The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot Big Bolts COE Wrecker-- any help?

Found this only 30 minutes from me.
http://i962.photobucket.com/albums/ae108/tjlink1/Dodge%20Cab-over/101_5306.jpg

I'm pretty sure it's not running. (1946? I think). Besides the obvious things like rusted parts, anything on a wrecker I should look for? I had no intent to find a wrecker, but this is cool.

Questions:
1) Specific things to look for on the bed. Designation Plates? Mechanicals? I know it's a Holmes bed *My last name. Pretty cool.

2) If I wanted to take the COE Body only, is there a market to resell the chassis/wrecker bed separately or together?

3) Thoughts on value of that truck as is?
4) Thoughts on value of reselling chassis?
5) Thoughts on value of reselling Wrecker bed?

I intend to go look at it tomorrow or Thursday, so any tips would be appreciated.

Hy Grant_Holmes, you do realize this is a Dodge truck do you? By the look of that truck in the one and only photo, I would consider this a parts truck at best.

If I lived closer to you I'd sure be interested in the wrecker boom and body! Don't know how many other misguided souls like myself are out there looking for these.


-Mike-

Howdy Grant!I would think the Holmes wrecker is worth some money, How much is the question,And it looks too be a dodge. Is that what you want? If your plans are to turn it into a hauling truck then find a buyer for the Holmes, I like it!

Yup. Fully realized its a Dodge.

Any help on the specific questions?
Thanks guys!

Contact Spanky on this board, he has a great deal of info on Holmes wreckers.

That's a Holmes model 515 "Traffic King" wrecker. I've owned three of them. If you purchase it, & decide to sell the Wrecker unit, I know a guy looking for a Holmes model 515. I'd be interested in the Beacon light myself. That's a neat truck.

More thanks guys. My $$ are tight, so these questions are key for me:
3) Thoughts on value of that truck as is?
4) Thoughts on value of reselling chassis?
5) Thoughts on value of reselling Wrecker bed?

I payed $750 for my 515 on a 46 chevy COE chasis that looked a lot rougher than that. I couldn't tell you how much I have into it now. But I would keep them together if at all possable!

Grant,

I'll throw a wild quess and say the wrecker (bed, booms, winch, mast and PTO with linkage) would be worth about $500 to $750 to the right guy. It needs a lot of parts to make it right, like the hard to find fenders.

The chassis is worth scrap if you take the cab off...$100-200. With the cost to scrapping tires around here you'd be lucky to break even at the scrap yard, they deduct $15-20 for each tire.

The complete truck as is would be in the $1500 range if you were going to restore (meaning there's enough there to work with) and there is a title, less if it's a parts truck.

I don't see any real profit to be made here, only lots of effort getting it home and sorted out for very little return on your money...IMHO.

Offer the guy $500 and see what happens, you might get lucky...

Mike B

Thanks guys! It wasn't so much to profit from, just another tack. I have many ideas. I wasn't "looking" for a wrecker, just a cab. So even if I DID buy it, I wanted to know about recovery $ I might expect if I DID take the wrecker off.

Just scheming. I may get there today and it have so much rust that I don't mess with it.

Reference material!! Thanks again. I'll report back later

Also Grant: The rear fenders and rear runnng boards where all made by outside venders for Holmes, so there fairly easy to duplicate. Spanky is the expert on old Holmes Wreckers

Thanks Chris.

The original rear fenders were actually purchased by Ernest Holmes Co. from General Motors. They were '37/'38 Chevy, & GMC 1 1/2 ton pickup, & panel truck fenders.

Thanks guys. Well, life changes on a dime. My job is taking me to TN, so this will wait or be there for someone else.

I'll be lurking until I get settled there and maybe I'll find one there in the mountains!

-Grant

Gee Grant! Work us up and then let us down! I feel empty now! LOL Good luck with your move Grant, Lets us know what you find where your going.

Funniest story is that I was within spitting distance of this truck today running errands and getting ready to move and forgot all about it.

Sigh.

Sorry guys!