The only information that ACB ACB left with this exceptionally fine looking tow truck is that it was from 1938 and the chassis was a Dodge. During the mid-late 30s, aerodynamic styling was the vogue, and it was not uncommon for all manner of trucks that mainly plied urban areas to utilize streamlined bodies as a form of advertising or PR. This is the only picture I’ve seen of a tow truck sporting such a bold teardrop body. Just the thing to tow away an overheated Zephyr or a broken Tatra, perish the thought.
This is really cool! Since aerodynamics play such a large part in attaining mpg, one would think that we’d see modern iterations in use today, instead of the big, square, brick like rigs we see in service!
Usually big and square is most efficient, especially as extreme aero shapes are unnecessary at lower speeds, wind resistance is probably less of an issue than drivetrain loss until a good 60mph in a truck. Also you’d be surprised at how effective aero optimisation is, rounding the corners on those bricks and directing the airflow where you want it such as out of the way of the wheels.
That is eye-catching! In a good way. Just needs a Chrysler Airflow hanging off the back.
The unusually capacious interior created by the flowing body shape caught my eye when this showed up in the cohort. Imagine if this was yours; you could prowl the streets rescuing stranded motorists, accompanied all the while by your family.
The designer was way ahead of the times with the minivan/towtruck fusion vehicle concept. A sunroof would make it sublime.
Much to learn about this company, which appears to still be in business in Brisbane…
https://barnesautoco.com/category/barnes-auto-co/
They’ve gotten a lot of mileage out of this investment back in 1938. You too can have your very own!
rear view
If the model is anatomically correct, these things did have sunroofs.
Perfect…
Though, perhaps having the spouse inside offering instructions during challenging recovery operations might cause some problems.
and a weird colorized photograph…
Am I the only one who cannot get the linked page for Barnes to stop “shimmering”? It’s shaking as if a Parkinson’s patient is holding a camera, no cruelty intended.
It’s working fine for me Dan, but then I’m in Australia too. Shouldn’t make a difference, but with computers, who knows!
You’re not the only one. Never seen anything like it. Happens no matter what browser I use. Blarf!
I checked out the site just to see it shimmer. Far Out!
In business before World War One, Barnes Auto still operates a towing business in Brisbane, Australia. Around 1937, Luton White, owner of the company, decided to build a streamlined towing truck, probably the first time the idea had been considered. Influenced by advances in aviation, streamlining had been increasingly applied to vehicles on both sides of the Atlantic during the 1930s. Best remembered now are the grand prix and land-speed record cars but stylists, with and without wind-tunnel data, applied the techniques both to mass-market and expensive vehicles.
The coach built body was built by the still operating Watt Brothers of Wolloongabba on a 1938 Dodge two-ton truck chassis, shortened, reinforced and converted to full forward control. Powered by a 78 horsepower six cylinder engine, the power unit was connected through a series of reduction gears through a double-faced clutch to a double jib hoist capable of a ten ton lift. The lifting and trailing gear was arranged so four vehicles simultaneously could be towed: three at the rear, one in front.
Whether a 78 horsepower truck, geared as it would have been, would often have attained speeds at which the presumed aerodynamic advantages would have rendered either better performance or economy I’ve no idea but, at the time, it must have been eye-catching. Autocult released a 1:43 scale model.
https://www.undiscoveredclassics.com/authors/streamliner-from-down-underby-glenn-brummer/
That pic in the link of lifting 4 cars at once is impressive. I assume you actually needed the car in front once you had more then two hooked on the rear.
To note, this is different from the Barnes & Barnes aero truck, which mainly transported fish heads.
hook them up, yum!
I figured someone would get that. 🙂
I couldn’t help but think about the Lincoln Towing Toe Truck those of us who visited down town Seattle back when it was a sleepy city will no doubt remember this image greeting them as they made their way to Seattle Center or the waterfront.
They would bring it down for Parades and other events.
Nice find. The late 40s and 50s is considered the ‘Jet Age’, but personally I look to the 1930s for early design examples that genuinely look streamlined. I know car manufacturers in the 50s wanted to make a strong marketing connection with aviation design of that era, but I find so much domestic 50s styling so contradictory to genuine streamlining.
Cool tow truck plenty of space inside for the stranded motorist to ride while his car is being towed behind too it would be worth the towing fee just to get a ride in this, 75hp six wouldnt make it fast but if they had ten ton lift capacity I guess they geared it to pull that much, more stylish than todays tilt bed tow trucks.
Wow. Straight out of a Dr. Seuss book, that is!