GMC 5 STAR GENERAL WITH HOLMES 850 WRECKER BODY (1981)

1981 GMC 5 STAR GENERAL WITH HOLMES 850 WRECKER BODY TRUCK YEAR: 1981 MAKE : GMCMODEL: GENERALMILEAGE: 34,987 ORIGINAL MILES ENGINE: CUMMINS ENGINE MODEL: BIG CAM 350 NTCC-350 WITH ENGINE BRAKE HP: 350HP TRANSMISSION: EATON FULLER 13 SPEED REARS: 44,000 LBS TIRE SIZE: 12.00 R 20 TUBE TYPE WRECKER BODY HOLMES 850 WRECKER BODY WINCH CAPACITY: 80,000 LBS NEED I SAY MORE??? IT IS A HOLMES MODEL 850!!!!!!!! A LITTLE HISTORY ON THE HOLMES 850 Ernest Holmes I, is the founder and inventor of the modern-day wrecker and towing industry, with the invention of the, dual cable drum and single gear box control system. Holmes made the most powerful wrecker, in the 1940"s, called the Holmes Model 850 , with an 80,000 lbs. total winch capacity unit with booms that power up and down under load. 40,000 lbs. per boom and winch side, then mounted the wrecker on a truck chassis. This wrecker unit stood as the most powerful mechanical wrecker in the towing industry --- up to 1977 when hydraulic systems were introduced to the wrecker industry by Jerry Holmes, Ernest"s grandson, who started Century Wrecker Corporation. The Model 850 was used by the military and railroad companies as well as the public. Holmes Model 850 was custom fitted by the Holmes factory with a turn table, making it the first 40-ton rotator , it was also fitted with the first single boom configuration as early as the 1950"s. The Model 850 was custom built by a select group of Holmes employees led by Hoyt Hornby, well known for his installation of Holmes and Century products till his retirement. Holmes only built one 850 per month till the company was taken over by Dover Corporation, production of the 850 stopped in 1972. Dover still used the main gear box and large drums; unbeatable combination. The noisy and powerful mechanical chain drive was upgraded by Dover to hydraulic around 1980. ***The World"s Greatest Tow Trucks Book, by Earl L. Johnson, [12/2003, volume 3] featured a filly restored Holmes 850 on an Autocar chassis; owner was offered $90,000 by a truck collector but did not sell. He keeps it for parades, shows and occasional recovery and tow jobs where his longer trucks of today"s design cannot drive into. The Holmes 850 we offer today is a fully working, used unit that some people purchase and restore to the original state for show and sometimes working status. This wrecker was a barn find, the original truck mileage is 34,987. There is minimal rust on the body and the truck is fitted with a 350hp Cummins, Big Cam engine with engine brake, 13 speed Eaton Fuller transmission, and 44,000 lbs rears. The Holmes 850 will always have value and stand out as one of the greatest of all time!! Please call 844-EZ-ENGIN for more information!! Thanks for looking!!!!* * This wrecker is for sale locally, auction can end at any time!!!