I found this 1964 Chevrolet C36 (not a C30) factory-built Tow Truck at a local body shop estate sale in South Bend, Washington where I live. I paid the son of the original owner (Pete) eleven hundred dollars for it.

It had been parked inside the shop for longer than it had been used. It sat unmoved for 30 years after Pete used it for only 25 years. A super-mechanic friend, whom we fondly call Carburetor Bill, had the 230 cubic inch in-line 6 running in less than an hour after hot-wiring it and bypassing the gas tank, using an IV system with an old motor oil jug filled with fresh gas and a small siphon hose connected directly to the carburetor.

We could tell right away that three of the pistons were sounding bad, confirming our pre-flight compression test. But it started! After much debate, we decided to embark on a journey to fix it right and I went out and found a newly-rebuilt Chevy 250 and we went on to rebuild the starter, carburetor, heavy duty generator, and distributor. And then I purchased a new gas tank, fuel pump, master brake cylinder, brake pads and cylinders, ignition lock, door, and glovebox keys. Almost everything else works just fine.

After pressure washing the entire truck, it looked good enough to take to the next parade, but we have a lot more in store before we call it car show ready. The winches and booms we found worked smoothly running off the power take off.

Many of the locals of our small town have asked me when it’s going to be done. I tell them that a labor of love always takes time, and is often endless, but it is our intention to have everything done by this coming summer. I’ll send more pictures and finish this story when we’re satisfied with our final efforts.