I stumbled into this fine vintage ’60 Chevy pickup in the Old Town section of Santa Fe. On older guy about my age walked out to it with an armful of brush and threw it into the back. Turns out he owned a couple of old houses here as rentals. What is it about older small-time landlords and their old trucks that they still use for work? Are they invariably cheapskates? Or is it their innate sense of conservatorship for old houses and trucks that can still earn their keep? Or just coincidence? Probably some of all of the above.
There’s a bit of a story about how I came to be walking around in Old Town Santa Fe this particular morning on our recent extended van trip to New Mexico. After a couple of fabulous days in the Taos area, which included several great hikes, one of them a summit hike of Wheeler Peak (13,167′, the highest peak in NM), we headed to Santa Fe, parked and walked around the old square and nearby areas.
We found our way to the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum, bought a couple of $25 tickets and came back at 10:15, our designated entry time. Upon entering, I suddenly had the same sensation that I almost invariably get when entering a department store, similar to claustrophobia. The sudden stuffiness and being in an enclosed space with a fair number of other people…it was all a bit too much and I said to Stephanie, I need to go for a walk; I’ll meet you back here in an hour or so.
So, I went back to the van and got Wanda and we wandered around the sweet old neighborhood just beyond the edge of touristy Old Town in the brisk morning air. And that’s where I spotted this old Chevy, with vegetation in the back. As I was shooting it, a tall older lanky guy came out with another load in his arms, tossed it into the back. I complemented him on his truck and told him about my ’66 F100 and how I still use it for similar tasks, especially at my rentals. Turns out these two houses were rentals too, so we shared a few smug anecdotes about buying rentals years ago back when they were cheap.
We didn’t really talk much about his truck, but what you see is what you get, meaning it is original, an Apache 10 1/2 ton with the short stepside bed.
1960 was a very big year for Chevy (and GMC) trucks, as they were as all-new as trucks ever get. Thanks to a new step-down frame and torsion bar IFS, they were a full seven inches lower than their predecessors. Unfortunately the torsion bar independent front suspension, also used on the medium and heavy duty trucks, turned out to have some real limitations, especially on the big trucks, as we’ve documented here. Within a few years, the big trucks were back to solid axles, and in 1963 the light duty line got a more conventional coil spring IFS. In retrospect, I should have gotten down on my knees and taken pictures of this trucks front suspension, as we’ve never done that before. I was on vacation…
This truck has its original 235 cubic inch Thriftmaster Six, rated at 135 (gross) hp; a very well proven engine by this time in its long career. And as might be expected, it was backed up by a three-speed manual transmission. The 160 hp 283 V8 was the only option on these. And in 1960, Powerglide replaced the 4-speed Hydra-Matic as the available automatic. However, the take rate on automatics in pickups was very low back then. The upholstery is not original.
That well-aged 700-15 bias ply tire probably isn’t an original, but it’s seen plenty of New Mexico sun. And the hubcaps aren’t original either; they’re from the 1941-1946 era. I can see why he’s swapped them out, although the one on the spare is a bit worse for wear too, having lost most of its red paint.
It was time for him to get on with his work and for us to get on with our walk.
Wanda and I basked on a bench outside the museum in the late-fall sunshine until Stephanie came out. She was still a bit nonplussed about my sudden departure, but I told her that at my age I just listen to my body. And I’ve steeped myself in O’Keeffe’s superb paintings ever since I discovered them in the early seventies. And I would have missed running into that fine old Chevy pickup.
After a fine lunch in a little courtyard cafe, I decided I was up to joining her at the New Mexico Museum of Art. It was splendid. What’s not to like about mission-style architecture and fine Southwest and indigenous art? It was just one of several art museums we visited on this trip, as this part of the world has so much history, art and culture.
In the courtyard, the red Hatch Chile Ristras were hung up, as they were in all the towns at this time of year.
As the sun started to move lower towards the horizon, the daily question for every free-roaming van traveler is: Where shall we camp tonight? For us, that’s almost always in a remote place on public land, preferably one with good scenery and a place to hike. A quick look at my Benchmark New Mexico Atlas told me to head towards…Diablo Canyon, about 20 minutes northwest of Santa Fe.
We arrived just as it was getting dark, at a primitive parking/camping spot where the road ended. The next morning we headed into the canyon, with the goal of ending at the banks of the Rio Grande River. We started down the wash, which was essentially our trail for the 3 mile or so hike to the end.
