Re: 69 Custom 30 wrecker restoration
 

I agree with Zane M! This is an example of a job well executed and the end result is stunning. Thanks for "taking us along on this ride"!! :metal::metal::metal:

Re: 69 Custom 30 wrecker restoration
 

Well, I finally made it to visit the original owner with the tow truck today. I pulled it right up to the front door and it sure looked GREAT! (if I do say so myself!)

Got to meet Vic and his brother. I didn't know he had a brother but had a great conversation with him especially. He told me he was the one that mostly operated the truck back in the day. We talked at least 1/2 hour out in the cold looking the truck over and he was blown away at how nice it looked.

He complimented me on my paint job especially and must have done so at least 20 times. (ok, maybe 10 or so) That's a great compliment coming from a body shop guy!

He told me he heard someone bought it and was restoring it which caught me off guard. I told him I wasn't sure if they would appreciate me bringing it back and didn't know what to expect but he said he was glad I did.

It was an interesting meeting. Turns out that after going out of business and closing up shop 3 years ago, they re-opened about a year later so they had something to do instead of just sitting around the house.

They don't do any major work anymore, just brakes and towing, etc. Vic is in his 80's and the brother looks a few years younger.

Told me it was a really great truck in it's day and it worked very hard. Said they hauled/towed some heavy trucks with it and it always ran great. He said that's back when they only had this truck and before they bought the larger wrecker & flat bed they had. He also mentioned it always liked it's gas and I said it still does! lol

He looked it over really good and asked many question. He seems to think the wheels were originally glossier than I have them so I will have to look into that. I used a semi gloss black. I told him I tried to make the truck look like it would have when it was new and he said that it did. I was glad to hear that because I never saw it in it's younger days.

So before I left, I handed him an 8 X 10 collage print for their shop that I had made up from 4 pics of the truck showing front, back, engine and interior.

I bet we'll be the talk of the shop for a few days at least. LOL

This is the first time I ever contacted a previous owner of any of my cars. Wasn't sure if I was going to get shot, chased or welcomed. Glad things turned out so well...

Re: 69 Custom 30 wrecker restoration
 

Amazing story, amazing truck!

Re: 69 Custom 30 wrecker restoration
 

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

Re: 69 Custom 30 wrecker restoration
 

That is so amazing. I would love to find an old big block wrecker. The 67 Pickup that have now in time will become something to haul a fully enclosed trailer that will have my race car in it. My daughter races a Jr. Dragster, and her younger brother will be in one in two years. Had thoughts of maybe taking my Longbox off, and turning mine into a flatbed that could haul all of our Jr. Dragster,and the ATV and equipment. Would look very cool going down the road for sure. Someday I hope to do a restoration project like yours.

Re: 69 Custom 30 wrecker restoration
 

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!!! :D

Re: 69 Custom 30 wrecker restoration
 

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.

Re: 69 Custom 30 wrecker restoration
 

I am so glad you were able to get ahold of the grandson, that is absolutely cool!

Re: 69 Custom 30 wrecker restoration
 

Awesome story and your truck turned out great!

Re: 69 Custom 30 wrecker restoration
 

x2
You did an awesome job!

Re: 69 Custom 30 wrecker restoration
 

Bob, I just read through the whole thing again! the truck has sure came a long way from when you got it, I bet Vic was really pleased, and you should be really proud. I LOVE it I just wish you could letter it the way Vic had it. do us and yourself a favor the next time you go see Vic, get some pictures of him with the truck, behind the wheel, and you and him beside it, and make yourself a collage.. GREAT JOB, WONDERFUL STORY, later my friend Coop

Re: 69 Custom 30 wrecker restoration
 

I first came to this build to learn more about floor replacement, but was drawn in by the story and quality of the work. What a great project with quality workmanship and clear documentation. Thanks for sharing it!