The Money Maker
By George L. Nitti
When it comes to dispensing wisdom on the art of making money, there is no one like Ben Franklin to lead the way. Franklin's contributions to America were many, and to honor him, his image was printed on the currency of our $100 bill.
For Handsome Rob, owner of Vintage Autobody and Towing in Westbury, New York, he knew when he purchased a 2014 Dodge Ram 5500 with a 2014 Jerr-Dan MPL40 it would be a money maker. So much so, he used Franklin's image as it appears on the $100 bill.
With the help of master artist Cecil Burrowes, they began executing on a design that Rob envisioned. Franklin's image is hand-painted with scalloped designs surrounding him. Under his image it states, "100."
Aptly, the design on the hood is done in green paint. Along the outlying areas, a number of gray, white and black images of skulls with haunting eyes peer outward.
The name under Franklin, however, does not contain Franklin's name but rather the "Handsome," after the owner of the company, which represents a clever play on the currency.
On the sides of the unit, just next to the doors, are more iconic images. On one side is DC Comic's "Joker," with his girlfriend "Harley Quinn" on the other side.
"I thought it would be a nice fit as the Joker's colors are green and purple, matching our design on the hood," Handsome Rob said. "It also ties in with the fact that Gotham is New York City, which is the location of Batman."
The city of New York sprawls across both sides of the unit as well, as large tribal flames are layered on top in candy purple and green.
Other interesting details abound, with more skulls covering the back, while the company logo stands out in an elegant design across the boom.
This money-making machine won first place in the Light Duty, Pre-2017 Class at the American Towman Wrecker Pageant in Baltimore, Maryland, last November.
Brag @ TIW!Should your truck be featured here? Send a few pics and your contact information to the editor at bdooley@towman.com . You might even be selected to go in print, too, in American Towman magazine.
