Ten years ago, I had purchased a small, oblong-shaped, sterling silver pendant featuring a small, Chevrolet bow-tie. It appeared to be modeled from the emblem of a third or fourth generation Camaro, though I thought of it as timeless. I was thrilled to find it and wore it everywhere. It was a classy, understated piece of jewelry with a tie-in to my formative years spent in the birthplace city of General Motors, Flint, Michigan. Then, at some point in 2016, I lost it. I spent literally years searching my own belongings including my luggage, pockets of clothing, and every other kind of place I could think of in the hope it was still around somewhere. My thought process was that I might have simply forgotten where I had placed it after taking it off following a night out somewhere, though I had no clear idea of where my pendant might have gone or what might have happened to it.
I tried looking online for another one for sale, even returning to the vendor who had sold the original to me years before. I can’t remember if she had told me that she no longer carried it or that the item had been discontinued by the manufacturer, but I was extremely disheartened, regardless of the scenario. I scoured the internet to find another one like it, clicking on pretty much any seller that would pop up in my search terms. At long last, during the second week of this January, I found one at a reasonable price and bought it immediately. It is pictured above.
I have other automotive-themed jewelry that I have acquired or been given in the six years or so since my original pendant went missing, and I love those items, too. Being in possession of this new Chevrolet pendant, however, feels fantastic on so many levels, even metaphorically. Lately, I’ve been feeling like a Friday-build car that’s in the process of being restored to better-than-original condition. At the time it arrived in the mail, it put me on a big Chevy kick leading into the weekend, which made me remember our featured truck, which I had photographed on an otherwise normal Thursday, work day morning while on my neighborhood walk to the train into downtown.
1960 Chevrolet C/K pickup and Groucho Marx in the 1933 film “Duck Soup”.
By ’62, this generation of C/K pickup was in its third year of production. The original 1960 model had two prominent, horizontal, oval-shaped pods resembling eyebrows on its front fascia that housed the turn signals, which made it look not unlike Groucho Marx as a truck. I’ll just say that the frontal restyle of the ’62 Chevy pickup is not comical and thus an improvement. Styling opinions aside, the then-new 1960 redesign placed an emphasis on being more user-friendly and genuinely comfortable than the Task Force models they replaced. They featured a lower frame than the previous generation, which aided in a lower lift height for loading cargo, as well as allowing for a roomier passenger compartment. The new C/K also boasted a smoother ride thanks to its independent front suspension.
Standard power for the ’62 models came from a 235-cubic-inch six-cylinder engine with 135 horsepower, with an optional, 160-hp 283 V8 available which, coincidentally, also powered the Corvette which was then in the last year of its first generation. A column-mounted, three-speed manual transmission was standard, with an optional two-speed Powerglide automatic available. The cargo bed was just over 74 inches long. I have seen our featured truck around my neighborhood a few times, and given its moderate body damage on the drivers’ side, I like that it appears to be used as regular transportation – at least during the drier, salt-free months of the year. Let’s hope so, anyway. Seatbelts and heaters were optionally available on these trucks by ’62, so it’s not completely implausible that this one might be a daily driver.
Either way, these pictures of this example, finished in what appears to be factory-correct Glenwood Green, were taken only a few months ago. Despite the fact that I’ve again been working exclusively from home for a little while (thanks, Omicron), I’m feeling optimistic about the new year. I’m choosing to look at having found another, identical Chevrolet pendant like the one I had worn for years as an indication things will continue to get back to business. One other takeaway: never give up hope in searching for what you want.
Edgewater, Chicao, Illinois.
Thursday, November 11, 2021.
Powerglide was only two speeds…
Corrected, thanks.
Thanks for this. My favorite truck, and my favorite automobile color.
About the color – I had an Aurora Model Motoring Corvette in this exact shade as a boy. It was my favorite slot car, from a set I got for Christmas one year in the ’60s. I form associations with colors, and so while many people see this color and think of Caribbean seas, my mind always goes back to that Corvette, and watching it zoom around a track at the foot of our Christmas tree. It’s a happy memory.
