How about some pics of '73-'87 wrecker, fire, ambulance, etc?

[74 C-30]

larry, i have always loved the look of that truck, how hefty is the boom? looks small
kinda interesting i just did a quick search and came up with some pictures of that setup, never even used

[DirtyLarry]

Originally Posted by 74 C-30

larry, i have always loved the look of that truck, how hefty is the boom? looks small
kinda interesting i just did a quick search and came up with some pictures of that setup, never even used

WOW! That is awesome! I have done all kinds of searches over the years and have never come up with anything on King. I have actually never seen another besides ours.

As far as the boom, it seemed pretty hefty but it did get bent and was reinforced with plate steel. Other than that the whole contraption held up pretty well in almost 20 years of service.

What is the link you found that at? It is hard to believe that one is still new after all these years. That is like a late 70’s relic.

[74 C-30]

its for sale on this site $2850 and its yours lol http://tow411.yuku.com/topic/73248/t...n-Bolt-on.html
it was the only thing i really found on them
that boom and the uprights look like a weak link, but i know it was designed for a little garage or something, only light towing

[DirtyLarry]

Originally Posted by 74 C-30

its for sale on this site $2850 and its yours lol http://tow411.yuku.com/topic/73248/t...n-Bolt-on.html
it was the only thing i really found on them
that boom and the uprights look like a weak link, but i know it was designed for a little garage or something, only light towing

WOW! Thanks for that. I am still amazed there is one lying around that is brand new! I just can’t get over it. I never saw another like ours.

The boom and uprights lasted many years before they needed any reinforcements. Back in the day before DOT got so stringent it was nothing to pick up a truck that was 4 times heaver than the tow truck right in front of a cop. Dad used to tow Coka-Cola beverage trucks, Sante Fe hirail trucks, etc with it with no problems. No kidding! It actually could tow heavier vehicles than our 1991 GMC K3500 with a Eagle Claw wheel lift.

The uprights finally bent and where reinforced with square tube in the late 80’s. The weld shop basically slid the uprights into square stock and welded it all together. Then the main boom got thick plate steel welded on all 4 sides. The lever to shift the winch into neutral broke off years when the cable got bound up under the tool box. That still needs to be fixed but everything else was in working order when it was parked. It actually got parked because the old man ran the 427 out of oil and spun the cam bearings! The other bad thing is the truck frame was broke on the RH rear side near the shock mount. It was fish plated many years ago but looks like crap.

$2800 isn’t too bad for a needle in a haystack but the one on our truck is in very restorable shape. Now you got me all fired up to go grab the truck and drag it home to start playing with it. I texted dad this morning to see if I can come get it. Dad and I don't exactly see eye to eye, which is why I don't already have the truck at my house now.

Thanks for sharing that! Almost brings a tear to my eye

[Chief Bail]

Originally Posted by DirtyLarry

Nice wrecker!

Thank You Dirty and it's kool to see your family history. Are you towing as well as your father. Or enjoying the love of SQUARES??????

[74 C-30]

Originally Posted by DirtyLarry

WOW! Thanks for that. I am still amazed there is one lying around that is brand new! I just can’t get over it. I never saw another like ours.

The boom and uprights lasted many years before they needed any reinforcements. Back in the day before DOT got so stringent it was nothing to pick up a truck that was 4 times heaver than the tow truck right in front of a cop. Dad used to tow Coka-Cola beverage trucks, Sante Fe hirail trucks, etc with it with no problems. No kidding! It actually could tow heavier vehicles than our 1991 GMC K3500 with a Eagle Claw wheel lift.

The uprights finally bent and where reinforced with square tube in the late 80’s. The weld shop basically slid the uprights into square stock and welded it all together. Then the main boom got thick plate steel welded on all 4 sides. The lever to shift the winch into neutral broke off years when the cable got bound up under the tool box. That still needs to be fixed but everything else was in working order when it was parked. It actually got parked because the old man ran the 427 out of oil and spun the cam bearings! The other bad thing is the truck frame was broke on the RH rear side near the shock mount. It was fish plated many years ago but looks like crap.

