New article on a 1937 Checker Y8 converted into a tow truck:
http://bangshift.com/bangshiftxl/this-incredibly-rare-1937-checker-y8-was-made-into-a-wrecker-in-the-1940s-and-has-been-restored-to-its-glory/

This is one of only TWO Y8's to still exist, which means hopefully the other didn't get such a drastic conversion job.