That’s awesome. Glenwood Green is such an of-the-period color, and a great shade. I also love slot cars. What a great association to have.
The entire color palette for the ’62 Chevy trucks was great.
In accord with Scripture, Dodge/Fargo and Ford/Mercury trucks of that time came in more or less this same colour, too.
I had forgotten Fargo had existed until you mentioned it.
It is so great to see one of these out and about. It’s funny how I remembered that 60-61 version of the truck with the Groucho eyebrows (an association I shall not soon forget now) as being something completely normal. But now it is really odd looking.
These things were everywhere in my youth, although the 1964+ versions with the newer windshield were most common. Which is why I always enjoyed sightings of these older trucks with the wraparounds.
Congratulations on replacing your beloved Chevrolet pendant. it is terrible to lose a favorite piece of jewelry or such, especially one that cannot be easily replaced. You have made some anonymous old Chevrolet emblem designer proud that his work is still appreciated.
I had to look up the difference between the windshield of the ’63 and the ’64, and it’s amazing what the change did to modernize its look. Wow.
When I found this Chevrolet pendant for sale and still available, I almost couldn’t believe it. I’ve been without it longer than I owned the first one. People can believe I’ll be taking very good care of this one!
Normally, the easiest way to find something that you’ve lost is to purchase another just like it, LOL!! I’m holding out for you to report that the original surfaced from the “Twilight Zone” other dimension that it was hiding in, causing you to overlook it many times!! 🙂
Haha!! If this does happen and I find my original, I’ll be locking it in a safety deposit box or something!
I think the ’62-’66 Chevy truck is in my top-five of trucks, and this one’s the perfect color.
Jeez, now I’m thinking of the other four in my top-five. ’67-’72 Chevy? Bumpside Ford? ’73-’74 Squarebody? Almost any ’60s Dodge? An International…oops, that’s more than five. 🙂
Why limit your choices? You’ve got a great fleet!
I’ve been sitting on pictures of a ’72 (or so) Chevy Cheyenne. Our own Jason Shafer pointed me to a link that’s a great source of information for those, so when I’m feeling more adventurous and have more time to commit to it, I may do a deep (for me) dive on that one.
i am dont wear jewelry per se, but I have a nice SS “diver style” i got for making quota many years ago, and Tungten carbide wedding band. Those make up my shinies. But if was going to wear something let it be original. I dig that pendant and your style. Makes me think of what else would work…….OOH, easy one. Chysler marker light, with our w/o lense!
Those would be perfect is some application. I’m now trying to think of what…
I’m not at all a blingy dude, but the jewelry I do wear has some personal significance. Beside my ID bracelet I wrote about a year or so ago and this Chevy pendant, that’s about it. I don’t even wear a wristwatch anymore, not that I don’t like mine.
where can I buy them?
I realize that it’s not the same as the featured truck, but it’s also hard at work. Not sure about the year. I can’t upload many pictures to the Cohort, as I don’t want to pay for Flickr.
Hamilton, Ontario
March 27, 2019
These are great shots, Pavel! Thanks for posting them. If I’m not mistaken, and based on a paint chart I just looked up, this one might be Pure White and Galway Green.
Business end
These are great shots — with the vintage truck hauling a vintage tub, and then on the front-end shot, you got a modern Silverado peering out from the background.
Side view
That Glenwood Green really stands out on what looks to be a gloomy gray Chicago day, and surrounded by shades of gray modern vehicles.
That’s a great observation. There was actually a 1998 or so Chevy Silverado parked on the street next to where this ’62 was passing. It’s on the right in my last two shots in a muted gold color. I like that the ’62 was in such a vivid hue – not that it wasn’t already going to command attention by its age and styling.
