Words: John Gunnell      Photos: Christa Haley

“Built From Junk” was the main information written on the window sign we spotted on a modified 1935 Ford tow truck seen at the Spring Jefferson Car Show and Swap Meet in Jefferson, Wis. The sign also specified that the hot rod truck had a 235-cid Chevy “Blue Flame” six-cylinder engine and that the owner’s name was L. Sisk of Darien, Wis.

As we thought about it, we realized that the message on the sign was both simple and deep at the same time. Chances are pretty good that Mr. Sisk was just trying to be funny or irreverent, but the more we thought about it, the more we realized that American hot rodders have been among the best recyclers in history. They have been making cool cars out of derelict vehicles and junkyard refugees since way before World War II.

Hot rodders have made cars from junk with great seriousness, too. In 1959, Athol Graham built his “Spirit of Salt Lake City” Bonneville streamliner out of salvaged aircraft parts. And he met his maker while attempting to turn the “scrap metal” he had collected into a World Land Speed Record holder.

Hor rodders have dug up hulks from dry lakes beds and turned them into magazine feature cars. They have rebuilt vehicles wrecked in mudslides and used them to win the Great Race for vintage cars. They have taken barn find cars, fire survivors, total wrecks and rusty relics and transformed them into million dollar mechanical masterpieces.

Throughout the world, American hot rodders are known for their creativity, innovative thinking and ability to turn almost anything into a beautiful ride. The ’35 Ford tow truck is an example of how good a built-from-junk car can be.

Basically, Sisk started with the front sheet metal, cab and bed of a ’35 Ford. The truck has no hood, so the painted and chromed-up “stovebolt six” can readily be seen. The low-slung cab sits on the frame rails with no fender aprons or running boards. Ditto for the cargo box.

The red wheels are “steelies” with trim rings and bottle cap hubcaps. The red-finished tow truck crane looks like it doesn’t do much real work, but one never knows how far hot rodders will go with their fantasy creations. The metal dashboard is decorated with stickers and decals, as well as an old First Aid kit. The Ford may be “built from junk,” but it is definitely not junky.