Retired Wrecker – A 1966 C50 Saved From The Scrap Heap

1966 Chevrolet C50When we first spied this big, yellow and white wreckage yanker at the Goodguys Southwest Nationals, we patiently waited for the group gathered around to disperse so we could take these pictures. Just about the time a few onlookers moved on, more would join the small crowd circled around this unlikely car show participant. It was then we decided that we had to get a closer look at this unlikely hot rod, and the story behind this unique work truck.

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Not your typical hot rod, but cool nonetheless.

Warren Seiz was never a part of the towing and recovery industry, but he says his penchant for big trucks started because his dad owned a heavy construction business. He was surrounded by heavy metal from an early age. It wasn’t long after he decided to start looking for an old truck to restore that this 1966 C50 popped up on eBay. He explained that it ultimately took two attempts to buy the truck.

The first try was aborted when the seller couldn’t come up with a title after Warren won the auction. The frustrated seller threatened to scrap the truck, but Warren told the guy to keep looking for the title. It took a year for the owner to resolve the title issues, but Warren finally struck a deal and had the truck shipped from Northern California to his hometown of Peoria, Arizona, for restoration.

Warren is the second owner, and knows the truck was owned by M&M Chevrolet/Buick in the towns of Newman and Gustine in Northern California. The dealership went out of business in 1981 or 1982, allegedly due to some shady practices that resulted in the General pulling their dealer’s license. The truck’s history gets spotty from then until he purchased it, but it obviously wasn’t used hard, because he reported that it was in remarkably good shape.

The truck possessed only minor surface rust, so the bulk of Warren’s restoration revolved around cleaning the truck. He changed the colors from the original blue and white to yellow and white, but in a nod to the truck’s history he chose to retain the M&M logos on the doors. Because the truck was in such remarkably good shape, he was spared the nightmare of having to track down rare trim pieces and body panels. Unlike smaller trucks, which are well supported by the restoration market, the pickings are slim for Chevrolet’s medium-duty trucks. Because of the scarcity of parts, Warren cautions anyone contemplating the restoration of a C50 or C60 to get as complete an example as possible.

The Holmes-built bed is original to the truck, which Warren says was “the Cadillac of wrecker bodies.” Wikipedia actually credits Holmes founder Ernest Holmes Sr. for inventing the tow truck in 1916, and the brand continues manufacturing towing equipment to this day. Warren reports that all of the equipment is fully functional. Other than some cleanup and maintenance, remarkably the equipment really didn’t need much despite being more than 50 years old.

The C50 was originally powered by a 283ci V8, but that was replaced at some point with a newer 305ci engine. The engine is backed by the original four-speed transmission (probably an SM420) and a two-speed rearend. Gearing is unknown, but Warren reports that it’s very low and that it’s not going to win any speed contests. With the little small-block running flat out, top speed is about 55 or 60 mph. According to Warren, the snub nose of the truck is referred to as an LCF (Low Cab Forward), which is an evolution of the older COE trucks. Though the engine sits further forward than the older COE trucks, it’s still largely under the cab of the truck. The shorter nose enhances the maneuverability of the truck, which is handy when navigating tow yards and service bays.

Warren has no plans to return the truck to service, and intends to simply enjoy the truck. He reports that it gets a lot of attention at shows, which is one of the reasons he built it. In fact, his favorite part about the truck is talking to people about it, answering questions from people that appreciate the truck. As far as anything he would change? He says air conditioning would be nice for those hot Arizona days, as well as a taller rearend gear so he could get where he’s going a little faster. In the meantime his truck is a big gorilla among all the other shiny cars at local shows, but somehow it also seems right at home.

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Imagine parking next to this at a car show. At least the big shadow would be nice and cool.

About the author

Trent McGee

Trent's specific interests are generally centered in the off-road market. He has been involved in every segment of the off-roading industry, from competitive and recreational rock crawling to trail riding, expedition-style exploration, desert-racing, short-course racing, KOH racing, and others. Trent is one of two people that has been a part of every single Ultimate Adventure, and has attended the Moab Easter Jeep Safari for more than 20 consecutive years.
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