I’d seen another car parked, and soon we saw who the occupants were: climbers working their way up the vertical faces of the canyon, in the warm morning sun. The night time temperatures on this trip varied roughly between 35 and 42 degrees, so the morning sunshine was always welcome.
This was just another of so many stellar canyons that we hiked, many more dramatic. The trees in the canyons and along the river valleys were still showing off their golden fall colors. There’s no better time for hiking than fall, for so many reasons.
Somewhat surprisingly, there was a comfortable old chair at the edge of the river. There’s a way to access this spot with 4x4s from another entry point, which explains the remnants of camp fires and the chair. At this higher altitude (6,000′ roughly) the cottonwoods had already lost their leaves, but as we headed south they turned into an endless river of gold on both banks of the Rio Grande. It’s the longest contiguous cottonwood forest in the world.
We turned around and headed back into the canyon and savored the sights and colors one more time. And then we headed south, towards the Sandia Peaks and Albuquerque, without any real plans, as usual. Just following the sun, and our noses.
Related CC Reading
1960-66 Chevrolet Pickup Trucks – The First Modern Pickup by VinceC
That’s really a decent 60 Chevy, must have had great care all it’s life. Makes all the sense in the world to use it for work when today’s new trucks are priced at what a home used to cost.
Would of had to be restored at one point, maybe in the 80’s. The sun would of completely destroyed the paint and insides.
I’m in the process of restoring my Apache 10 1961 235 inline V6 extended bed stepside. It was originally a catalog ordered truck with headache rack, toolbox and diamond plate bed. The original owner taught my dad how to build cabinets. Once he died he left the business and the truck to my dad and it’s been in the family ever since. The best memories of my childhood we’re spent in that truck hunting and fishing, riding home in the bed after my Pop Warner football games. It’s not just a truck it’s part of me and my upbringing. The Restoration shop will have it ready in February. Just got a set of Coker 3 and 1/2-in white walls to throw on it. You can still see the original turquoise green on the frame. Going back with the original color.
Wonderful! That turquoise is just the color for old town Santa Fe. How cool that you met your NM counterpart, right down to the vintage pickup and rentals!
I’ve spent my fair share in downtown Santa Fe but it’s always special. Retirement is many moons away for me but to end up in Los Alamos or Santa Fe would be hard to beat.
Great pictures and account of this day, Paul. You’ve sold me on putting Santa Fe on my list of places to visit.
I’d like to follow in your footsteps on this trip; I’m more of a walker than a hiker, but I love art museums and I can’t imagine a truck I’d like any better than that Chevy. But I’d be swapping those tires immediately…I’m guessing he just drives it around town.
Dad ordered a new 62 long bed stepside in the Series 20 three quarter ton. He wanted the smooth interior pickup bed for ease of hauling grain. It was a cylinder, 4 speed and served faithfully until 1976 when it was junked
It may be a false memory, but I could swear that I saw that turquoise Chevy pickup when I was in Old Town for several days earlier this year. I’ve gone back to my photos to see if I could find a picture and have come up empty, so I guess not. Still though, it’s quintessential New Mexico. Enchanting indeed. (I love the dog photobombing your lede picture. The dog at least looks very much like one of mine, who also manages to make it into many pictures I take. Always watching.)
I too skipped the Georgia O’Keeffe museum, having seen that one before; but did catch the NM Museum of Art since that was a new one for me. Very nice courtyard, and the mural art and wood work in the adjoining auditorium is neat.
I may have missed the earlier introduction, but Wanda! She looks to be a French Bulldog/Lab mix?
Sounds and looks like a great trip.
Wanda is a bug (Pug x Boston terrier). She’s actually not ours; the young woman who is her owner lives in a cottage behind our house and was going to be out of town twice so we took her along. We actually take her hiking a lot, as her owner doesn’t like to walk. Wanda is very athletic and energetic; she can out hike me easily.
I had the opportunity to meet Wanda recently; athletic and energetic is putting it mildly. But also very friendly. I think our dog is active but I think Wanda had her beat.
A nice read about a truck I would drive and a place I should see and explore. My dad travelled all over the world and he considered both Arizona and New Mexico canyons amongst his favourites.
Having spent half a dozen weekends in Reno I have spent my time wandering old downtown and the neighborhoods around. Not easy dealing with plantar fasciitis for three months. Much of old downtown is empty. Partially Covid and mainly the new large gambling resorts out on the edge. The old part of town has the interesting buildings dating back 60-125 years. The house below on the original lot of 347 West St, from 1869 in process of being moved and saved. Bonanza Hotel, behind, closed.
Good that he got the “62 without the ridiculous eyebrows.
