasking with needy dogs on a cold Saturday morning – as you were posting yours (see above). We had exactly the same thoughts, it appears.
A co-worker who was stationed in Germany at the time told me something that sheds some light on the question of fuel economy. Much of the reason why fuel prices were (and still are) higher is due to taxes. On-base fuel prices for service members were significantly lower than off-base, because they were untaxed (or perhaps taxed at US rates). And for its own, official uses, the US military would pay no tax.
My co-worker had a VW Beetle, and told me that he and his buddies would try to purposely plan trips into West Germany, France, Luxembourg and Belgium of one tank or less – just to avoid having to buy fuel on the open market for the return trip.
It doesn’t have a UK license plate. Is it Australia … or NZ? I can’t imagine too many other RHD countries with that architecture. Or are those still US or Canadian plates?
In the UK, you are issued a number, not a plate. The dealer provides a plate which often has their name at the bottom. If your plate falls off, you go to the equivalent of AutoZone and they make up a new one for you.
There are no restrictions on what you can import, and if you bring in a US/Australian/JDM car you are allowed to have special plates made which will fit, but which otherwise are UK style. (The digits will not be regulation size as that would be impossible)
It is common for owners of older American cars to use illegal American style plates, with the correct number. Similarly, owners of old looking cars like Minis or Mexican Beetles might use black plates which are illegal for post ’73 cars. The cops generally don’t bother, and the fine will be insignificant – in fact they will probably just order you to change them and send you on your way, as they would with a dud headlight or whatever.
I think it’s a 1980s-era New York Statue of Liberty license plate. It’s not necessarily the original plate on the truck, as those Liberty plates were common souvenirs that foreign visitors would buy (at a price premium) when visiting New York.
Maybe the truck doesn’t see much road use, if it’s a farm vehicle or such. I have no idea.
I believe the photo shows a 1958 model not a 1959 based on the emblem style on the front fender.
After recontrasting the picture, it’s pretty clearly RHD. The wheel is on the right, and the left wiper is missing. If you’re going to take off one wiper to give the vacuum a chance, you’re not going to remove the driver’s side wiper.
Just now, an RHD model available for sale in the UK (lots of photos at website): http://car-from-uk.com/sale.php?id=248142
It says it’s in “QLD” – Queensland, Australia.
^^^^^Uh, oh—-didn’t read the listing closely enough, I see. Big thanks for catching that one for me and everyone else, tonito!
Here’s one for sale in the UK (Cambridgeshire). Description says it’s originally from South Africa.
http://car-from-uk.com/sale.php?id=27101
I’d bet that’s where this one originates. It would be surprising if it was converted.
For some reason I kept thinking about the mystery of this truck today, so I did some digging and found a few more pictures. The truck apparently belongs at a repair shop called Marshwood Garage, which is located in the stone building behind the truck.
The pictures don’t clarify where this truck originated, but they’re interesting nonetheless.
Here’s the rear view:
The hood emblem is from 1959, but the fender emblem is from 1958. The correct fender emblem for ’59 is sort of a spear shape. I know because I’ve had a ’59 Apache for 37 years.
For many years, Oshawa factory in Canada built CDK for right-hand-drive GM vehicles to be exported to the Commonwealth countries. It is due to the favourable tax agreements between Commonwealth countries, including Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, and others. Some of those countries demand certain percentage of local content as to keep the import tax low.
If we could see the photos of dashboard…
The UK DVLA has 630YUL as first registered in 2012 and built in 1956. The number would have been allocated to the vehicle (not the owner) when it was imported but would also have been “back dated” to the format consistent with the date of build, to avoid any confusion on the vehicle’s true age. If it had been built in 2012, it would have had XX12XXX or XX62XXX.
So, my guess, imported from South Africa or Australia in 2012, built in 1956. But built in the US?
Wiki mentions Dover, England as site for GM assembly, which is a new one to me.
Thanks for the DVLA information! I had no idea that vehicles could be registered in the UK with other countries’ license plates. I suppose the number format needs to match, but not the year of the actual plate.
Eric -the DVLA issued a number which it might have issued in 1956, but which it wouldn’t issue for a 2012 car unless the owner paid them about 2 grand. (But in that case the owner is free to sell it, potentially for a profit)
The Apache should have a UK style plate (white or silver on black would be OK because it’s pre ’73). The plate it’s wearing is illegal.
To clarify, this is a UK registration which stay with the vehicle and the owner is technically (see posts above) in breach for not displaying it on the correct style plate and font. It’s a common habit at a car show (off road, so OK) but rare on road.
You can sell any number as a cherished number and register it to another vehicle but cannot register a car with a date signifying registration (used since 1962) newer than the car. I could buy 630YUL for my Alfa but not sell him the Alfa’s number for his Apache, for example.
Tonito and Roger, thanks for the clarifications. It all did seem somewhat odd to me.