A few years back, Delmo Heritage 4×4, the restomod arm of the renowned Delmo Speed & Kustom parts shop, took a basically-new 1959 Chevrolet Apache and turned it into a modern-day overlander. Now, that truck is up for sale via Otto Markt and you’ll finally have the rare opportunity to purchase this fully-built custom from the Arizona-based shop without having to commission one yourself.
Delmo’s World
Del Uschenko built Delmo Speed & Kustom into one of the more influential custom shops in the country by keeping things tasteful. The Burbank-born, California-rooted operation became synonymous with traditional hot rod cues applied to vintage Chevy and GMC trucks, builds that leaned understated where others were pretty loud. He’s credited by many as a central figure in shaping the modern resto-mod pickup movement. So when Del turned his eye toward 4×4 builds, everyone paid attention.
Apache, Jump on It
The 1959 Chevrolet Apache itself sits at a particularly compelling crossroads in truck history. It was the final year of Chevy’s Task Force generation, the nameplate that had been running since 1955 and picked up the Apache badge in 1958 for the light-duty line. By 1960, the whole thing got shelved for the C/K era. That one-year window makes the ’59 the swan song of an era, and collectors have never stopped paying attention to it. It’s got the quad-headlight front end, solid parts support, and proportions that still look right today. The bones were always good.
The Truck
Starting in 2021 and completing in 2023, this project isn’t a restoration and it isn’t exactly a restomod either. It’s closer to a ground-up reimagining, starting from fresh Premier Street Rods sheetmetal and building outward. The Roadster Shop RS4 custom chassis sits at the foundation, paired with Currie Dana 60 and Dana 44 axles, Fox coilovers, and 10 to 12 inches of suspension travel.
A 525-hp LS3 V-8 sits under a vintage-styled hood, yet from the outside it reads as an original 283. A Hughes-built 4L80E automatic and Atlas two-speed billet transfer case round out the drivetrain.
Painted in a gold coat from a 1963 Corvette, the body is a shortened Fleetside box, cut to a 7-foot bed length that Chevrolet never actually offered, with a matching Trailcap camper shell. Fellow Arizona shop Fat Lucky’s handled the interior, doing period-correct fabric alongside white leather and German square weave carpet. You also get Dakota Digital gauges, Vintage Air climate control, and a custom 15-inch billet steering wheel from Leading Edge Machine. At 860 miles, it’s barely been touched.
Spec Sheet
Engine: LS3 V-8 (disguised as a vintage 283)
Power: 525hp
Transmission: Hughes 4L80E 4-speed automatic
Transfer Case: Atlas 2-speed billet
Chassis: Roadster Shop RS4 custom
Axles: Currie Dana 60 (rear), Dana 44 (front)
Wheels: Custom 18″ billet
Tires: Toyo Open Country
Brakes: Custom Delmo/Baer 13″ disc system
Bed: 1959 Fleetside, shortened to 7-ft
Paint: 1963 Corvette Gold (Lewis Millinich)
Mileage: 860
Pricing & Availability
The Delmo Apache is available now through Otto Markt in Scottsdale, Arizona, ready for immediate delivery. Contact Otto Markt directly for pricing details. Building one new with Delmo today would mean a multi-year wait and a substantially higher price, with no guarantee of getting a slot at all.
Recap
1959 Delmo Chevrolet Apache
Delmo’s one-off 1959 Chevrolet Apache restomod is now up for grabs through Otto Markt in Scottsdale, and it’s about as close to a perfect truck as anyone’s built — 525 horses under a vintage-looking hood, a Roadster Shop chassis underneath, and less than 900 miles on the clock. If you’ve ever wanted a fully sorted Delmo build without the multi-year wait, this is your shot
