Rusty 1955 Tonka Rescue Squad Van Truck Restoration
So here is a real treasure, a 1955 Tonka van! There are three kinds of metro vans, Tonka Rescue Squad, Tonka Carnation Milk, and Tonka Parcel Delivery. These have been really rare to find on the market, and they might be one of the most expensive collectable Tonka toys around. I saw one restored Tonka utility van worth more than $600 on eBay. Today I am happy to show you the restoration of this Rusty 1955 Tonka Rescue Squad Van Truck.
Before I started, I felt that this restoration should be pretty smooth, not too difficult. The van body itself is one whole piece and there aren't too many large parts. However, it wasn't quite that easy! During the restoration process, I still encountered many difficulties and problems. The first challenge was sandblasting to remove the paint and rust. The chassis and the body are welded together and cannot be disassembled. The sandblasting gun could do nothing to shoot the abrasive media into the corners of the inside of the body. It took a lot of time to remove the rust from those inside corners! I have used liquid rust remover before with good results, so I decided to soak the entire body in the rust remover. Fortunately, after 10 hours of soaking, the rust was removed, and the body looked pretty good!!
The second big challenge was the paint/powder coating. Because the body is one piece, again the corners inside the body are not easy to get paint to evenly. After the actual baking, I noticed that some of the dead corners in the body were not evenly powder coated, and although it didn't impact the overall appearance, it was a shortcoming and left me with some regrets as to the project as a whole.
Another small regret is that I didn't do a trial installation of the two doors at the rear of the van before painting and final assembly. After installation, the left door is a little tight, and the right door is a little too loose. The two doors are not as tightly seamed as I would like. This isn't easy to correct at this point without completely redoing the doors. The learned experience is that you must try the installation before completing the paint, and if it's not suitable, correct the issue before painting! I've been really lucky and haven't run into this issue before.
There was also a little accident during the powder coating process. After I finished the painting, when I washed my hands and wiped my hands with a towel, I accidentally splashed water droplets on the van body. This of course forced me to completely clean off the paint powder and totally redo the powder coating again.
The last big challenge happened during the final assemble process, when pasting the decal stickers on the van body. There were 11 decal stickers on the front and rear. This may be the most decals for any Tonka toy, or maybe for any brand of traditional metal toy. It was really tough to position the big stickers on the body. If you're not very careful, the decals will stick together, or they may be unevenly attached, or the decals on the glue side may get dirty. Fortunately, all the decal stickers were pasted correctly and I think it looks awesome!! One really neat thing about the decals. Did you notice the strange triangular CD sticker on the side of the van? I'm pretty sure this is the old civil defense logo from back in those early cold war days. You may see this sticker or sign on old nuclear bomb shelters. Pretty cool!!
I chose pearl white for the color of the coating powder. It looks really beautiful and also makes the restored van/ambulance look truly perfect!
Please let me know what you think of this restoration. Isn't it amazing!!
If you like my videos, I would really appreciate a thumbs up and hitting the subscribe button!
#tonka #restoration
Пікірлер: 186
Another beautiful restore. I'm a child of the 60's and Tonka is part of my childhood memories. We got them at the local Western Auto store. I hope the lady in the Rescue truck is okay. Some of us never grow up, thankfully!
@ar_restoration
2 жыл бұрын
It’s my pleasure that the toy can be brought wonderful childhood memories, thank you for your great comment!👍👍😊🙏
@mikesilva3868
2 жыл бұрын
@@ar_restoration agreed📼
@citibear57
Жыл бұрын
I too am a child of the 60s, but for some reason my older brothers and I never had any Tonka Toys. We certainly weren't lacking for toys though. It's fun to see these pieces so wonderfully restored!
you did a great job restoring the rescue truck.
@ar_restoration
Жыл бұрын
Thank you so much for your compliment and comment!!!👍👍🎉🍻😄
You turned this ruster into a stunner!
