Question: I have two 1956 Model #46 Pumpers. They both have the 1955 logo decal on the underside yet have the 56 bumper and grill. What's really interesting is that both have "bullet style" taillights. Are these prototype trucks?

Answer: I contacted Tonka collector Mark Hollandsworth for this answer because he had already researched this question. Over the years, Mark has owned three pumpers with "bullet style" tail lights. Mark states "....Tonka wanted to introduce the Suburban pumper in 1956 officially with marketing materials and such. During the year end production runs, they tooled up for the suburban pumper and tooled the taillight fenders to accept the individual bullet style of taillight. That style was riding the popularity craze during the 50’s if you looked at the auto industry. They used that same idea of bullet or nosecone style as the middle of the 50’s America had a fascination with space and spacecraft.

I never got information as to why the bullet style taillight was discontinued and changed to the button style with backing plate. Why do changes happen in production anyway? Usually from either a supplier not being able to fill and order or it could have been cost prohibitive to produce that style of tail light in house. I wish I knew!!" Click here to see an example.

I would also add another hypothetical reason Tonka did not continue with the bullet taillight. A manufacturing/assembly issue.

Question: I've come across Tonka tow trucks (wreckers) with link chain and cord. With so many "RESTORED" and "'TINKERED WITH" trucks available on the market, how can I tell if the truck is correct?

Answer: Tonka's first wrecker was manufactured in 1949. Using Tonka dealer catalogs as references, the 1949 COE version through the 1961 square fender, used link chain. And therein is the rub. Original, unretouched real world 1961 #18 Wreckers have been found with link chain or a heavy nylon cord. For yet known reasons, Tonka switched to nylon cord during the 1961 model year run. Did Tonka run out of chain earlier than planned? Did Tonka run out ofthe earlier crank sooner than planned? This may be another Tonka mystery. Click here to see details of the 1949-early 1961 and the later 1961-forward wrecker boom assembly. NOTE: The 1961 #18 Wrecker can be easily identified by the Tonka "T" embossed into the front bumper.

Question: I'm restoring a big old yellow Mighty Dump. Is there a paint I can buy over the counter that matches Tonka's construction yellow?

Answer: I've had very good success with Plasti-Kote #376 Brite Yellow and Rust-oleum #7747 Sunburst Yellow. I've recommended both to other Tonka restorers and they have had nothing but positive accolades regarding the color match. If you want automotive quality, color matched paint at a fair price, it's available from Tonka Town. Click here here to go there.

Question: You mention on the ID page, that whitewall tires made their debut on Tonka pickup trucks in 1959. Were pickup models still produced with blackwall tires from '59 into the mid 1960's?

Answer: Two particular models comes to mind. The first was referred to as a private label model with Gambles store labels on the doors and tailgate. The second was the orange Hi-Way pickup. I guess these models were considered real everyday WORK trucks and whitewalls were too dressy. Also of note, when the blackwall tire was used, a five hole (round or triangular, depending on year) wheel cover, was also used, not the solid wheel cover that also made its initial appearance on the pickups in 1959.

Question: From time to time, I see or hear someone refer to Tonka trucks as made of tin. Is that correct?

Answer: Most definitely not made of tin and certainly not die cast. All Tonka pickups made in the United States by Tonka Toys, from 1955 to the mid nineties, were made from cold roll steel, the same steel used to manufacture full size cars and trucks.

Question: I see the term pressed steel. What exactly does that mean?

Answer: You have probably noticed that the Tonka pickup is made up of several smaller steel components that have had tabs put into slots or have been riveted together. Each of the individual steel components was pressed or stamped from a piece of steel in a huge press. The component was formed in a die that was secured in the press. On each up and down stroke, or cycle, of the press, a part was pressed or stamped out of the steel. If the part needed additional forming, the pickup bed for instance, the part would be sent to another press, with a different shaping die, for final forming.

Question: I've noticed that there are two different styles of the smaller headlights as used on the '58 through '64 model years. Was there some sort of manufacturing error?

Answer: I don't think so. The 1958 through 1962 lenses used on the pickups were fairly clear and had a smooth surface finish. They were much the same as the lenses on the '56-'57 models except much smaller. The faceted lenses appeared on pickup models beginning in 1963.

Question: How can I tell if my pickup is supposed to have a windshield?

Answer: 1955-1957 pickups had no windshield or side and back glass period. The 1958 through 1964 trucks had a windshield only. (The windshield was exactly the same for 7 years), and in 1965, the cab was fully enclosed with a clear plastic bubble. In other words, windows all around.

Question: I purchased an accessory trailer at a flea market, but the hole in the tongue is to small to fit on my pickup's hitch. What gives?

Answer:There was a design change in the tailgate area of the pickup in 1960. Prior to 1960, the tongue of the trailer would be inserted into a pocket on the underside of the floor of the bed and held in place with a small pin inserted from the top of the pickup bed. In 1960, the pocket transitioned into a hitch formed at the rear on the chassis. The hitch required a much larger hole in the tongue of accessory trailers. So it sounds to me that you have a trailer manufactured prior to 1960 and a pickup truck manufactured in 1960 or later.

Question: I've got that hitch thing down pat now. Is there something else I need to know about the 1960 model pick up?

