What was the name of the 1960 Chevy truck?
The 1960 Chevy truck is best known by the Chevrolet Apache name; that year also marked GM's shift to the C/K light-truck naming (C-10/C-20, K-10/K-20, K-30).
In that year, Chevrolet's light trucks bridged the legacy Apache styling with a new corporate naming system, signaling a transition in design and branding that would endure for decades.
Background: The Apache lineage and GM’s truck naming
The Apache badge first appeared on Chevrolet's light pickups in the late 1950s as part of the Task Force era, signaling a higher trim level and distinctive styling that included two-tone paint and special trim details. By 1960, this lineage remained part of the truck's identity, even as GM prepared a broader naming scheme.
The 1960 transition: Introducing the C/K designation
1960 marked the debut of GM's C/K naming system for light trucks. The C-series covered two-wheel-drive models (C-10 and C-20), while the K-series included four-wheel-drive variants (K-10, K-20, K-30). The Apache name persisted on certain trims but model identification increasingly relied on C/K codes.
For collectors and historians, the 1960 Chevrolet pickup is often described as part of the Apache lineage, while technically it sits at the dawn of the C/K era.
Model lineup for 1960
To illustrate the practical range for buyers, Chevrolet offered both two-wheel-drive and four-wheel-drive configurations across half-ton, three-quarter-ton, and heavier duties, under the new C/K system.
- Chevrolet C-10 — two-wheel-drive half-ton pickup
- Chevrolet C-20 — two-wheel-drive three-quarter-ton pickup
- Chevrolet K-10 — four-wheel-drive half-ton pickup
- Chevrolet K-20 — four-wheel-drive three-quarter-ton pickup
- Chevrolet K-30 — four-wheel-drive one-ton pickup
The list above shows the principal 1960 Chevrolet pickup configurations and reflects the transition from the Apache-dominated styling to the early C/K nomenclature.
Summary
In essence, the 1960 Chevy truck is commonly associated with the Chevrolet Apache, but it also represents GM's first formal use of the C/K naming system for light trucks, with models spanning C-10, C-20, K-10, K-20, and K-30. This year stands as a bridge between the iconic, trim-focused Apache era and the more standardized, capability-based C/K lineup.