@ar_restoration
2 жыл бұрын
Thank you for the wonderful comment!!!
My favorite parts of your videos is sandblasting, powder coat and decal placement. 😎👍🏻
@ar_restoration
Жыл бұрын
Glad you like it, thank you very much!🎉🎉👍👍🍻😄
Stunning. Another one hit out of the park!
@ar_restoration
2 жыл бұрын
Thank you for your wonderful comment!👍👍😊
This toy comes from a time when little boys and girls played outside in a sand pit, made siren noise with their mouth as they pushed through the sand to rescue the dolly, which was usually bigger than the truck. That was k own as playing and interaction with friends, one to one, face to face. Thanks for sharing this video with us and please remember that this Texan enjoys seeing you bring back my boyhood toys to life. Thanks Paul :)
@ar_restoration
3 жыл бұрын
I am honored that this restoration project of mine can bring you fond memories of your childhood. It was so happy that you played with such good toy in your childhood. Thank you for your nice compliment and wonderful comment!👍👍
@josuedecarvalhojunior5491
3 жыл бұрын
this was very good
Expectacular y que decir la presentación es todo un arte genio!!!! Gracias por compartir
@ar_restoration
2 жыл бұрын
Thank you for your wonderful comment!!!👍👍
Masterful Job!
@ar_restoration
Жыл бұрын
Thank you for the compliment!!!👍🎉
Nice touch of drama at the end. 😎👍🏻
@ar_restoration
Жыл бұрын
Thank you!🎉🎉👍👍
I really like that pain color and how the surface came out, really beautiful!!
@ar_restoration
3 жыл бұрын
👍👍Thank you for your compliment and comment!
@mikesilva3868
2 жыл бұрын
Color looked awesome😌
very nice restoration
@ar_restoration
3 жыл бұрын
Thank you!👍👍
Another gem! Looks to me like this is one of the most difficult Tonka restorations, due to the spot welding and the interior access problems. I think the finish turned out great, decals and all. I also loved the animation at the end. I had a van like this when I was young, it was brown and lettered for the Jewel Tea Co.
@ar_restoration
3 жыл бұрын
Thank you for your wonderful comment! The brown van you mentioned is very rare and it couldn’t be found in the market 👍👍
Another marvelous restoration. Excellent paint job. And the attention to detail, amazing.
Awesome job thank you for sharing this
@ar_restoration
3 жыл бұрын
👍👍Thank you for the compliment and comment!
You are a total Master of restoration! Another great job... 👍👍👍
@ar_restoration
Жыл бұрын
Thank you so much for your compliment and wonderful comment!!!👍👍🎉🎉🍻😄
Is this the same vehicle? 😮 It looks fantastic!! Another of your outstanding restorations, done in the highest quality. Excellent joɓ, as always 👍 and once again you end with a terrific scenario - complete with a beautiful fire truck. I'm sure that the patient that was loaded into the ambulance appreciated the clean, like-new condition! 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟
Excelent work man. Perfection. As good or better than new!
@ar_restoration
Жыл бұрын
Thank you for your compliment and comment!!!👍🎉🍻
Good Job , fully Restored , Always Watching 😅 😊 .
@ar_restoration
3 жыл бұрын
Thank you so much for you compliment and support as always!👍👍🌹
Beautiful craftsmanship 🙏❤️
@ar_restoration
3 жыл бұрын
Thank you!👍👍
Hermoso trabajo 👍❤️
@ar_restoration
3 жыл бұрын
Thank you!👍👍
Another fabulous job, the video is a joy to watch. Loving your work!! 🥇👏🌟
@ar_restoration
2 жыл бұрын
Thank you so much!!! Cheers!
Good job
@ar_restoration
3 жыл бұрын
Thank you!
Just when I thought I had seen every toy that Tonka had made a new one pops up. Thanks for posting.
@ar_restoration
3 жыл бұрын
Thank you for your wonderful comment!