$2800 isn’t too bad for a needle in a haystack but the one on our truck is in very restorable shape. Now you got me all fired up to go grab the truck and drag it home to start playing with it. I texted dad this morning to see if I can come get it. Dad and I don't exactly see eye to eye, which is why I don't already have the truck at my house now.

Thanks for sharing that! Almost brings a tear to my eye

No problem! I love finding this kind of stuff.
Back in the day my dad pulled outrageous loads with the 1ton he drove, and the company also had a junker old Mack with a 750 Holmes, that was so far beyond un-inspectible, yet he made 100 mile trips all the time. Hauled a truck for the state police once, about 40 miles away, and once the way back, a state trooper pulled him over. the truck uninspected, and unregistered (he forgot to grab the dealer plates lol) but the junkyard had so much pull in those days, the cop got chewed out over the radio for harassing my dad, and he let him go. ahh the good ol days...

oh and believe me, that truck you got, makes me want to go out there and get that truck going, I love nostalgic wrecker stuff

[dmartin1]

Originally Posted by DirtyLarry

Here are some of my dad's '78 K20 with a "King" slide in wrecker unit for those of you that haven't already seen them. Dad bought it new in late '77 and it saw AAA service until 1997. We still have it although it has been sitting for about 10 years.

When it was brand new. Yep, that is me with our dog "Uniflo".


Picture from 1979 or so in front of our old Exxon station.


About the same time frame. Still missing the front left hub cap too.


About 1991 or 92. Pretty much how it still looks today even though it is been parked.

that thing is AWESOME!

[DirtyLarry]

Originally Posted by Chief Bail

Thank You Dirty and it's kool to see your family history. Are you towing as well as your father. Or enjoying the love of SQUARES??????

Naw, I got out of it when I graduated college in May 1997 I moved to Detroit to work for Chevrolet Motor Division when GM still had divisions. I was able to move back to CO for a factory field service engineer/service manager position back in 2001. Dad retired the shop and wrecker in late 1997, basically IRS shut him down because he wasn’t a very good businessman and handle the money properly. Hence, the reason we don’t see eye to eye. Some people are alcoholics, some are druggies and my dad has a full blown gambling addiction and can’t keep a dime in his pocket for more than 10 minutes in hope of winning “the big one”.

I enjoy the GM trucks in general although I am not in the least bit impressed with GM’s latest truck offerings.

BTW....welcome to the board. I just noticed you are pretty new to the family.

[DirtyLarry]

Originally Posted by dmartin1

that thing is AWESOME!

I have many more pictures I need to scan in sometime. Here are a few more.


One more before it got the King slide in. Probably around 1978. Behind it is my dad’s friend’s 1976 two tone blue short bed K10.


Me being a crazy high school kid rolling over an old Impala behind the shop just for the sake of…..rolling over an old Impala behind the shop . For some reason, the tool box was moved to the bed floor for a while then moved back where it belonged above the winch. This picture is probably from 1988/89.


A FedEx Ford Econoline I rescued in the mountains around 1994/95.

[Chief Bail]

Originally Posted by DirtyLarry

Naw, I got out of it when I graduated college in May 1997 I moved to Detroit to work for Chevrolet Motor Division when GM still had divisions. I was able to move back to CO for a factory field service engineer/service manager position back in 2001. Dad retired the shop and wrecker in late 1997, basically IRS shut him down because he wasn’t a very good businessman and handle the money properly. Hence, the reason we don’t see eye to eye. Some people are alcoholics, some are druggies and my dad has a full blown gambling addiction and can’t keep a dime in his pocket for more than 10 minutes in hope of winning “the big one”.

I enjoy the GM trucks in general although I am not in the least bit impressed with GM’s latest truck offerings.

BTW....welcome to the board. I just noticed you are pretty new to the family.

