I just took possession of my great-grandfather's 1959 Chevrolet Apache. He ordered it originally with the Trademaster 283 V8 engine. I have a question. The restoration information package that I received from Chevrolet provides some explanation of the engine serial number but I am confused about the number on my truck. It is "FI101M". I understand that "F" means Flint, Michigan. The info package says "M" designates RPO 408. Was this the V8 option in 1959? I also don't understand the "I", that's "eye", after the "F". My guess is that "I" was close enough to a "1" in appearance for the folks on the assembly line and that the engine was assembled on November 01 but I am guessing again. Any help would be greatly appreicated.
