Solid Extinguisher: 1949 Chevrolet Fire Truck
While some may see an old fire truck, all I can see are possibilities. There is nothing that I enjoy more than seeing old fire trucks and automobiles in parades, but not everyone shares the same ambitions to own and maintain such a large vehicle. So why not look at it from a recycling point of view and think about all the cool things this large and solid Chevrolet could do in this modern day and age. In running, and I assume driving condition, this big Chevrolet seems like a bargain for someone with a big enough heart and storage space. Check it out here on eBay out of Pine River, Minnesota.
Straight and solid with a working siren, this Chevy offers a lot of positives that may get overlooked by some. These old trucks are great, but condition is always the key. Let’s face it, rust is an inevitability when you are looking for an old truck. Thankfully this Chevy is rock solid with only a few pin holes to be found in the floor near the shifter. Otherwise the running board area and door jambs are awesome, and the entire cab and front end are very nice as well.
The interior appears untouched, but is very reasonable considering its age and the day to day life it lived as a fire truck. The steering wheel has a few cracks but no missing chunks or heavy breaks. The bench is hanging in there but the driver side edge is worn. The door panels are in place as is the rest of the door hardware. The dash is nicely laid out with some switches that run various things for this fire truck.
There is surface rust to be found, but rot appears to be non-existent, or minimal. While I think this fire truck would be great as is for parade duty, I know plenty of people would enjoy restoring this beauty to its former glory. At the same time, this truck is equipped with heavy duty components where there is the propensity to repurpose this old fire truck. Perhaps blasphemous, but removing the rear body work and adding a flatbed for your classic car, or even boat skids to haul around your vintage Chris Craft are all possibilities for this Chevy. While I prefer this Fire truck as is, what would you do with this nice old Chevrolet?
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Comments
Looks like a nice basis for a restoration to me…
the thing with old fire trucks is they sit with full water tanks that over the years leak and the frames rust out ! so the first place to look is underneath the middle of the thing! great truck if you like doing 40 mph! because thats what you are going to get!
No eBay link.
That silver steering wheel looks unique.
Should be easier to drive than the earlier ladder truck.
I had a 50 the same as this 25 years ago in Winnipeg just north of this one, upholstered the seat, tinted the windows red (I owned a glass shop) and drove it to music festivals, many goods times with my red firetruck, great fun driver.
Whoa. I remember that. Sunfest, god I have wasted my life…. +1
I’d only want the cab, front fenders. Hood, grille, and front bumper. The rest I’d sell or scrap. I’d put all of it on a more modern 1 ton chassie with a custom period looking truck box. I’d use it to haul various different trailers and enjoy having a rather beastly pickup truck. Retired fire trucks a basically useless unless converted or modified.
Tell that to the 16000 members of SPAAMFAA, the Society for the Preservation and Appreciation of Antique Fire Apparatus in America. I think you’d get some push back.
That’s true, however, there’s plenty of pristine fire trucks to save, and this one, since needing a restoration anyway, will probably be taken apart. It would make a great start to a flatbed or dump, which are much harder to find, and frankly, much more useful.
It’s not a Fire Truck, those are the ones with the Ladders. That’s a Fire Engine, those are the ones that carry hoses and have pumps.The back of it is called The Hose Bed,
Absolutely..Fire Engine…..please take the time and learn the proper terminology for fire apparatus..🤣😂😆👊…try going into the firehouse….and tell some Salty old Battalion Chief…its a “purty red fire truck”…and let the games begin…..👍💪👊💥
You had me at “working siren”.
I’d rather see the words “working fire pump” They’re harder to fix or replace than a siren….
Party wagon!!!!!!
Last year my Wife talked me into going up to St Louis for the Mardi Grad Festival that is held every year in Soulard Area. Well somebody had taken an old Fire truck, it was a Ford like this and had added seats in where the tank and hose bed. They were driving around to the different bars and restaurants.
They say during St Louis Cardinals Games they will pick up at a parking area and drive you to the stadium, for a fee I guess.
In my mind, I’ve already painted this gloss black, and scaled up a late 40s Chrysler grill… just to have chrome spears wrapping around the front and sides of this thing.
Be careful with old fire trucks. Gas or diesel. They sit in some volunteers fire station and get little maintenance at some. Antifreeze never changed or even oil. Lot of rotten blocks. Just saying
Absolutely..Fire Engine…..please take the time and learn the proper terminology for fire apparatus..🤣😂😆👊…try going into the firehouse….and tell some Salty old Battalion Chief…its a “purty red fire truck”…and let the games begin…..👍💪👊💥