Sleeping Beauty D Series

This is my D-30. I'm the third owner.
Second owner stored it in a shed North of Reedley, CA for about 40 years.
Never drove it.
At MacDonalds in Reedley he yacked about it and now it's in MY shed.
First owner drove it to second owner's shed in late 60s early 70s.
Hasn't been driven since.
Engine is free. Awful repaint. Very straight.
Always dry storage since second owner got it.
In CA dry is DRY.
Like nikkinutshop I can't leave anything alone. I'm picturing a period tow truck. Even have some vintage pics of D series wreckers to go by.
I already own the wrecker unit, but not the correct wrecker body, darn it.

This is what I'm thinking.
I have no wrecker bed but I have the mechanical parts.
No rear fenders, either.
Cut up my extra D-35 front fenders??

Smog,

Promblems, problems. I have fenders on my truck, but no wrecker boom parts! Personally I like like the D in front of Nates auto parts. I'm sure you could get fenders similar to the ones used on the back of semis that would work. Then again I've seen some of your fabrication skills on this site and believe you could whip out a pair sooner than what you think.


Here's some fenders that aren't priced to bad...... http://www.fleettruckparts.com/Fenders- ... le-Fenders


Not quite sure what I'm going to do with mine yet. I would love a wrecker just for the fact it would look so unique. Or maybe a semi?? Decisions decisions.. Either way looks like you got a great looking truck! Would like to see more pictures of her!

Brent

Hi Brent, we think along the same lines.
Thanks for your nice comments. I'm more of a wrecking yard rat than a fabricator. I use what I have that fits and works.
I owned the correct period wrecker bed about 15 years ago. It came from Romo's Auto Wrecking in Fresno, CA.
Installed it on my first D-30 along with a IHC 304 V-8 b/w auto. Sold it to a guy in OK.
That bed was very similar to a big period pickup bed. Except it had a rounded sides at the back where the tailgate should've been.
I'm thinking of making a copy of that bed with an old farm-modified pickup bed I have.
Plasma cutter comes in handy.
I can't easily post pics of my D-30, it's too buried in the shed.
I have a thing about old wreckers, that's for sure.
Thanks, Don

Don,

Were you thinking about something close to the picture below far as using a pickup bed? I thought the bed would look pretty cool even without the hoist. If I were to build a bed like this I wouldn't have to shorten the wheel base either. I just love those wide rear fenders!

Brent

Picked up this old unit for a future project



Trevor

Hi, Trevor
Yes, that's the idea.
My wrecker would be pto driven, though.
I like the idea of the rear fenders matching the front.
I have D-35 front fenders that I could modify, I think.
Anyway, I love old tow trucks.
Is your boom a Manley or Weaver or?
My local Ag collector friends have one of the Manley Hand Crank models.
I prefer the curved boom wreckers but good luck on finding one of those.
Thanks, Don

Found some more wrecker pic's for ya Don...
http://www.pinterest.com/jrr58/vintage-tow-trucks/pins/

There's at least 3 here I've seen "in the flesh",they're from N.J.(pic's by Jack Byrnes Hill)
http://www.flickr.com/groups/1507259@N25/pool/

Is that a Kenworth? Gosh that's beautiful and so rare.
I like the period beds. They just do it for me.
Thanks, Scott.

I thought you'd enjoy them Don. Don't know which one you mean is a KW?