Long ago, when this nation valued people who worked with their hands, kids were given toys that allowed them to pretend to do adult jobs.  And these toys were really cool.  Fire trucks, backhoes, tractors, semis, trains, and all manner of trucks filled toy boxes and littered bedroom floors across America.  The youth of this country actually went outside (gasp!) and played in sand boxes, dirt, or, believe it or not, real, honest to goodness mud.  One of the biggest and most influential toymakers was Tonka, and they were known for toys that were not perfect replicas, but for work style toys that had parts that were exaggerated in size, like the tires, fenders, and smoke stacks.  Well, it looks like being a grownup,  and having the neat set of toys that comes with that phase of life, has allowed some Tonka fans to make an adult size Tonka truck.  This 1979 GMC C6000, which has been given the name of “Honka Tonka,” is being offered here on craigslist for $7,500.  While at first glance, this unique project truck, residing in Franklin, Indiana, looks rather than unusual, I’ll bet your inner child is going bananas!

The whole inate lust for all things Tonka must be a thing now.  In previous articles, I discussed the “brodozer” craze, where large pickup trucks, usually diesels, are jacked up and shod with big wheels and low profile tires that will never see a mile of dirt in their lifetimes.  The purpose of these trucks is to cruise around and impress members of the opposite sex with their ridiculous ride height, miles of neon, huge sound systems blasting out “hick-hop” music, and, the coup de grace, an erupting volcano of black smoke known as “rolling coal.”  All in good fun, of course.  There is nothing wrong with modifying your vehicle to suit your tastes and hidden desires.  Just remember that your vehicle is also a reflection of you.

While this builder didn’t seem to have a lot in the way of credit cards and 84 month financing, they have made up for by using what was available in a creative way.  The Honka Tonka is made from a 1979 GMC C6000, and has been bobbed to allow for the installation of a one ton Chevy dually pickup bed.  In addition, this modern day Dr. Frankenstein has installed a heavy duty hitch, a set of rims with new tires, and a really cool dual stack exhaust system.  What seems to be a fair amount of money has been spent on the mechanicals, including bearings, brakes, a new clutch and pressure plate, a new radiator, and an auxiliary electric cooling fan to supplement the engine driven one.

Another aspect of this unique creation is the liberal use of diamond plate inside and out.  The builder must have had access to a good plasma cutter and a whopper of a metal brake to come up with some of the diamond plate additions that this truck boasts.  The bumpers and running boards look great, but I cannot say I am a fan of the front end treatment or the dash work.  Added to this cornucopia of diamond plate are LED lights in various patterns.  If the ones below the grill area were meant to substitute for headlights, they must have been insufficient.  A set of bolt on headlights have been added to the front fenders, and while they don’t look like they were part of the plan, they are cool in a Bugeye Sprite sort of way.

Inside, we see more of the creator’s creative handiwork.  The original dash was cracked and assumedly not very beautiful, so it was removed.  While a new dash pad would be a nice touch, it seems that funds were spent on adding a diamond plate dash plate with digital instruments from Intellitronix.  In addition, a large screen for a back up camera is also present, and is surely a welcome tool when backing this beast up in a parking lot.

The seller also tells us that a new carpet has been added, but the cab otherwise remains rather Spartan. Anyone who purchases the truck might consider adding a radio and air conditioning, which are not currently present.  The steering wheel, which has the circumference of a small moon, does seem to have a small crack in it that would need to be addressed rather soon.  The center cap, however, would look great if you polished and then painted the depressed areas the color of the truck when the owner decides what that color will be.

Under the hood is the ubiquitous small block Chevrolet V-8, and it packs just 350 cubic inches for this heavy duty application.  I would have thought that this truck would be diesel, or at least equipped with a 454 cubic inch big block, neither of these are riding between the fenders.  While this engine is surely adequate for moving the truck down the road, this is a heavy truck.  Perhaps the lack of grunt isn’t as noticeable here, as the engine is backed up by a four speed manual transmission and a two speed rear end.  One can make up for a lack of horsepower with gearing, but that fellow had better plan on packing a lunch for the trip.

When you look at the sum of the parts here, it is obvious that the builder had close to $7500 in it, and that is if they did all of the work themselves.  It would help if the Honka Tonka were a bit more aesthetically appealing, especially in the front, and if the primer and that suspiciously familiar orange paint were replaced with a full paint job.   Customs are always hard to sell, as things that look great to a seller can be repulsive to a buyer.  However, it is unique, and it could be quite neat to drive when finished.  If you always wanted a Tonka truck, but are afraid your relatives will commit you to a place with padded walls if you start playing in the mud with toy trucks, then this could be your new ride.