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The Famous Lincoln's Towing Pink Toe Truck
Museum of History and Industry
The Pink Toe Truck as it was displayed for years on the Lincoln Towing Company's roof.
Although the Toe Truck had a towing wrench and technically could tow a small car, it was never used for that purpose. It would become the beloved advertising symbol for Lincoln Towing. Mr. Lincoln donated the truck to be used for charitable events and Lincoln drivers volunteered to drive the truck.
In 1984, the Toe Truckâs iconic status was cemented when Lincoln decided to put the truck on display on his buildingâs roof at the companyâs Fairview Avenue and Mercer Street location. It was now on view to the millions of drivers that passed by the Mercer Street intersection on I-5.
Over the years, radio stations would send their D.J.âs to broadcast live from the Toe Truckâs home on the buildingâs roof.
The Pink Toe Truck on display at the Museum of History and Industry
Proudly displayed in the Museum of History and Industry is one piece of Seattle history that is guaranteed to bring a smile to your face. History doesnât have to be stuffy as shown by this artifact on exhibit.
Of course, we are talking about the famous Lincoln's Towing Pink Toe Truck. This bubblegum colored tow truck with five toes on top is one of Seattleâs iconic images.
I have wanted to write a feature article about the Toe Truck for a while. I recently read Life Through the Rearview Mirror, a book written by Ed Lincoln, the original owner of Lincoln's Towing and the inventor of the famous left foot on wheels. In a few chapters of the book, Mr. Lincoln tells the fun story of the Pink Toe Truck. After reading the material about the Pink Toe Truck, I knew it was time to write about one of Seattle's most lovable icons.
The Pink Toe Truck on display at the Museum of History and Industry
The idea for the truck came when a salesman mentioned to Mr. Lincoln that he had seen a tow truck with actual toes. The salesman sketched the truck for Mr. Lincoln and he started noodling with the the cute truck idea.
Lincoln went to the abandoned cars that he owned that were slated for an abandoned vehicle auction. He spotted a VW bus with a crushed roof and Lincoln knew he had found the base for his new toe truck.
Lincoln hired Ed Ellison, a retired body shop owner, to build the new Toe Truck from the frame of the VW bus. The shell was made from a frame of chicken wire with fiberglass panels.
The rear entrance panel of the Pink Toe Truck on display at the Museum of History and Industry
Next came the design of the five toes that would adorn the roof of the cab. An artist carved a Styrofoam model for the toes and applied fiberglass to the model. The inside of the toes were thinned by carving so that lights mounted in the toes would shine through in night parades.
The completed Pink Toe Truck was painted bubblegum pink and it was ready for its debut. It stood over eleven tall at the top of the big toe. In July 1980, the soon to be famous motorized left foot debuted in a parade on Queen Anne hill.
The Pink Toe Truck's toes on display at the Museum of History and Industry
The 2005 parade of tow trucks escorting the restored Pink Toe Truck to its new home at the Museum of History and Industry. Image courtesy of the Museum of History and Industry
Lincoln sold his towing company and retired. He kept the Toe Truck and decided to donate it to a museum. Seattleâs Museum of History and Industry wanted the truck but it did not have the funds to restore it. Lincoln had the truck restored and it was ready to go to its new home.
In February of 2005, a final parade was arranged for the famous Pink Toe Truck. Two Seattle policeman led the parade from Seattle Center to the Museum. A total of seventeen tow trucks including six trucks from Lincoln's Towing Company and trucks from other towing companies participated in this fun event to showcase the journey to the Museum. Lincoln drove the Toe Truck and his wife was the front seat passenger.
The Pink Toe Truck stands proudly on display in the Museum. In late 2012, the Toe Truck will be moved to the Museumâs future location in the naval armory building on south Lake Union. It will continue to bring smiles to Museum visitors for many years to come.
The "Right Foot" of the Lincoln Toe Truck that is owned and in use by the new company. This is image number 115759 from the Seattle Municipal Archive Photograph Collection.
The Company built a right foot Toe Truck in 1996 and it is still owned by the Companyâs owners.
The cover of Mr. Lincoln's book
In 2011, Mr. Lincoln published his book Life Through the Rearview Mirror that talks about Lincolnâs business life. The book has several chapters devoted to the story of the famous Pink Toe Truck.
Please click on the title Life Through the Rearview Mirror if you would like to see more about the book.
We hope you have enjoyed the story of the famous original Pink Toe Truck and you will go to visit it at the Museum of History and Industry where it continues to bring a smile to many faces.
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