bruffsup Posted January 13, 2020 Author Share Posted January 13, 2020 5 hours ago, Restorer32 said: I know where there is a "restored" 1931 Cadillac tow/service truck that is for sale privately. No pics at this time but if anyone is interested I could ask the owner for pics and more info. As I remember it had a professional looking body with the chrome rails. If you go to the first post on this topic it was started by me ! I am interested! Actually I remember buying one Ardun head from a collector /dealer in the boonies half way between Syracuse and Albany and he had in his garage a similar sounding Caddy ! It was not for sale. This was 30 years ago in the dead of a very cold winter day and for the life of me I can not remember where the guy was. He did sell me a big box of Lotus literature which I still have ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Moskowitz Posted January 14, 2020 Share Posted January 14, 2020 The following two trucks were owned by the dealership I eventually owned. Sadly, they were long gone. The 34 olds pick up was built by the guys in our body shop as a parts hauler. The other truck I believe is a 28 Chevrolet 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steamer145 Posted February 11, 2022 Share Posted February 11, 2022 I recently got my grandfather picture restored of his garage (Cloudland Garage) and his wrecker taken on June 15 1933 in Roan Mountain, Tennessee right to left Earnest Boone, Mr. Brown, Verl Boone. I'm trying too track the wrecker down and see if it survived all these years 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fleetwood Meadow Posted February 14, 2022 Share Posted February 14, 2022 This is in a hole-in-the-wall museum up in New Hampshire. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BobPilkie Posted March 25, 2022 Share Posted March 25, 2022 On 1/9/2020 at 4:47 PM, 1912Staver said: It's surprising how many Lincoln sedans ended up as service vehicles or tow trucks. They must have had a reputation for dependability as they aged. These days it seems like the fork and blade con rod engines are treated with a bit of distrust amongst collectors . Or am I misinformed ? There was a tow truck conversion very similar to the " Johnson's Garage " vehicle for sale recently in my neck of the woods. A proper tow setup ; Holmes or Weaver if I recall correctly with jack down stabilisers, but the Lincoln itself was seriously weathered. And a optimistic price tag at close to $10,000 asking. Caught my attention but I didn't go any further than a bit of pondering. I have often thought it would be useful to have a vintage tow truck . Greg in Canada Hi Bob here in Edmonton Alberta. Is this tow truck still around and available please call me 780 819 7404 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1912Staver Posted March 25, 2022 Share Posted March 25, 2022 On 2/14/2022 at 12:57 PM, Fleetwood Meadow said: This is in a hole-in-the-wall museum up in New Hampshire. I have an engine but I am a long way away! Actually that complete Cadillac would be quite welcome around my place. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stakeside Posted March 25, 2022 Share Posted March 25, 2022 Pulled these out of my files: 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BryanC17reo Posted June 11, 2022 Share Posted June 11, 2022 Looking for any information or photos of this 1919 Reo / 20' coupe body/Holmes wrecker conversion ,it was in edgerton Wisconsin , thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rusty_OToole Posted June 12, 2022 Share Posted June 12, 2022 On 1/11/2020 at 2:41 PM, md murray said: I was told by the owner of a late 1920's Lincoln service car that Ford sent the dealers specific instruction on how they wanted them to cut down old limos/ 7passengers and fabricate the new service bodies. I guess they wanted to promote an appearance of conformity among the dealers. It would be pretty interesting to get a look at this literature-anyone ever seen/heard of this? Makes sense, since disposing of trade ins and used cars was a growing problem for dealers in the twenties. Luxury cars especially were white elephants. If a Ford dealer could take a Lincoln in trade, or take one off a Lincoln dealer's hands, that was all to the good as far as making a deal went. And a nice Lincoln tow car would be an attractive asset to the Ford or Lincoln dealer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hddennis Posted June 12, 2022 Share Posted June 12, 2022 I always loved this picture and wondered if any others were made or was this just a one-off. Sure made a nice service vehicle. Howard Dennis 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
George K Posted June 12, 2022 Share Posted June 12, 2022 4 hours ago, BryanC17reo said: Looking for any information or photos of this 1919 Reo / 20' coupe body/Holmes wrecker conversion ,it was in edgerton Wisconsin , thanks I have a 1920 Reo conversion. Don’t have the wrecker boom. Been sitting for few years. 6 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fossil Posted June 12, 2022 Share Posted June 12, 2022 When they modified one of those Lincolns or Cadillacs for use as a tow truck what did they use for rear springs? Were the stock wooden wheels able to support the extra load? I wish those old tow trucks could reveal their history. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
