Ready For Rescue: 1968 Seagrave Firetruck
It’s not unusual to see an old Firetruck languishing away, waiting for someone to come along and find a good use for it. Just up the street from me there is a ’51 Ford Firetruck sitting at a church, it’s only use is to be a photo backdrop at a pumpkin patch once a year. It’s sad to see such a proud machine left to rot, but finding a use for an old Firetruck is hard, they are not practical for anything other than fire duty and they are prohibitively costly to transport. This ’68 Seagrave firetruck has a lot going for it so lets hope it gets saved, it even runs and drives! Find it here on eBay in Davenport, FL with a BIN price of $6,995 or make offer.
This truck has got character, it was built by the Seagrave Company that was founded in 1881 and is still in business! The front end is awesome, from the square fenders to the headlight/emergency light combo to the massive center mount light, it all blends together just right. This open top Firetruck would be a great parade truck, but it will need some work before it’s ready for parade duty. The truck is said to run and drive great, in fact the seller is offering to drive it up to 25 miles for free to a delivery location. 
Under the hood is a 6V-71 Detroit Diesel engine with an automatic transmission, presumably an Allison Unit. I am not a firetruck expert but it seems most trucks of this size and vintage are usually equipped with a gasoline engine. The truck is equipped with air brakes. The original fuel tank is leaking so the owner installed an auxiliary unit. 
Most of the firefighting equipment is still in the truck, although functionality is not mentioned. The truck is equipped with a PTO driven 800 GPM pump, hoses are still stored in the lower storage compartment. Most fire trucks see a long service life, after a city or county agency is done with a truck it sometimes gets passed down to a volunteer fire department where it might be put to use for a long time. These trucks are usually impeccably maintained and have low mileage. I hope this truck gets saved, it has too much character to be scrapped or used for parts. What future do you see for this truck?
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Comments
The problem is they were purpose built, they’re big and heavy, they’re slow, and they use a lot of fuel. All these things make it hard to sell. I’d say to cut the body off behind the seat. Make it into something else. I won E saw a semi truck that an airstream body minus the axles and toung. It was a long truck and I beleave it still had the fifth wheel hook up on the back of the frame. It was set to be a home away from home. With some drive in upgrades this could be more highway compatible
I’m a retired fireman.. Does anyone have a contact number for the seller?
Exactly, what else could you possibly use something like this for besides parades?
You could shut down a street riot if you restored the pump
I have a 1992 Pierce that I just bought in July of this year. I have already used it for 3 4th of July parades, 1 actual fire (I was first on scene after I heard my neighbors house blow up (and then used it for crowd control before the 3rd alarm arrived and was thanked for it) I have 2 neighbors that have children that are having birthdays in September that have offered $45 each to just park the truck and the kids can have a picture by it. And much more. I am a Free Mason and will be parking it at schools on days when we have the child ID programs to attract kids and parents. Then there are the Thanksgiving day parades,Christmas parades (2 times) and New Years Day and that is just this year. FYI you do not have to be a group to enter parades just register and have fun showing off! Hope that answers your questions
Were/are you a Firefighter? You could really tick off/-
get in the way of the Firefighters & Chief responding to the call.
Angliagt Yes I was a Fire Fighter for a lot of years as well as a medic (though I usually got stuck driving the bus more than anything else) We were a all volunteer fire department in Eureka California for a great many years before they finally were able to hire full time staff.
I would NEVER get in the way of other units let alone piss off anyone. The local department where I live here in Florida know where I live and were glad that I was able to help. It was a 99 degree day 3 weeks ago and the most time in rotation that could be spent was 15 minutes before the heat set in. I did leave after the 3rd alarm arrived. Though since every thing on the engine is current and works I would have assisted BUT only if asked or if I saw someone in trouble like collapsing and not able to get any attention.
The station that I worked out of in Northern CA usually had what we (jokenly) called the hose offs’ and the dry offs’. Since we mostly handled drowning fishermen off the salmon and crab boats (dry offs’) and tourists to stupid to get out of the way of logging trucks (hose offs’) We would usually get at least 1 hose off a week. So in short I know how to get out of the way and frankly have no desire to see any more after 50 plus years. But I will always be on the look out for my brothers and sisters. And yes I have 99.9% of all needed items on the truck except for drugs. I could carry but don’t have a need. I do share your concern for getting in the way though and thank you for our post and questioning me. No harm, no foul and no I do not plan on making this a full time job at all only just happen to be 2 doors down this time when the house exploded
Heard your neighbors house blow up? That a regular thing by you? Just kidding, good for you. It’s about the only thing one can do with an old fire engine.
The front shot of this truck looks like it could be in one of the Cars cartoon movies.
Should have a V12 gas engine in it?
Used to own a bus with a 6v71 Detroit. The benefit is that no one can steal it cause you could hear it start up a block away. And the amount of white smoke on a cold start could choke out a city block.
But I still miss the sound :)
https://youtu.be/NVXhdZR7Lng?t=45
The 1992 Pierce Lancer fire truck I have has the same motor as you had and you are right OMG the whole neighborhood knows when I fire it up. Sadly though I took it to a service center (not a truck care center) 3 weeks ago and the put water AND oil in the pan I only got about 2 blocks when I saw my oil gauge drop to zero when I stopped at a light I knew what they did right away. Will never trust QUICKIE LUBE again. Had it towed back home and am doing the repairs myself. They can piss off and I learned my lesson…never again try to save a buck. By the way I have never seen diesel motor oil mix with anti freeze before … makes a lovely PASTE. Think that is what saved me because the oil stuck to the rings
The Shriners want this truck.
Lets CROWD Fund it for them ?
The seller does NOT know what he has.
That’s NOT a 1968, but a 1958 Seagrave 531B.
See here for a similar one, acquired by Somers Point, ND in 1958 and retired in 1979:
http://www.somersvfd.com/apps/public/gallery/index.cfm?Gallery=Retired&PageNum=1
The engine is a V-12 built by Seagrave and/or based on Pierce-Arrow design, and parts are basically unobtanium, according to folks in the fire truck fraternity.
Aaaaannnnddd it’s gone from eBay.
That truck sat on hwy 52in Dothan Alabama for years the EFF stood for EstoFire Dept in northwest Florida on the Alabama line cool to see it again