I have been a Red Seal Mechanic for 30 years and owned this for just as long .
1961 Holmes Factory Wrecker
292 V8, professionally rebuilt by Lordco machine shop (<10,000 km since rebuild)
Transmission: 4-speed manual
Factory special-order rear axle 10,000 lb rating with 5.XX:1 gears
U-joints replaced, PTO drive chain replaced, U-joints replaced, pillow block bearings replaced
Kingpins recently refreshed
Drag link recently refreshed
Brakes
Four-wheel drum brakes with new single-piston master cylinder (no power assist)
Strong stopping power — capable of locking all drums even under load
Driveline emergency brake
Tires
Front: Good condition Bridgestone steer tires
Rear: Good traction dually tires
Body & Cab
Original Generation 4 F-series doors — open and close with the classic solid “click”
Windows roll smoothly
Needed Work
Light welding at bottom of doors
New windshield
(Both items are straightforward and easy to source/repair)
Mechanical Condition
Clutch in solid condition
Points recently replaced
All major systems (engine, driveline, steering, and brakes) are ready for reliable service
A BIG Holmes 1/4 inch Steel wrap around front bumper with hooks.
Checker plate steel wrecker deck.
3/8 inch aircraft cable
Powerful PTO WINCH
No major mechanical issues
No evidence or history of major collisions
Performance
Comfortable cruising speed: 50 mph
Fully operational heavy-duty tow truck
Ownership & History
Owned and maintained for the past 30 years by a Red Seal Mechanic (certified since 1990, started in the trade in 1985). This truck has always been in professional hands throughout its life. It requires some TLC and routine maintenance but does not need a full restoration.
It comes with full documented history, including its early years with Buster’s Towing in Vancouver, followed by use in a salvage yard, and background appearances in film and television productions in the 1990s.
This is a genuine, hard-working 1961 Holmes wrecker that’s mechanically sound and ready to continue its service life with the right owner.
Help me find a suitable new owner . It is a highway tractor , capable, and a genuine show stopper and attention getter as well as able to work as reliably as the day it was new..