The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk old stovebolt wreckers

I was just reading on a post about old Holmes wreckers and remembered I just saw an old 53 Chevy wrecker sitting in the edge of someones back yard. It looked like a small pickup type it wasn't a big bodied truck. It looked good from a distance and I think I could get it for a song(unless he has heard me sing before). Does anyone know if they have any value whether in restored condition or untouched? slowgoer

They have value for sure.
like anything it first depends on the condition.

Don't expect it to sell for anything near what a same condition 1/2 ton would sell for. Unless it is a pile of rust, then junk is junk, and junk is cheap.

As far as the big bolts go, the wrecker body, if any good, should bring the value just over that of the same truck with a flat bed.

I have a picture somewhere of a AD wrecker. It was owned by a local towing company and used as thier parade and special event truck. A sweet looking billboard.

I don't know what kind of wrecker body it is whether Holmes or something else but I wonder if parts are still avilable for them??

Did someone say Holmes Wreckers. I didn't know there was any other kind. Check out my Holmes Wreckers here, http://community.webshots.com/album/116208177WBeZZP

I have seen 2 in my small texas town, both restored and 1 working as a tow truck. One is a 53 1 ton, the other is a 41 ish and is still in service. both are clean.

can i buy one of those spanky ? lmk

I guess, I'll hold on to them right now no3. Toyvo, see if ya can get us some pictures, of those 'ol Wreckers.

One of my first recollections about driving was learning the shift pattern on a 48 Chevy COE with a Holmes 550 (if I remember correctly) on it that my grandfather used at his dealership (F*rd, that is - he used whatever used truck that was available). It was one of the first vehicles I ever drove (I wasn't quite 12 at the time :rolleyes: ) along with a 41 Chevy P/U, a 41 Chevy 1.5 ton, a F*rd 8N tractor, and a couple of John Deere bulldozers. It was fun having an uncle that had a farm. Great memories.

Hmmmm, maybe I should convert my 1 ton to a wrecker!

Would have had to be a Holmes 515. Could have possibly been a Holmes 525, if it had been put on the truck, after 1950.

Back in the 40's, & 50's, you would see Holmes Light Duty 460's, & 490's, on the '47-'54 4100 series trucks, Holmes 515, & 525 Medium Duty Wreckers, on the 4400, & 6400 trucks, & sometimes Dealerships, that did alot of Big Truck Sales, & Service would order Heavy Duty Holmes W35, & Holmes W45 units, on their 6400, & up trucks. You saw alot of W35's, & W45's, installed on the Heavier GMC Trucks also.

I guess I remembered the Holmes series number wrong. Oh well, it's been 30+ years! It could have come from any wrecker up through about '68 when I first remember getting in the truck. Not too long after I drove the COE, the wrecker setup as moved to a '63 F*rd F-700 (which I had some good times with, too!!) and the COE went away (I don't remember where - probably the junk yard). Anyway, this talk of old wreckers brought back some good memories. Thanks.

I found a tow bed so old it's hand powered;there's a big ol' flywheel and crank on one side of it. The bed used to be installed on a '36 Ford truck,but it eventually disappeared and a dump bed was installed on the truck.That was probably 20 years ago,and I recently discovered the tow bed again. I'm trying to find out who owns it now;I could use it.
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