One of the landscapers working on our backyard makeover drives an “old” Chevy pickup. Not old like this one, or even old by the standards of many of us here, but it’s older than its owner. It’s a 1985, one of the last years of the Squarebody. Two wheel drive, 8’ bed, 305 with TBI. Totally stock appearance, though definitely a few dents and scratches from 40 years of use. He loves it.
When we were in Santa Fe a few years ago I found the scale to be a bit much after spending a few days in Taos, which is much smaller. But the mountain biking and dispersed camping on BLM land very close to town were quite good. As was the weather.
Far as I can tell, ’87 was the first year of TBI in pickups. The engine was essentially identical to the ’88, but the ’88 was the first year of GMT400 pickups. (The SUVs carried-over the squarebody.)
I spent some hours in Santa Fe, about 1992 or thereabouts. Didn’t know there was an O’keeffe museum, I spent all my time at the offices of Stereophile Magazine, talking to the layout ladies, (one of whom actually knew about my home-town!) getting a tour of the listening room, and a couple minutes with one of the writers.
https://stereophile.com/
Thanx Paul ;
I love the 1960 C10 and also the many wonderful photographs, it’s been decades since I was in Sta Fe, nice to see it’s still a lovely town if hot in Summer .
Seeing this fine old truck doing Yeoman Duty reminds me of why I love basic work trucks so much .
My shop truck is now a modern (2001) but still the same old basic rubber floor mats, small inline engine and stick shift, I expect it’ll outlast me .
My new bitch is a Pug mix, are all Pugs so full of energy ? .
-Nate
Great pics, looks like a fabulous trip1 Amazingly we were in Santa Fe less than 2 weeks ago, right before Thanksgiving, we stayed in La Posada resort, it looks like the O’Keefe Museum, as so many buildings there do, even had a kiva fireplace. Wonderful town with super dining options and old vehicles aplenty.
As we’re in transition to living in the Denver area, and even bought a house there while visiting for Turkey Day, while poking around we even found a solid old vintage pickup to use for upcoming projects and dump runs (the new place needs a deck torn off and replaced): a “square body” 1975 GMC 3/4 ton, 350/THM400., with only 62K miles. Needs a few things but hopefully she’ll be fit for the kind of yeoman duty yours has served well for you Paul, there’s much to be done at the new place! Nothing like an old pickup full of battle scars from use!
pics of a hard working truck, now reporting for duty in Denver
pic 2 … definitely needs those 35 yr old tires replaced.
Looks like a good old truck ready for work. Nice find.
It’s nice to see a ’60-66 survivor that doesn’t have the front quarters rust-eaten up to the roofline.
Then again, NM probably uses a smidge less road salt than WI.
Beautiful old stepside and marvelous scenery in New Mexico! I almost missed the white dog blending in with the white picket fence in the first picture!
What was the problem with torsion bars on the light duty trucks? GMT400 4×4’s have them and I’m not aware of any issues. My 2000 K2500 is one of them. The coil spring setup looks less expensive to build.
It was not the actual torsion bars themselves, but simply that Chevy came up with a cheaper and more effective solution for the light trucks. This is from VinceC’s CC post on the subject:
The much lauded all-new chassis with torsion bar suspension introduced in 1960 was abandoned. For 1963, Chevrolet switched to coil springs on the front of its light trucks, while medium and heavy duty trucks switched back to conventional beam axles with leaf springs. Chevrolet touted the new coil spring suspension as offering increased durability, simplicity, and a more compact design for increased ground clearance. The new coil springs required less maintenance, since they did not require periodic adjustments like torsion bars, and the lower control arms construction was simplified.
The torsion bar IFS on the larger (medium and HD) trucks did turn out to be more problematic. I’ve written a post on them here:
https://www.curbsideclassic.com/curbside-classics-american/curbside-classic-1962-chevrolet-c80-dump-truck-with-jet-smooth-independent-front-suspension-part-3-of-gms-ifs-saga/
There were issues with that setup from the beginning, and they made several changes in the first couple of years but after three years they threw in the towl and went back to solid front axles.
Uncle John had one of these in the 70’s. (well, a 1960 PANEL truck, same front end). Not sure what it came with factory, but he put in a Pontiac 428 with a 4 speed standard tranny. (not sure from what, I was like 5 when I 1st remember it). He had it for a few years, then parked in the yard with the 67 Falcon, the 64 Olds f65, 56 Cadillac w DUAL QUADS (from my grandma).
He had a lot of cars that were waiting til he “got around to fixing them”.