Perhaps you do not share my enthusiasm for tow trucks. Perhaps you are not a person who likes Ford trucks. Perhaps you are just someone who isn’t all that enthusiastic about anything. Well, we have the cure for all three of those things in the form of this 1969 Ford F-350 wrecker that is about the coolest tow truck that we have ever seen. An interesting mix of a restoration and a custom build, it has won shows and we think it is about the neatest thing going.
For starters, Ford never factory offered a dually four by four truck until 1979 so that’s where the custom part of this build comes in. The owner took it all the way down to the frame for starters and then went from there on up, adding a Dana 40 axle up front and a big Dana 70 out back. The transfer case is a beefy New Process 435 unit and according to the owner he built the truck to mimic the Marmon-Herrington and NAPCO four wheel drive conversions done on non-factory trucks of the day.
The engine is a 360ci FE mill and it has been restored to factory specs and hooked to a factory style four speed manual transmission. The exhaust is a pair of straight pipes that terminate with what look to be Flowmaster mufflers under the truck. Every inch of this thing is perfection. From the engine bay, to the cab, to the chassis it has been done with a level of quality that we have never seen on a truck like this before.
The business end of the truck is the Holmes 440 wrecker unit that has been restored with virtually every factory option that was available in the late 1970s. From the two tone paint to the wheel dollies and grab handles this thing is flipping awesome.
If there’s one piece of this that really makes our hear flutter it is the Super Traxion tires that are all narrow and knobby as God intended the to be. Pick some nits if you can…we cannot find anything to complain about here!
Check out the photos and then hit the link at the bottom to see the eBay ad with more!
“Wrecker Lust” is a very real crippling disease”…Dr Oz, today at 3:00.
I was always a ‘dyed in the wool’ Chevrolet/GM fan but I’ve become open to anything old….they don’t make ’em anymore. This beauty, I would gladly bring home to the farm 🙂
That is one pretty wrecker! Most of those trucks were beat to death.
I admire the restraint they used. No aluminium wheels, a single bubble gum light on top, vintage sling wrecker. Just like what was parked at countless gas stations in the 60s and 70s.
My favorite era of Ford truck , Me want
Thank you all for the comments and compliments. I tried to do it justice when I built it. 2,000 hours of hard labor and $30,000 later, this is the result. Glad y’all like it. By the way, it’s for sale, as stated. See the eBay listing. It will also be at Carlise next week. If you’re anywhere near-by, please visit me at the show and see it in-person.
Gorgeous truck. Well done.
This is freakin sweet! From a time when a car could actually be towed from the bumper. This is everything a tow truck should be – a built right work truck to take care of business.
2 Nits:
1. The Sling arms are upside down. When you go to hook something sitting with no wheel or low to the ground: The T-handles on the adjusters as well as the adjuster pins are going to hit and snap.
2. It’s missing the Holmes 440 plate below the Beacon.
It’s the strangest thing. I’ve seen these trucks, even when new, with the “T” handles at the top of the arms and at the bottom, but I do plan on reversing them because I have to change two of the bolts to longer ones. As far as the “HOLMES 440” placard, you’re right. Waiting to find a nice one!