Superb restoration and such skillful creation of the missing parts
@ar_restoration
3 жыл бұрын
👍👍Thank you for the compliment and comment!
@johnje4285
3 жыл бұрын
@@ar_restoration You are welcome. Truly well deserved
I don’t think I have seen this tonka ambulance before great job restoring it!!!
@ar_restoration
3 жыл бұрын
It’s rare. Thank you for your comment!
Simply beautiful restoration!
@ar_restoration
3 жыл бұрын
👍Thank you!
Fantástic
@ar_restoration
3 жыл бұрын
Thank you! 👍🌹
Looks amazing!!!! Congratulations 👏 👍😍
@ar_restoration
3 жыл бұрын
Thank you so much!👍👍🌹
Otra estupenda restauración lograda con este camión, Rusty Tonka Rescue Squad de 1955, mis respetos y saludos desde Venezuela.💯💯💯💯🤘🤘🤘🤘👍👍👍👍👍🙏🙏🙏
@ar_restoration
3 жыл бұрын
¡Muchas gracias por tu cumplido y comentario como siempre! 👍👍👍🙏🙏🙏
Lo felicito amigo es un ingeniero en tonka y el felino cost.rica
@ar_restoration
6 ай бұрын
Glad you like it and thank you for your compliment!!!🎉🎉👏👏👍👍😄
Great job,looks like it came out of the box new😎😎😎👍👍👍
@ar_restoration
3 жыл бұрын
👍👍Thank you for the compliment and comment!!
Great end result well done.
@ar_restoration
3 жыл бұрын
Thank you for the compliment and comment!👍👍
Absolutely beautiful!
@ar_restoration
3 жыл бұрын
👍👍thank you!
Excelente.
@ar_restoration
3 жыл бұрын
👍Thank you!
Wonderful restoration!
@ar_restoration
3 жыл бұрын
Thank you for your wonderful comment!
Excelente
@ar_restoration
3 жыл бұрын
👍Thank you!
Great work nice finish...
@ar_restoration
3 жыл бұрын
👍👍Thank you for the compliment and comment!
Amazing job, if you’ll pardon the pun!!! 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
@ar_restoration
3 жыл бұрын
👍👍 Thank you!
Looks great🙂
@ar_restoration
3 жыл бұрын
👍👍Thank you!!!
Cool! I remember one appearing in the 1956 Gumby episode "Toy Crazy", complete with Civil Defense logos, but they removed the "TONKA FIRE DEPT." lettering (most likely for licensing/copyright reasons).
Good job!👏👏👍
@ar_restoration
3 жыл бұрын
Thank you! 👍🌹
Awesome job!!!👍😁
Great 👍 video! 👌
@ar_restoration
3 жыл бұрын
Thank you! 🙏 🙏
Very nice job; those tubular rivets aren't easy to get to and do for those polished steps! Looks brand new!
@ar_restoration
3 жыл бұрын
Thank you for the compliment and support as always! 👍👍
Nothing says the era better than the Civil Defense logo on the side!
@ar_restoration
3 жыл бұрын
👍👍There are fewer and fewer people who know this sign…
Extremely Good.
@ar_restoration
3 жыл бұрын
👍👍Thank you!
@carlosescobar6973
3 жыл бұрын
You are most welcome 👍
Good job!👍
@ar_restoration
3 жыл бұрын
Thank you! Cheers!
Good job 👍👍👍
@ar_restoration
3 жыл бұрын
Thank you! 🙏
Nice job!
@ar_restoration
3 жыл бұрын
👍👍Thank you!
Removing paint and rust. And it’s history
Absolutely amazing my friend.
@ar_restoration
3 жыл бұрын
Thank you kindly!
Oh man - great job - I would love to lay my hands on this one. I also enjoy restoring Tonka's I subscribed!
