1957 Chevy Napco by Legacy Classic Trucks: The Best Truck Ever?
We were invited to Ojai, California to drive this beautiful 1957 Chevy NAPCO truck. Restored and modified to the highest extent by Legacy Classic Trucks, they promised that no stone had been left unturned. We were promised the ultimate expression of on and off road performance, packaged in this classically-proportioned beautiful truck. It took just one look at the Napco to know that it could fulfill any promises made.
What is Legacy Classic Trucks?
Legacy Classic Trucks is a full-service restoration facility, located in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. Founded by Winslow Bent, the brand is one of the premiere classic truck restoration operations in the United States. It was Bent himself who met with us in Ojai to discuss and drive the Napco. He’s a real enthusiast, who has worked his way through everything from sport compacts, to Formula Fords and now 4×4’s, which are his real automotive passion. After continually finding the limits and shortcomings of various stock and modified 4×4’s, the idea to engineer his own trucks and his own components was obvious. Having learned the business of business through his family, it was only natural that he would start his own manufacturing and restoration company. From there, Legacy Classic Trucks was born.
The brand is renowned for their Mopar muscle, with trucks like the Dodge Power Wagon and Jeep Scrambler being the core of their business. These trucks are restorations of the originals, and are modern interpretations of what they could and should be. They feature modern suspension design, powertrains and off-road equipment that the manufacturers could only dream of when they were originally built. The Chevy Napco is their latest offering and attempt at branching out into the world of classic Chevy trucks.
What is the NAPCO?
Well, let’s back up and start at the beginning: NAPCO is shorthand for Northwestern Auto Parts Company. NAPCO was originally a off-road parts supplier, who began working directly with the manufacturers in the 1950’s. Chevrolet and GMC trucks could be built from the factory with NAPCO-supplied 4WD parts. Alternatively, the NAPCO 4×4 Powr-Pak could be ordered for 2WD trucks already on the dealership lot. A 1400lb wooden crate, filled with 4WD and off-road gear, would arrive at the dealership and allow 2WD trucks to be converted to NAPCO-spec in hours. These trucks featured big engines, 4WD and all of the off-road and recovery tools one could conceivably need when off-roading.
This truck is Legacy Classic Trucks’ complete turnkey recreation of the NAPCO and illustration of what a modern day NAPCO could and should be. It features a modern Gen IV small block Chevy V8 engine, paired to either a 4-speed automatic, or a 5-speed manual transmission. That power is sent through Tom Wood driveshafts, Detroit Tru-trac Positraction (limited slip) differentials and DynaTrac axles with 6-bolt, locking hubs. The suspension is seemingly born of Baja, with King shocks and bumpstops. there are custom steel crossmembers and heavy-duty, mil-spec leaf springs. Can we go back to those shocks for a second? They offer 14″ of travel. We weren’t kidding about the Baja-spec build sheet. Disc brakes are standard at all four corners and use large, multi-piston calipers. As this is a frame-off restoration, the custom built frame is fully boxed and reinforced.
[Want to know more about differentials, axles and drivetrain hardware? Check out the LS1tech.com Gears and Axles section.]
The hardware on this truck is hardcore and beautifully over-engineered. However, the duality of the truck is what is most striking in person. The interior is gorgeous, really. Our test truck featured “baseball glove” leather seating, which is designed to wear in like a catcher’s mitt. Another optional, and greatly appreciated goody: Vintage Air A/C and heating. The gauge cluster is jam-packed with information, including oil pressure and water temperature, but designed to appear period correct. The entire cabin is well-insulated and thoroughly modern in fit and finish. The MB Tex carpeting (yes, that MB stands for Mercedes-Benz) is cushy and substantial feeling. Everything feels “premium,” which is an odd word to conjure up with talking about a 60-year old Chevy truck. Did I mention the radio? It’s fantastic. It was impossible to ignore that the acoustic setup on this truck makes most other cars on the road seem vastly inferior and underwhelming.
What is it like to drive?
I will tell you, however, I can do one better and show you. Check out this video of yours truly driving the Napco with Legacy’s founder, Winslow Bent, riding shotgun. This is what it was like to drive the Legacy Chevy Napco, on and off road:
This particular truck had the 5.3L Vortec V8 and the 5-speed manual. The engine is a GM Performance crate motor that is largely left alone, for the sake of reliability. With 350 horsepower and 350 lb-ft of torque, it has more than enough power to get you into or out of trouble, depending on your perspective. The only concession to that is the Borla bi-modal “NPP” exhaust lifted straight from a C7 Corvette. It’s a very cool, unique touch. You can watch Winslow flip the “fun switch” during the video. Drivability is perfect, with the 5.3 offering smooth torque delivery and linear power. The manual transmission has an easy clutch and clicks definitively into gear. We watched Winslow rip this truck through the gears with ease. I was a bit more gentle since it’s not mine to hoon.
[Want to know what people are saying about the Gen IV small block V8? Check out the forums here.]
The chassis’ off-road pedigree means that the suspension is totally under-stressed when driving on road. Pair that with the excellent cabin and the result is a pretty comfortable ride for a truck. All of that insulation and attention to detail on the interior means that despite being a 60-year old Chevy truck, it’s pretty much devoid of squeaks, rattles and undue NVH (noise, vibration and harshness). Winslow said that he wanted the Napco to be the ultimate all-purpose truck, capable of being a beach cruiser, Baja blaster and a slick date night ride, all in one. I agree that it was pretty slick, all in all, but my only qualm was the steering. The Napco uses a Saginaw steering box and it felt antiquated, requiring a good amount of shuffling to keep the truck going where I wanted it to go. However, the seating position of the truck is high and commanding, which makes it easy to place, regardless of the loose steering. After about 15 minutes into the drive, I had the hang of it. I quipped to Bent that if I was spec’ing up a Napco, I would opt for a sharper steering ratio, or a different steering system completely. Bemused by my obvious lack of off-road cred, he assured me that there was a method to the madness, and with that, we hit the trails.
Immediately after hitting the trail, it made sense. The steering came into it’s own as we creeped, crawled and powered through the ruts and gullies. Forget the steering, the 100:1 gear reduction low-range 4WD was indefatigable. Simply let out the clutch in first gear and the truck would smoothly get through anything, even when the chassis was completely twisted up. We put those King shocks to work and the truck didn’t miss a beat. Between intentionally dropping wheels into big ruts and trying to get the chassis as twisted up as possible, nothing we did slowed the Napco down.
Eventually, the ascent leveled out, and after pushing through a brush thicket we reached the outlook. There was the Napco, above all, looking down on the valley from whence it came. This $135,000 truck, with it’s beautiful paint job and incredible fit and finish, has the ability to make even the most novice of off-roaders into an all-terrain king. The Napco is a Swiss army knife that manages to be a katana on road and a machete off road. Winslow had said that the goal of the Napco was to be the ultimate all-purpose classic truck, on and off road. Legacy Classic Trucks nailed it.
Many thanks to Legacy Classic Trucks for having us out to drive the Chevy Napco. We are very much looking forward to all future efforts by this incredible company.
Jake Stumph is the Content Editor behind LS1tech.com. He is an avid racer and car enthusiast. He considers himself very lucky to be able to write about cars. You can follow him on Facebook and YouTube.
