Words & Photos: Gary Rosier
While many of you may know of the Disney Pixar Films movie "Cars," where Larry the Cable Guy was the voice of MATER the tow truck, this truck is much more than all of that. It was hand built by both Jim and Cindy Bevins of Mims, Fla. in their outdoor 21x60 car port in just over two years part-time. Some of Jim's friends were into the Rat Rod scene, so Jim wanted to do something a little different. Friends kept saying it looked like the movie truck, and Jim said NO, it's not - hence its name, "No Mater."
Jim and Cindy both work full time. Jim's past included stints at round track racing (his father was a past Fla. state champ), drag racing (they once owned Albany Georgia - US 19 Dragway), and even fueling the space shuttle! Originally from Maryland, mechanic's work and racing were entrenched in Jim's family history. His uncles, dad and brother all were mechanics, and had raced, wrenched, or fixed just about everything, so Jim was reared in this type of environment. Wrecks in racing were commonplace, so getting out there and fixing it all week long to race on the weekend was the norm; his skills were learned since childhood from family and friends. He also worked for various city and county governments as a mechanic, then worked for the Space Center (Propellants - by the way, during fueling and launch he was always in the "expendable" zone, as Cindy reflects with a grimace!)
"No-Mater," as they affectionately call their truck, was a 1949 Diamond "T" Model #404. It's now powered by a 454 Chevy big block (bought locally) with a Turbo 400 trans. The radiator is an Afco unit, as is the transmission cooler he installed under the bed. Autometer gauges monitor the vitals in a stock but modified instrument panel. The frame is from a C-3500 and was shortened two feet. The front end needed major modifications to clear those massive Semi-truck tires (255/70R22.5's -front, 245/75R22.5's - rear duallies). The '49 Diamond T Cab body was found in Amarillo, Texas and they found a trucker who had room enough on his flatbed to haul it back. A 1996 Chevy C-3500, less drivetrain, was found in Ocala, Fla. and towed back on a trailer, rather precariously balancing off both ends!
Jim's family eventually moved to Florida, where he met his high school sweetheart Cindy. He was driving a beat-up '69 Ford F100 at the time and she LOVED trucks! She was smitten. They have been married for over 34 years now, and she loves "junkin'" with Jim, scrounging the yards for parts and pieces. She has no problem grabbing a grinder, stripping off old paint or holding a radiator in place while Jim mocks it all up.
Jim fabricated all his own motor mounts and frame mounts too, with Cindy right there wearing a welders helmet. The frame was then sandblasted and painted. The rear end came from the 96 C-3500, but was rebuilt with 4:11 gears installed. The bed of the truck was built using 2x4 square tubing and flat sheet steel to hold the tow/winch assembly. Jim plans on getting the winch hooked up in the near future. Smaller 1x2 tubing was used to frame in the 20 gal racing fuel cell from Jegg's Automotive.
All the glass in the truck was either non-existent or broken, so that too had to be made specially, and much time was spent tediously fitting and gluing the rubber gasket material that they found online, complete with detailed instructions on how to cut and seal it properly. The front bumper was sectioned 4 inches and welded all back together, ground smooth, painted and mounted with owner made and assembled brackets.
The tow assembly was located in S.C. from a family friend and is the "Cadillac" of the business end as a Holmes 440 boom (often referred to as the "Money Maker"). The yellow flashing light was a crowning touch they found at last year's Daytona Turkey Run. Jim hopes to purchase a proper older race car for "stagging" and showing it all off at various Rat Rod and car shows.
Diamond T Trucks started up in 1905 in the Chicago area, at first for cars, but they started manufacturing trucks in 1911 and stayed around in various forms, merging with other companies in the 50's and 60's until ceasing operations altogether in 1966. "A truck doesn't have to be ugly," said its original founder, C.A. Tilt. His shoe-making father, it was said, designed the logo with a T surrounded by a diamond: T for C.A.Tilt and diamond to signify quality.
It was often referred to as the "Cadillac" of trucks for its beautiful design, ruggedness and dependability. It was never short on style or class, and as the movie by-line said, Mater may have been the "rustiest, trustiest" tow truck ever, but "No-Mater" and its new family are the most talented and classiest tow-truck owners this side of the planet. Rusty on purpose, trusty, and one well-built truck for sure!
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