@ar_restoration
3 жыл бұрын
Thank you for your compliment and comment! 👍👍 I subscribed your channel too 🤝
@DANYMITERESTORATION
3 жыл бұрын
@@ar_restoration Thank you fellow restorer!
As usual, very well done! Your attention to detail is always evident. I have enjoyed each video & have "binged watched" many over the past few days. Thank you for the entertainment value & learning of your process. Much appreciated! A couple questions please: do you print your decals or purchase sets? What scale are the diorama figurines you use? They really add to the video! Keep up the good work, I look forward to more!
Result shows in the preparation,nice restore Mick Thailand
@ar_restoration
3 жыл бұрын
Thank you so much! 👍👍
Amazing job amigo thank for you time keep do nice so stay home safe if you going out use your mask 😷 see soon adios from Delaware first state
@ar_restoration
3 жыл бұрын
Thank you for the nice compliment and comment! Stay safe too!👍👍
Looks better than factory new! do you think this van underwent a prior attempt at restoration? The tires and wheel covers looked quite good when you started your work. No rust or corrosion whatsoever on the wheel covers.
@ar_restoration
3 жыл бұрын
I bought it second-hand, maybe someone tried to fix it, the wheel covers looks very new, there was a headlight replaced with a screw : ) Thank you for the comment!👍👍
Nice restoration! Wish you could have put led lights on it
@ar_restoration
3 жыл бұрын
Good idea, I have a plan to modify interior put driver seat and steering wheel... Thank you for the good suggestion and comment!👍👍
WOW! What an awesome restoration you’ve done! (Again 😃) You make putting the stickers on look so easy. Are they the kind you have to soak in water first to get off the sheet, then apply to the vehicle? If so...😳 God bless you. I’d have them folded, torn and put on the truck in a mess. Thank you so much for sharing another awesome video!
@ar_restoration
3 жыл бұрын
👍👍🌹Thank you so much for your wonderful comment! The stickers I used should not be the kind that is soaked in water, there is a thick layer of glue on the back, It was really tough to paste the stickers.
The piano in the opening of the music at 18:20 sounds eerily similar to New Years Day by U2.
👌👍✔
@ar_restoration
2 жыл бұрын
👍🎉Thank you!😊
Love the work and the ending! We're there people with the orginal? If so, good work in finding them and the gurney!
@ar_restoration
3 жыл бұрын
Thank you for the great comment! 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
@costantinorussopanno1386
3 жыл бұрын
@@ar_restoration e 3Q il
@ar_restoration
3 жыл бұрын
The figures are not original with the van, the figures are belong to 70s Tonka rescue ambulance van
@stephenhenion8304
2 жыл бұрын
G I. Joe...
Good as new even better. I was 5 years old when this rig was on the road saving lives. 👍👍
@ar_restoration
3 жыл бұрын
Thank you for the great comment! 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
🌷❤🌺 good my friend
@ar_restoration
3 жыл бұрын
👍thank you！
Rescued the Rescue Squad! The Pumper at the end and the patient litter was a bonus!
@ar_restoration
3 жыл бұрын
Thank you for the wonderful comment!
Parfait !
@ar_restoration
3 жыл бұрын
Merci!👍👍
Wow turned out great!!! Where do you live? Uploading late at night where I live 👀🙂 USA!🌍 I'm now working on VW Tonka, not as hard of project as your man!👍🏼
@ar_restoration
3 жыл бұрын
NY, I will go to bed right now : ) I am looking forward your great project show! 👍👍
@CoolRestorations
3 жыл бұрын
@@ar_restoration Ah good night man, thank you!👍🏼
@CoolRestorations
3 жыл бұрын
@@ar_restoration Hey then you post video do you choose Howto&Style or Education category? Thanks you, always have hard time with that!🙃
🌟🌟💛👍💛🌟🌟
@ar_restoration
2 жыл бұрын
Thank you!
Funny Tonka didn't put in any interior details. Nice restoration.