Pavel, your pics are of a ’59 Chevy Apache Fleetside. Easy to spot for me because I have a ’59 Apache stepside.
Thank you, Jim!
any info on the front engine mount for these trucks?
Nice old Chevy – I really like the colour, and I always liked the painted hubcaps the ‘60’s Chevy trucks had as well. I agree with the other readers – the turn signals on the hood were a bit much on the ‘60 pickups, and they looked better with the cleaner front end…but there was no mistaking them for anything else. Back in the early ‘80’s a buddy of mine bought a ‘60 Stepside. It was kind of faded but in decent shape otherwise with nice patina, and he painted it black. I would have left it as is. Though I prefer the’64-‘66 Chevy trucks with the straight windshield, it’s great to see one of these on the road. Hopefully the owner parks it for the winter – rust has already taken so many of these fine old trucks. And good to hear that you were able to source another Chevrolet bow tie pendant. Some things just grow on you.
This one had license plates from a warm-weather state, so like you, I hope the owner / driver has something else to drive right now – especially in light of the blizzard we just got here in Chicago.
I too love the Bowtie pendant, glad you were able to find another .
I used to wear string ties and it would have made a good tie clip .
The ’62 C10 is an outstanding truck ~ we had two on the farm in New Hampshire in…1967 , battered but not yet rusted out, they were both K10’s, factory 4X4 .
The ’60 / ’61 ‘eyebrow’ trucks rusted out just above the eyebrows, even here in Los Angeles it’s hard to find a good hood without pin holes or worse .
I ass-U-me Darms is asking about the front motor mounts on the ’59 Task Force Chevy ? .
In 1955 Chevy dropped the single front motor mount and went to side mounts, this made it far easier to build then new V8 rigs and to repower all the millions of Hot Rodded trucks that came after….
-Nate
Nate, thanks for addressing Darms’ motor mounts question. Someone like me wouldn’t know where to start with something like that – I’ve gotta keep it real.
It’s interesting to read about the eyebrow trucks collecting water there due to the styling. I did read that the restyled ’62 featured a “lower hood” that aided in visibility. Looking at both hood designs back-to-back, I can see that.
Another great catch.
The ’62 was the last year for the torsion bar IFS, which turned out to be not quite as rugged and maintenance friendly as the coil spring IFS that replaced it.
Thanks, Paul. Believe it or not, this isn’t the only ’62 C/K I’ve spotted in my neighborhood. Maybe four years back, there was another one in a similar color, out of which a business was selling flowers. I may write that one up later.
My Dad bought a used ’60 Suburban. Green and white. It was about 8 years old at the time. Odd that it only had two doors, but three rows of seats. It was very truck like inside, with plenty of exposed metal surfaces on the dash and doors, and exposed tubular frames of the seats. My biggest observation was how light it steered, my Dad would let us take a lap or two around the larger parking lots when my brother and I were eleven and twelve years old. I think that he didn’t like the two doors which resulted in my Mom having to wait for the three kids to get in before her. After this he bought his first new wagon, a ’64 Tempest and he always had at least one wagon on hand after that.
The combination of two doors and three rows of seats must have made for a very bus-like experience when going anywhere. I like the description of how spartan your dad’s ’60 Suburban was. I’ll bet that despite its size, it probably didn’t weigh as much as some might guess, especially relative to modern vehicles with all of the safety equipment and features they carry.
My brother had a ’66 with the base engine and 3 on the tree. Moved my furniture from upper Westchester to Flushing via the Queensboro Bridge in it. Had a home made heavy wooden cap. Not much fun to drive on Manhattan streets (I drove). I think it was the same color or very similar to the one in your article. Later that year he moved his furniture to Nevada with it. Good truck, just clumsy with the heavy cap that also blocked the view to the rear.
Love this – I’ve seen handful of homemade truck bed caps, and could imagine your brother’s truck with it on there. I’ll bet that truck came in handy more than once for friends who needed to haul something.