edinmass Posted June 12, 2022 Share Posted June 12, 2022 They jam a coil spring between the frame and rear leaf spring……and weld it in place with straps. Cadillac’s were popular conversions because they had a factory PTO from about 1925 to 1933. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
60FlatTop Posted June 12, 2022 Share Posted June 12, 2022 I have been a Buick guy all my life and I always got a chuckle out of the guys bragging about the Holmes Wrecker Company being the best and invented in the place they made sure you knew was "Ford country, Boy". A little part of my "join the Navy and see the world" experience. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
F&J Posted June 12, 2022 Share Posted June 12, 2022 10 hours ago, George K said: I have a 1920 Reo conversion. Don’t have the wrecker boom. Been sitting for few years. George, I can share a little history on your Reo. It was bought new by a guy in Lebanon, CT, (not far from my town). It stayed in that family for many decades, and was last used by the son in the early 1950s when the son was putting in a driveway at his home, hauling gravel. It was never a wrecker, just a truck conversion. I was the 3rd owner. I bought it maybe around 2008. The second owner bought it from that son and just stored it for 25 years, never got it running, it just sat there. I did a lot of work to get it to run, I also found decent used 25" tires/tubes, etc. I sold it to Skip who runs French Lake Auto Parts in MN, maybe in 2009/10? Hemmings did a write up on it when Skip first got it. Must have been a very wealthy first owner with all the options it had; Rex All WeatherTop, bumpers, Hayes wire wheels, and even his monogram on the body side panel; "JC". Pics below showing the never-used summer side curtains stored in the compartment above the windshield. Also a rear pic of what it looked liked when I first got it, petrified tires, missing runningboard, etc Pic below at a local farm/engine show. It ride like a bucking bronco in those farm fields, I think it had some aftermarket coil springs in the rear? Not sure about that now. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
George K Posted June 12, 2022 Share Posted June 12, 2022 3 minutes ago, F&J said: George, I can share a little history on your Reo. It was bought new by a guy in Lebanon, CT, (not far from my town). It stayed in that family for many decades, and was last used by the son in the early 1950s when the son was putting in a driveway at his home, hauling gravel. It was never a wrecker, just a truck conversion. I was the 3rd owner. I bought it maybe around 2008. The second owner bought it from that son and just stored it for 25 years, never got it running, it just sat there. I did a lot of work to get it to run, I also found decent used 25" tires/tubes, etc. I sold it to Skip who runs French Lake Auto Parts in MN, maybe in 2009/10? Hemmings did a write up on it when Skip first got it. Must have been a very wealthy first owner with all the options it had; Rex All WeatherTop, bumpers, Hayes wire wheels, and even his monogram on the body side panel; "JC". Pics below showing the never-used summer side curtains stored in the compartment above the windshield. Also a rear pic of what it looked liked when I first got it, petrified tires, missing runningboard, etc Pic below at a local farm/engine show. It ride like a bucking bronco in those farm fields, I think it had some aftermarket coil springs in the rear? Not sure about that now. Cool. I just love the way it represents depression era repurposing. I saw it and was compelled to own it. I’ve stored it ever since. Drove it around a bit and it ran well. I really should let someone who would use it have it. The wheels are the same size as a Stutz Bear Cat. Thank you for revealing it’s story. For sure it’s a frozen moment of Americana. Really should be used and shown in a museum. Best regards, George 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pkhammer Posted June 12, 2022 Share Posted June 12, 2022 That REO is fantastic! I love these depression era conversions and own a simple Model A Ford that was converted to a farm truck with tilting flatbed. We go to steam/gas/farm shows and the A is always a big hit with folks. It also makes it to Hershey every year. I owned the '14 T Pickup for a while but never had it in running condition. The Huppmobile pictured was for sale at Carlisle or Hershey a few years back and I just loved it and wish I would've purchased it. I'm a truck guy at heart. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Dobbin Posted June 12, 2022 Share Posted June 12, 2022 Packard Tow Truck at the Chatanoogh TN international Towing & Recovery Hall of Fame Museum. During the 2013 Glidden Tour. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt Harwood Posted June 12, 2022 Share Posted June 12, 2022 (edited) A few from my collection of photos. I'm still going to own a Full Classic truck someday... Edited June 12, 2022 by Matt Harwood (see edit history) 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KarDanCreations Posted March 25, 2023 Share Posted March 25, 2023 Inspired by the various repurposing of modified cars into tow & service vehicles, this is an edited '29 Duesenberg I created with original shown in insert. First image is a color test and including rough draft for collapsible folding winch rig to stow inside utility bed when not in use. Second image is final coloring and trim. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now