@bryanmiller6046
3 жыл бұрын
They did that to save on money
@ar_restoration
3 жыл бұрын
👍Thank you! I will try to do some interior details later : )
Super job i wonder if we still have a civil defence organisation?
@ar_restoration
3 жыл бұрын
I think it was replaced by Dept of homeland security
👏👏👏
Man I love Tonka stuff! Just got one question though. I see you disassemble all kinds of things in these videos. why didn't you do that to the body? Is it just one full piece welded together or what? I am just curious!
The era of the meat wagon
👍🏻👍🏻
👍👍👍👏
@ar_restoration
3 жыл бұрын
Thank you so much!👍👍🌹
Tonka toys were built to last.
@ar_restoration
3 жыл бұрын
So true! 👍👍
😈sweet
Wow, great job, where do you get the vintage dolls from? Firemen and paramedics!
@ar_restoration
2 жыл бұрын
All figures I bought from Ebay, firemen are Chop Mei and paramedics are Tonka figures. Thank you for your comment!!!
I wonder if the truck is worth more to an antique collector untouched or restored.
@ar_restoration
3 жыл бұрын
I think that’s depending personal interest and hobby, somebody likes brand new and somebody prefers patina. Thank you for the comment!👍👍
Is the model based on a real vehicle? I am no expert, but the front really reminds me of a French Citron (sp?) much more than anything sold in North America.
@ar_restoration
3 жыл бұрын
I am not sure if the van based on a real vehicle, the front face design of this van is indeed a bit like Citron, Thank you for your comment!👍👍
@stephenhenion8304
2 жыл бұрын
I remember these vehicles from the late 1950 s. Sometimes they took old bread delivery trucks and did a little makeover. They called them REMCO Emergency services.
Curious to know what you do with the finished restorations.
@ar_restoration
3 жыл бұрын
In fact every restoration project was challenge to me, but I enjoy it. Thank you so much for the comment!👍👍
@karodora
2 жыл бұрын
I was a little girl with two brothers in the early to mid-fifties. You have accurately described how we played with our trucks and cars (the boys liked trucks; I preferred cars). Thank you for helping me remember.
strange that old truck had brand new wheels on it
@ar_restoration
3 жыл бұрын
The wheels were dirty, the wheel covers better
@ar_restoration
3 жыл бұрын
The van truck I bought is second hand, maybe the previous owner changed the wheels
Amazing job !!! 🙌 I have restored the french version on my channel ;) I was wondering how do you make these stickers ?? Thanks !!!!
@ar_restoration
3 жыл бұрын
I bought the decal stickers from www.gasolinealleytoys.com, thank you for your compliment and comment!👍👍
@TheFabrik
3 жыл бұрын
@@ar_restoration oh ok thanks a lot ! It will really help... All the best
I saw Gumby use this on a episode
@ar_restoration
3 жыл бұрын
Is it same car? That’s great 😃
@microbusss
3 жыл бұрын
@@ar_restoration look for Toy Crazy in here he puts a N scale train in it
@ar_restoration
3 жыл бұрын
Just watch it from 8'15", very cute! Thank you that you let me know it! : )
top ng
@ar_restoration
3 жыл бұрын
👍Thank you!
You don't show the tires restoration
@ar_restoration
Жыл бұрын
Sorry, I forgot to add this clip when editing the video, the tires were painted. Thank you for noticing this detail!👍👍🤝🤝
What's the best de decal making machine to use
I think it should stay the way it is. (no restore)
@ar_restoration
3 жыл бұрын
It depends on personal interest and hobby, as a restorer my opinion that should give all old and rusty stuffs new life through the restoration process, I enjoy to do it, for antique collectors that they like original patina. Thank you so much for your comment and support! 👍👍
Where is the best place to find Tonka decals
@ar_restoration
3 жыл бұрын
www.gasolinealleytoys.com/
@ar_restoration
3 жыл бұрын
Most decals you can find at this website
J and ity f7
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