69 Custom 30 wrecker restoration

[no moa]

Amazing story, amazing truck!

[87Jimmy4JP]

The truck is amazing...glad you decided to restore it....

I just finished a project...well almost finished....and over time I have taken it to all the places who helped me make it happen in one way or another. The guys at our local Mavis were the most impressed and I made sure to thank them for helping out...

I think it makes someones day when you thank them for helping, or just to let them know you appreciate the good deal you got when they sold it to you, ect..... If I get around to it, Ive gotta take the project over to the foreign car place I got the tail light housings from ...they were the only place within 100 miles and the prices were still great....I was under a time crunch too and they really came through for me.

Keep up the great work..any new projects looming?

JP

[bobs409]

Originally Posted by 87Jimmy4JP

Keep up the great work..any new projects looming?
JP

Thanks everyone. Was a long process but driving it around now makes it all worth while.

I'm back on my 63 Impala restoration now. This is a project that keeps getting set aside for various reasons but this time, I'm DETERMINED to get it done!!!

[bobs409]

I contacted the grandson of the Wreck-Master company owner as per contact info given to me by dfwright of this forum and learned alot about these wrecker bodies. (big thank you to dfwright for doing that!)

I sent an email and asked things like what my model (410) sold for, what options were available, if they went out and installed these or did the trucks always come to them, info on literature and lighting. Another thing that always puzzled me was the fact that my truck has a big metal block on the back instead of rubber slings.

First, I was told my truck seems to have the larger (810) series commercial tow bar. (that's the big metal block as I was calling it) lol

The 410 model came with rubber slings for passenger cars but for some reason, mine got the one for large trucks. ??? I can't understand why a small body shop would want that and if I ever get back to Vic's, it will be one of the first questions I'll have for them. Vic's brother did mention towing some big heavy trucks so maybe this little tow truck did haul a few rigs. That would have been a sight to see.

I was told they did have manuals and brochures with these and they were printed on a printing press in their own basement! He wasn't able to help me obtain any old copies however, all long gone now.

The 410 model I have sold for around $3,000 with very few options. Was told basically only side tool doors and forward doors to fit stabalizer jacks which very few were sold.

You could get the whole package, lights, matching paint, striping, lettering, even two way radio equipment if you needed it, all done at their factory if you wanted or some went out the door plain with only temporary tail lights so the owner or dealer could finish them.

I was also told that they either did them in their factory where the truck was brought to them or they would be delivered to dealers and done there. Some were actually fully completed tow trucks that the dealer sold on their lot! I never knew that one. Not sure how mine came to be but that's another question I'll have ready to go.

The Wreck-Master company was sold a few times since the grandfather got out of the business and later it folded up. The factory is long gone now.

The grandson told me he worked there assembling the rubber slings at age 8! How cool is that? He opted not to take over the business at around age 25.


So after 3 years of searching for info on the Wreck-Master unit and hitting dead ends, I finally have some answers to many of my questions.

Just think, buy a cab/chassis in 1969 for around $3,000 and add a Wreck-Master body for another $3,000 and you have yourself a brand new tow truck for 6K! Try doing that today.