This Tesla-Powered 1958 Chevy Apache Still Has A 5-Speed ManualGuessing HeadlightsAndre NalinThu, September 17, 2026 at 7:00 PM UTCAdd us on GoogleImage Credit: Mecum.A weathered 1958 Chevrolet Apache probably isn't the first thing you'd expect to find hiding an electric drivetrain. This particular truck makes even less sense once you climb inside and discover that its old-school gear lever still has a job.Known as the "E-Pache," the custom Chevrolet was converted to electric power by Conductive Classics in Garden City, Idaho. The project was completed in 2021 before appearing at the SEMA Show the following year.Rather than restoring the body until it looked factory fresh, its builders left the decades-old exterior largely alone. The resulting combination of authentic patina and modern EV hardware makes it difficult to guess what's underneath until you start digging into the details.AdvertisementAdvertisementNow someone else will get the chance to put it in their garage. Mecum says the E-Pache will cross the block at its Nashville auction on Saturday, September 26, with no presale estimate currently listed.Tesla Batteries Meet A Five-Speed ManualImage Credit: Mecum.Instead of a small-block V8 or inline-six, the Apache's engine bay contains a NetGain HyPer 9HV electric motor. Electricity comes from seven Tesla Model S battery modules, which Mecum says provide an estimated 80 to 90 miles of driving range.The unusual part is what sits between the electric motor and the wheels. Conductive Classics retained a manual gearbox, using a GM five-speed sourced from a 2008 Chevrolet Colorado.Image Credit: Mecum.Manual transmissions are largely unnecessary in modern EVs because electric motors can operate effectively across a broad speed range without multiple gears. That hasn't stopped several classic EV conversions from retaining a gearbox, however, and in the E-Pache it preserves an extra layer of driver involvement that would otherwise disappear with the combustion engine.It Got More Than An Electric Motor SwapImage Credit: Mecum.The conversion involved significant chassis work as well. Up front, there's a TCI suspension setup with a new crossmember, RideTech coilovers, and rack-and-pinion steering, while Wilwood disc brakes provide additional stopping power.AdvertisementAdvertisementThe exterior deliberately retains its aged blue finish, contrasted by white bumpers and a white grille. Reproduction 15-inch Rally wheels complete a look that doesn't immediately advertise the truck's modernized mechanicals.Inside, much of the original character remains, including the simple dashboard and bench-seat layout. The seat has been reupholstered, while an upgraded steering wheel, digital stereo, and battery monitor are among the obvious concessions to the truck's new drivetrain.The E-Pache Is Headed To AuctionImage Credit: Mecum.The wood-plank bed hides another piece of the conversion. A toolbox mounted behind the cab contains the drive controllers and charging equipment, while an Orion battery-management system and voltage converters help manage the electrical hardware.Mecum hasn't published an estimate for the E-Pache, so there's no indication yet what bidders might consider a former SEMA-show EV conversion worth. Its unusual combination of preserved patina, Tesla battery hardware, and an actual five-speed gearbox should at least make it difficult to confuse with another electric classic when it rolls onto the Nashville auction block.AdvertisementAdvertisementIf you want more stories like this, follow Guessing Headlights on Yahoo so you don't miss what's coming next.
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