1957 Chevy Apache 3100 - Chip Off The Ol’ Block
At the risk of sounding like an episode of Dr. Phil, I believe that it is important for a father and son to share some common interests in the hope of developing a stronger relationship and perhaps a life-long bond. Some might find it in outdoor activities like camping or fishing, while others might find it in mutual hobbies like sports. For 43 year old airline pilot Mark Ovenstone and his son Connor, it was Hotrods.
This unyielding passion for American Steel started way back in the early 70’s when Mark’s dad, Peter, imported a ’67 Camaro from the states, creating in Mark a bowtie (Chevy) man for life. It is no wonder that those same values and preferences have been instilled in his own son decades later. Having watched countless Youtube builds and Hotrod TV programs over the years, and after attending numerous Cars in the Park shows, Mark and Connor decided they would take on a project that would feed their yearning for building a masterpiece of their own.
A few prerequisites needed to be satisfied when searching for what would soon become a family heirloom for the Ovenstone men. It needed to be from the same era that kicked off Mark’s passion for old American muscle cars. It also needed to be something that they could rebuild from the ground up so that they could make it their own and it needed to be a Chevy. Mark purchased this 1957 Chevy Apache 3100 from East Coast Automotive a little while later and the project was soon underway.
Prior to the restoration, the Apache sported a bright purple paint job and a somewhat vanilla 350/350 combo under the hood. This undesirable combination did not matter to Mark as he had already put in years of research into what he would replace it with. The plan was to build something with good ol’ Detroit muscle under the hood with a modern twist, but we will get to that a bit later in the article. At the age of 8, Connor spent late nights under the Pickup with Mark assisting with the strip-down, before they sent it to Speedway Auto for the installation of a brand new Chevy Gen IV 454 crate motor.
The big-block has also received extensive modifications ensuring that the Apache has the ability to smoke its rear tyres at the drop of a hat. Within the lump you’ll find domed hypereutectic pistons that are typically cheaper than their forged counterparts and are actually known for being suited for long-term operation in a high performance street engine. Pro-Comp aluminium heads and 750CFM carbs were also fitted from Summit Racing, while an aluminium radiator and high flow pump takes care of all the extra heat this setup will no doubt be generating. Exhaust gases are dispensed via 3-inch stainless steel exhausts fitted with electric bypass valves that, when activated, give off an extremely satisfying euphonious V8 bellow. The deep black paintwork, perfectly executed by Yugen Chetty over at Macrites Panelbeaters, also contains a slight blue pearl to it, giving the Apache an almost mystical glow in the sunlight.
Mark’s wife Christy also had a hand in the resurrection of the Chevy. The interior was designed entirely by her and she worked closely with Shannon Naidu from Covertrim to bring her vision to life. As stated earlier, Mark wanted to incorporate a few modern items in the build to make it unique and also a bit easier to live with on a regular basis. He planned on using the Apache as a daily driver so the seats needed to be a bit more comfortable than the old flat bench-seat and he achieved this by chucking them out in favour of Toyota RSi seats.
Another welcome addition, making the truck more practical to live with everyday, are the Dakota gauges and a more than adequate sound system, not that we would ever condone listening to music over the glorious roar of a Chevy V8. Besides using the truck as a daily driver, Mark is a firm believer in building something that can also be put to work when required. The air suspension, normally reserved for slamming the Apache into the tarmac came in handy when the pickup was loaded to the hilt with construction materials whilst Mark built 2 houses, proving that this Chevy is far from a garage queen. Mark has dedicated this build to the greatest influence in his life - his late father, Peter Ovenstone. And just as his passion for old Chevy’s was passed down to him, so too has it been passed down to his son Connor along with this amazing Chevy Apache, and what a lucky young lad he is…
TECH SHEET:
OWNER: Mark Ovenstone
LOCATION: Durban
MAKE: 1957 Chevrolet Apache 3100
BUILDER: Father & Son build, Speedway Auto
ENGINE: Gen IV 454, Pro-Comp aluminium head & roller rockers, stage 2 camshafts, domed hypereutectic pistons, aluminium radiator with high flow pump, air-gap intake manifold, custom 2.5-inch ceramic coated exhaust manifold, 3-inch polished stainless steel exhaust with electric bypass valves, Summit 750 CFM carb, 70L underbed aluminium fuel tank
TRANNY: TH-400, Ford 9-inch LSD SUSPENSION: Jaguar XJS series 2 with 4-link Air Suspension
WHEELS: Boss 338 18x8J front, 20x10J rear
BRAKES: Jaguar ventilated discs front, Ford Racing rear
INTERIOR: Dakota Digital gauges, Toyota RSi seats plus jump seat all redone in leather, custom door pads and steering wheel, deep pile carpeting
COLOUR: Black with blue pearl
PAINTER: Macrites Panelbeaters
SOUND: JVC head unit, JBL 6.5-inch splits, 2 X 10-inch subwoofers, 2 x Reference audio amps, sound deadening throughout, custom double-stitched box, Led lighting kit