Kool and sorry to hear about dads probs. But I agree with the new GM trucks dont Impress me either. But any way yes im a knewbie and have met alot of kool folks.

[DirtyLarry]

Chief Bail,

Glad to have you here. No apologies needed…you can’t raise your parents!

Man, these European emergency trucks are interesting to look at. RH drive and all with very nicely sculpted service bodies. Definitely would be neat to look over in person. I would love to make an expedition travel rig out of one of those bodies. I could just vision a roof top tent mounted on that truck sitting in the middle of the desert.



I always loved these Holmes bodies. I built several Monogram model kits over the years with this bed (Monogram made a square 1/25 scale GM truck with this tow bed for those that may not know...I can take pictures if anybody wants to see one ).

[74 C-30]

larry, i think i read a while back that truck has 9.00-16 on it, what did you guys do to clear those?
have any of you seen the picture of the world fastest tow truck? i think it was a square body with a holmes, that on a course averaged like 110mph
1979 Chevy Silverado Truck - World's Fastest Wrecker
440 Holmes Hi-Power Wrecker Bed
454 cid V8
Timed at the Talladega 500 Speedway with average speed of 109.33 mph and straight away speed in excess of 130 mph.

[DirtyLarry]

Yes, dad ran 9.00-16’s from the first tire replacement on. In fact, it still has 9.00-16 Gateway Gumbo mudders right now, which were nothing more than a commercial tube type version of Ground Hawgs. He did run Buckshot Q78’s for a short time but went back to Gateway 9.00’s. The truck probably went through 10 pair in its life. Dad swore by them for the snow, which his funny because we don’t get much snow in this part of CO. At least they looked cool. You sure couldn’t sneak up on anybody though…they are LOUD!

The truck wasn’t lifted but the rear springs were reworked with 3 springs added to each side, which probably added an inch or two and the front were re-arched and maybe a spring added, I can’t remember. I do remember the 9.00-16’s did rub the front fenders when hitting an off camber obstacle just right.

Funny about the Q78's, as we had an old one mounted on a 8 lug wheel that I bolted on my truck like 15 years later and I really liked the tall skinny profile and fitment, which is why my '78 has Q78's on it now.

I never saw the World Fastest wrecker before. That is sweet! Something to be said for a truck with the aerodynamics of a drive-in move theater screen averaging 109.33 mph at Talladega! That thing had to sound like the pistons were swapping holes while doing so.

[74 C-30]

hah thats funny about the tires. one of our hay wagons has worn to nothing 33" dick cepek fun countrys from his 78 k10...looks pretty cool!

[BGRAFX]

Fire!

[BGRAFX]

wrecker! not mine

[Chevytrux4me]

Here's mine, it's a '74 Chevy C50 that used to be a fire truck at North Fork, WV. It sold new with a Sears & Roebuck fire truck body. There's one nearly identical to it at another town nearby, still in service today. This one was purchased last year from the department, after being retired, we believe, due to a faulty battery cable. It now has just a bit over 8,000 actual miles on the clock. If all goes well, this one will receive a fleetside bed and dually fenders this spring.

[BGRAFX]

Its got a fire truck door!!!

[turner16]

cool

[87 chevy silverado]

Originally Posted by BGRAFX

Its got a fire truck door!!!

any more pics?

[lycominghunter]

BIG10!!! You just made my night with the picture of that red and white suburban with "Kimberton Fire Co." on the side because I grew up in kimberton. Know exactly where that photo was taken, used to ride dirtbikes there. HAHA awesome pic. thanks

[chevy_mike]

So does my, new to me, ambulance count?

[GM72K10]

I bid on this but didn't get it. How many times do you see a K30 trash truck?

[GM72K10]

Originally Posted by chevy_mike

So does my, new to me, ambulance count?

Of course it counts!

[87Lowrider]

My DD; 1986 GMC Jimmy with a 1978 350, RV Cam, Performer, Edelbrock 600, Roller tipped rockers, etc..



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