@Matt Harwood

I want a Full Classic tow truck or this...

Matt Harwood · 2020-03-05T01:55:04.000Z

How awesome is this? Granted, driving on the tracks is problematic, but I love this thing. And yes, if you have a Full Classic tow truck for sale, I want it.

Mar 5, 20201K views

Reply to Matt Harwood…

Replies (7)

· Mar 5, 2020

Now that's a real army staff car.

· Mar 5, 2020

So many of those converted railway inspection cars turn out to be luxury car, one can surmise they originally belonged to the company president who saw more value in having his aging luxury car turned into his personal railway inspection vehicle. Later on, they probably ended up transporting crews which left them in rather beat-up condition.

· Apr 30, 2020

I don't have a period photo so didn't want to post this there. I thought of you,Matt,when you mentioned you were looking for a classic tow truck. Here's the ultimate conversion ,a White highway tractor converted to a recovery vehicle.It was built I believe by the Smith Body works in Toronto.Until recently always part of Labatt's fleet in London ,Ontario (home of the famous Streamliner),it now resides in Pennsylvania.

While in Labatt's service,it had a big rail car coupling on the front to push box cars in and out of the factory.

Granted,it's not a full classic,but it is big,expensive to build,and a one-off custom body !

Jim

· Apr 3

That rail conversion is definitely cool in a quirky, industrial way, but there’s something timeless about a true full classic tow truck that just hits differently. The older wreckers, especially mid-century builds with mechanical booms and hand-operated winches have a kind of craftsmanship you don’t see anymore. They weren’t just functional; they were built to last and had serious character.

Finding one in solid condition, though, can be a challenge. A lot of them have either been heavily modified over the years or worked to the point where restoration becomes a major project. That’s why it’s worth checking out specialized dealers who understand vintage and work-ready trucks. Crawford Truck Sales, based in the U.S., is one of those places that tends to carry a mix of used commercial trucks, and sometimes you’ll come across older or harder-to-find units if you keep an eye on listings such as: https://www.crawfordtruck.com during inventory updates.

A real-world example, there was a restored 1950s wrecker that showed up at a regional truck show a while back, fully rebuilt with period-correct equipment. It wasn’t just a display piece either; it was still fully operational, which made it even more impressive. That’s the kind of build that makes the hunt worthwhile.

If the goal is authenticity and presence, a proper classic tow truck still beats any rail conversion in terms of nostalgia and usability.

· Apr 3

I would rather my own Pullman car. The private jet of the 19th century.

Have a buddy that owns this. Has like 20k miles on it. I think he would love to sell it.

· Apr 3

What is that, AJ? Grille suggests a Ford but not sure.

@Matt Harwood what happened to that early 50s Chevrolet tow truck you had? Always liked that.

In Reidsville NC there are three late 40s/early 50s Chevrolet COE trucks sitting in a fenced lot surrounded by weeds. I guess they're still there; I haven't been thru Reidsville since the BBQ jernt over there closed, but I admit to drooling over them as we rode by. There has always been too much traffic on that twisty street to slow down for a pic.

· Apr 3

rocketraiderApr 3, 2026
@Matt Harwood what happened to that early 50s Chevrolet tow truck you had? Always liked that.

I sold it a few years ago at Hershey. I really liked it but someone else wanted it more than I did. I'm still holding out for a cut-up '30s Lincoln service car or something similar.