Answer: As a matter of fact there is. Take a look at how the tailgate is hinged to the chassis. On 1955 through 1959 models, the bottom of the tailgate was fitted over a wire form. Beginning in 1960, the tailgate was hinged to the truck's chassis which also necessitated larger holes, 9/64", at the bottom of the tailgate to accommodate the revised size and hinging location. The tailgates are not interchangeable. If you need a tailgate for your 1955-1959 pickup, it is available in the reproduction market. If you need a tailgate for your 1960-1965 pickup, your only choice as of today, is to find an original. However, a reproduction is expected to be available in the third quarter of 2008. I'll keep you posted. All of this highly useful tailgate information only applies to the Step Side series of Tonka pickups. (I think I just let the cat out of the bag on a question a little further down this page.)

Question: Got a question regarding pickups and I guess really any Tonka model made in the late 60's, early 70's to present. Hope you don't mind. I've noticed a series of numbers stamped into the chassis and other metal parts of Tonka trucks. What do those numbers mean? Are they model numbers or something?

Answer: You're close. It's the part number for the pressed steel part. In the early years, when there were just a couple of hands full of different metal parts, I guess the production folks knew which part went with which model. As the model line grew, so did the number of parts in the stockroom. Tonka assigned a five digit number that represented a given metal part. It was used for inventory tracking purposes. The number was actually formed into the die that pressed the metal part out of the steel roll. Let's change gears and use as an example, one of the most popular model lines, the Mighty series. If you look on the underside of the steel chassis on any Mighty manufactured between 1983 to the mid 1990's, you will find the number 054782. The number represents the part number for the stamped steel chassis only. Co-incidentally, 054782 also represented the id number assigned to the stamping die.

Question: In reviewing your restoration tips, I noticed that you referenced restoring what I think are referred to as Step Side or Flare Side pickups. Didn't Tonka manufacture another style?

Answer: You are very observant and correct. In 1960, Tonka began production on the Style Side or Fleetside model as a running buddy to the Step Side. It can easily be distinguished from the Step Side models in that the rear wheel wells were inside the pickup's bed. One of the first, if not the first, models to be produced was the Fisherman Model #110, truck and topper only, and the Deluxe Fisherman #130, also with a topper and pulling a trailer with boat. In 1961, the Boat Service Model #117, was added to the Fleetside line-up. By the way, the Boat Service model was only produced in 1961. Finding the complete set; pickup, trailer and three boats, will be a real challenge.

Question: I just finished reading your Restoration Tips and Tricks. I have an old Tonka that has managed to pick up a dent or two. (I think GI Joe may have tried to park his Humvee a little to close, not sure.) Anyway, can I use "bondo" to fill in the dents?

Answer: Since your Tonka is just a scaled down version of a "full sized" model, similar repair techniques can be followed. I have used "plastic" to repair dents as part of the restoration process. The stuff works as advertised. I have also used a hammer and dolly, much the same as a body shop works out dents. Instead of using a typical dolly however, I used small pieces of steel stock to hammer against. Note: Using the hammer and dolly technique takes a bit of practice. Unfortunately, I've sent a few parts to the recycler because I was a tad over zealous with the hammer. And that can be a real bummer if your part is unique and not easily replaceable. My all time hero cop, Dirty Harry, could not have said it better. "A man's got to know his limitations". Don't practice either of these techniques on your one of a kind part. Good luck!

Question: I have a Tonka truck that has Canadian labels. Where was it really made?

Answer: This question is a perfect candidate for FAQ because it invariably pops up in an email a couple times a week. So here goes. There was a Canadian manufacturing facility. I do not know what year it came online. In addition to assembling the Tonka truck, they also manufactured their own injection molded and blow molded components. They also had 2 huge steel stamping presses that handled the pressed steel parts. In the case of tooling, Canada had duplicate molds for both injection and blow molded parts. However, steel stamping dies were far more complex, and that translates into too expensive to duplicate.

Tonka would ship the required steel stamping dies via truck from the Mound facility or in later years, the El Paso facility, to Canada. After sufficient quantities of the pressed steel part were made, the die would be shipped back to the states. There were a few exceptions, however. Smaller steel parts would be run in the states and shipped to Canada for final processing (painting and assembly). An example might be tailgates or the clam used on the crane.

NOTE: The Canadian manufacturing operation was shut down in the mid 1980's, Tonka trucks required for the Canadian market that were still being made in the states, were fully assembled, packaged in bilingual cartons (French and English), and shipped to Canada for distribution.

Question: What scale are the early Tonka pickup trucks?

Answer: First of all, let's establish early Tonka as being models manufactured from 1955 to say 1970 and only the original Regular size. Mini-Tonka and Tiny-Tonka pickups don't come into play here. Instead of trying to find the specifications on a full sized Ford F series pickup built in the mid 1950's and doing the math, I sort of cheated on this one to get the answer. I pulled out my 1997 Commemorative issue of the Tonka, 1956 pickup. The graphics on the carton clearly indicate 1:18 scale. When I placed the Commemorative issue next to a 1957 Model #02 pickup and a 1959 Model #05 Sportsman, there appears to be no size variation. Therefore, if the published scale on the Commemorative issue is as advertised, the scale on the original Tonka pickups is also 1:18. That's my story and I'm stickin' to it!

Question: When did Tonka stop using whitewall tires on their pickup trucks?

Answer: As cool as whitewall tires were, Tonka recognized that wide whites had become dated. Tonka rolled their last pickup truck, and all other trucks that had been manufactured with wide whitewalls, off the production line in 1971. In 1972, Tonka introduced the raised white letter tire to replace the wide whitewalls. The wide whitewall was a separate molded part and pressed into the tire. A new part was developed that when pressed into the tire and roll coated with a white ink, would appear as raised white letters. To take this answer a little further, the raised white letter tire only lasted for two years. In 1974, Tonka introduced the XMB-101 tire and wheel combination as a replacement to the raised white letter variety.