Take yourself back to your childhood. Whether you're 60 years old or 6, there's no doubt that if you didn't have a Tonka truck of your own, you undoubtedly had played with someone's. You can remember sinking the durable plastic tires of the Tonka dump truck into the mud while the dirt and rock you loaded in the dump box sloshed around. The Tonka's rugged metal construction has stood the test of time and has been passed down from generation to generation and given kids a nearly indestructible toy to cherish and play with for years to come. Remember hoping that one day your beloved Tonka would become a real thing? Well thanks to the incredible effort of Funrise Toys, licensee and manufacturer of Tonka, as well as Galpin MotorsAuto Sports (GAS), located in the San Fernando valleyVan Nuys, CA., that childhood dream has become a reality.
Tonka's T-Rex
Introducing the Tonka F-250 T-Rex. Everything the that makes up this dazzling truck is in keeping with the style that Tonka has made their toys, and everyone who's had the joy of seeing it first handfirsthand can attest to it. After the initial amazement of seeing it, you may be asking yourself, why? Well Diesel Tech had the privilege of getting to the scoop on this absolutely memorable Ford. Kathy Hawk, senior director of marketing and Kevin Bloomfield, senior director of product development at Funrise explained the set of events that brought them to design and build this mind blowing monster Tonka.
"We do a lot of brainstorming here," said Hawk, "we have to come up with fresh ideas and everyone here has always fantasized about a real life Tonka truck."
It seems safe to say that they weren't the only people fantasizing about a real life Tonka. Kids from all walks of life and throughout generations have enjoyed the Tonka brand. The name is recognized worldwide, and bring it up to anyone and they'll most likely not only tell you, but give you their childhood memories with the beloved truck. So what makes this a Tonka? Just take one look at it and the answer is obvious. Funrise worked with Galpin Motors Auto Sports and pulled a stock F-250 Super Duty fresh off the lot and got right down to work.
"We've started holdingFunrise and Tonka began participating in events at Funrise to help our name reach more people." Explained Bloomfield. "When we started with the idea for a real life Tonka truck, we knew this would be a great ambassador for the job.brand"
Bloomfield worked closely with Steve McCord, general manager at GalpinGAS, to come up with the perfect design for a custom wrap that would distinguish the truck as a certified Tonka and while the design was in the works, the F-250 began its complete body makeover.
Getting the "Tonka" Touchup
The Ford went through a series of changes in the few short months during its custom build. Firstly, in order to give it the initial Tonka size, the F-250 had a custom built Kelderman Air Ride suspension installed, which was fully adjustable and of course powder coated "Tonka yellow". After the suspension work was finished, a new 40" set of Toyo Open Country M/T tires were set on American Force 20x10" classic SS8 wheels. With the T-Rex being a promotional vehicle, it was going to need some serious beauty work to fit the role, so a lot of one of a kind custom work was in order. Each part would be powder coated and strategically installed to give the stock Ford the perfect Tonka makeover. Next on the build list were the bumpers and runners. Fab Fours premium front and rear bumpers, as well as runners were installed to give the T-Rex more of a rugged flair.
To make the truck a heavy-duty pulling and towing machine, Funrise had a Warn winch, along with Warn fog, bumper and rack lights installed. The truck was looking sleek and powerful, but Bloomfield and Hawk weren't finished yet. To make the blossoming Tonka T-Rex run drive like a pro, they had a Banks IQ Flash with AutoMind programmer, Monster exhaust, Ram-Air intake system and a StraighShot water methanol system installed, giving the Ford not only the look of a Tonka, but the power too. With a few more additions, such as Highway Products' custom made lumber rack and custom toolboxes, the T-Rex was ready to make its way back to Galpin GAS to have the final touches put on.
With all of the major exterior work done, it was decided that no real life Tonka would be complete without some killer sound. To remedy the need for high decibel beats, McCord's team at Galpin GAS installed a custom built JL Audio Stealth Box and JL wiring and amplifiers for the sound system. After the new sound system was in place, the team put in a Kenwood HD entertainment navigation system, and of for additional safety, they also had Kenwood backup and rearview cameras installed for good measure. The work was looking great and with everyone more than ready to see the finished product, it was time for the final and most critical part of the build.
Bloomfield and McCord used the custom design rendering that they came together to create and began work on bringing the design to life.
"When Funrise came to me with their original design and asked me if I wanted to help, I took one look at the truck and said, 'That right there is a winner, I'm in.'" Said McCord.
McCord's long standing loyalty to the Tonka name had him anxious to begin work on the T-Rex, and once the other work was finished, the truck was in his hands and he couldn't have been happier to begin.
The expert designers at Galpin GAS began to custom decorate the Ford and give it the final touches to get it on the road to represent the Tonka name. Bushwacker fender flares were installed to help add to the Ford's already intimidating look. Custom tint headlights, mirror, tail and reverse lights were wired in and a custom built Tonka grille was set in place. To give the Tonka something a bit louder than the toy car horn, a big rig pull air horn replaced the stock one. After the final installations, the grille, fender flares, inner fenders, bed, bumpers and running boards were lined with Line-X and a custom black and yellow painted shovel, pick and hi-lift jack with a custom rack were put in for effect. Finally, a custom wrap that incorporated the Tonka logo was put on and GASalpin even included custom Tonka floor mats. Then the seats were reupholstered with a Katzkin custom yellow and black leather interior.
Bringing Back The Memories
When the last of the finishing touches were applied, McCord found that he couldn't be happier with the results. Not only that, but when the truck began to appear in truck events, onlookers were met with wonder and a deep sense of nostalgia as they passed by.
"There was no demographic that walked away from the truck. No matter how old or young they were, the responses were the same. They were so excited to see it and there was nothing but smiles. The truck brought happiness to everyone that saw it, and that's what this build was all about." Said McCord.
From start to finish, the Tonka T-Rex build project was an adventure that not only brought the warm feelings of a childhood well spent playing in the yard with that old Tonka truck, but rekindled the brand to a new generation to enjoy all over again. The T-Rex toy version will be arriving on shelves in the Fall of 2014, so if you can't find your way into a real one, you can still bring a piece of this amazing Tonka truck to your children, to let them experience the happiness and memorable fun that only Tonka can bring.
Source Box
www.kelderman.com
www.toyotires.com/800-442-8696
www.americanforcewheels.com/1-877-427-6773
www.fabfours.com/866-385-1905
www.warn.com
www.bankspower.com/800-601-8072
www.highwayproducts.com/800-465-9545
www.jlaudio.com/954-443-1111
www.kenwoodusa.com
www.linex.com
www.bushwacker.com
www.katzkin.com