It is said that “Everything is bigger in Texas” and this 1954 Ford tow truck is just about as big and American as you can get. It’s for sale here on eBay out of Sealy, Texas. Keep reading to see more about it!
If you’re reading this far, you probably don’t need a lecture about the history of Ford’s heavy-duty trucks, so we can skip ahead. The relief you felt at the sight of a beast like this back in the day is probably familiar to more than a few of you out there in vintage-vehicle land!
All that aside, this truck looks like it’s right out of a Coronet or Jam Handy highway-safety classroom film, sponsored by Ford, Mobilgas, or some long-defunct cigarette brand, If we didn’t know any better, we would have guessed that it was a Civil Defense unit! The seller tells us that the wrecker body itself pre-dates the truck and that it was painted in red-white-blue for the Bicentennial celebration in 1976, but was then parked in a barn from 1986 to 2019. After being unearthed, it apparently has had a laundry list of mechanical checks and work done to it, such that its 239 V8 runs and drives around town. Also, its Weaver Auto Crane setup apparently works pretty well, so that’s a plus. We can see what looks like a rather well-preserved example of classic mid-century Americana on wheels.
I personally really dig the old workhorses like this, particularly when they’re wearing true, legit, vintage looks. Let’s think about it from another angle, also: Who doesn’t enjoy a good story from the old days about getting rescued from a sticky situation by a truck like this? I sure do, and I appreciate the machines that helped people free their cars from whatever mess they had gotten themselves into. You’d hear quite a few of those stories if you rolled up to Cars ‘N Coffee in one of these! Big thanks go to Ikey H for the tip!
That’s what I think, what do you think? Let us know in the comments!
Great writing Russell….. “highway safety classroom film,” “some long-defunct cigarette brand.”
This is cool. I agree, it would be quite the conversation starter at Cars and Coffee. While I was looking at the pictures, especially of the spartan interior, I visualized today’s equivalent: a long roll-back on a F650 chassis. Another example of how times have changed.
Pretty good ebay ad, too.
Much appreciated, thank you!
Doesn’t get more patriotic than this. IDK, as a tow truck, it’s essentially useless for todays cars. I suppose it could transformed into a wheel lift, if you’re really into that. I think vintage tow trucks like this are cool, just as a toy. Not to be unpatriotic, but I’d media blast the whole works, and make it cheery looking again, just like it was in 1954. For a service station back then, this was their most important piece of equipment and probably paid dearly for it.
This a bit heavier duty , but you get the idea. (special thanks to Greg Gjerdingen)
https://www.flickr.com/photos/greggjerdingen/7444986006
I remember trucks just like this back when I was a kid, even as a bigger kid. The John Deere/Chrysler dealer had a ’53 GMC tow truck all painted John Deere Green and Yellow. The Chevy dealer had a ’41 GMC that was decked out the same, only someone must have gotten a deal on Euclid’s Snotty Green, with Specimen Yellow for an accent. I’d like to take this one and fix it up a bit more, maybe give it a respray in the color it is now. Even keep the Mobil sign on the doors (if I’m allowed to–long story there). You can tell that it’s running a 239 by the three-bolt 94B carburetor. That is unless someone switched the manifold onto a larger engine. But that makes no sense at all. I think by ’55 the carb was a four-bolt. The Mercury 256 engine which was optional in the larger trucks for ’54 also ran a four-bolt mounting for the carb…
The guys from American Pickers want to buy the doors, nothing else. Lol!
Love old wreckers would have a 70’s to go with my 70’s fords.
Once in a while something so cool like this truck shows up here!! It’s not for a company that’s doing competitive towing against his competitors but it sure would turn a few heads going down the road!! I’ve own a number of Ford work trucks and I have to say they were very dependable!! I would love to have this but I’d be more afraid of it sitting around waiting for me to use it!! Love the patriotic color scheme and the door graphics and I personally would put back the same way in respect to the life the truck led!!
tow mater !
Incredibly low eBay bid right now. Gosh if it stays below $5k it will be well-bought. Three days left.
Get this and tow that crusty 356 around to the Cars and Coffee events…
A good solid old towie would lend its self to some modern under carriage a great tow vehicle or to sit in a collection and live easy forever
When I got my first Junkyard (Sorry Salavge Yard) when I goot out of the Navy in 1962 it came with almost the twin to this Ford. WOW talk about memories.
Im not much a ford person ,Ill admit upfront but I thought the one ton Ford was still an F3 in 54 ,but I dont remember ,mine are mostly older .
I was eyeballing that wrecker body(bed) and cant say I have seen one just like that as Holmes units have always been my fancy .There were a few weaver cranes in our area but on shop built bodies .
We have a Weaver crane Model G, I think but I have to admit Im a bit past hand cranking that chain to lift and auto ,but used to with little complaint.
I imagine there to be few wrecker aficiondo round these quarters so I include a little Weaver crane history
http://www.castleequipment.com/Museum/auto_crane_weaver_history.htm
The point was made these are now quite outdated ,but they were always pretty rough if a machine wasent wrecked when you arrived it well may be by time you got it to where you were going and Im here to tell you cranking that winch and gettin er on the auto ambulance is no small task even with the miracle hooks .If you will notice the rollers and heavy sides on the body that is for angle pulling with the “power crane”rather than using a snatch block or swiveling pulley head and this style sling is pretty rough I have this sstyle only on one heavy duty truck …but the safety sling that Holmes Co. inovated in the late 50s was a real improvement
But the comments so far dont sound like any of yall are looking toward this to make a living .
This article has caused me to drift back down memory lane back to the purchase of my first wrecker at the tender age of 19 I had been been to an auction of an older wrecking yard and took a real leap of faith I later went to a friend whose service station I had been hanging round and helping at for about 5 or so years and I asked if he could help me go pick up my “new” wrecker he said yes ….and I told him I need you to bring your check book I havent the money to pay for it …He did and I still have that truck and it is completely worn smooth out .But it was a real game changer those first fifty some autos I had brought in before that had been plenty tough
It’ll cost me$1,000.00 to get it shipped here even if I do it myself. I’ll give you$1,000.00. plus I’ll pay shipping. If there is no title driver WILL NOT LOAD. the truck. Let me know before I send a truck to get it. Thanks J. McWhorter Rockmart Georgia