This past Election Day as I exited my polling place, there sat this vintage fire truck. Naturally I photographed it. As it wore the livery of the local FD, I figured it had been hauled out of mothballs for this occasion. But as I photographed it, one of the guys sitting with it came up to me to tell me its story.
Turns out this ’62 pumper served faithfully for some 30 years before being sold. It was thought it would continue service in another fire department, and not another thought was given to it. Then last year it appeared for sale online, and members of the Zionsville fire department happened to find the listing. It was in neighboring Illinois just sitting in a field, so they drove out to look, and wound up buying it and bringing it home. Somehow it retained its original ZFD markings on the doors.
The plan is to restore it for use in parades and at local events. The Boone County Firefighters Association is spearheading the restoration and is accepting donations. Checks only to 1533 W. Oak Street, Suite 140, Zionsville, IN 46077.
Cool backstory. Usually when something like this gets into a field it sits and sits.
I wonder how much all that on the front bumper weighs? And what the moment arm is onto the frame, that’s a lot of stuff.
It’s hard to tell from the way it’s sitting, but I think the supports may be bent a bit – not surprising, especially after all this time.
Nice truck and sweet back story. I have a real soft spot for these; drove a number of similar ones, both the medium dity ones like this one with the FT V8s as well as the Super Dutys with the really big SD V8s.
Lots of these trucks had FT’s and Super Duty V-8’s. Being this one is a ’62 and an 800 series, it probably has the Lincoln Y-Block based HD 332 V-8.
Of course, because it’s a ’62. I can always count on you to get it right when it comes to old trucks!
My pleasure as always!
The Lincoln Y-Block was a great truck engine.
From a simpler time when Zionsville could only afford basic firefighting apparatus. Given what homes cost in Zionsville now – well, I just looked it up. They have three firehouses, each equipped with multiple fire and rescue vehicles.
But what a cool story! I can only imagine their thrill and surprise to find it. I would do exactly the same thing if I were those guys.
Nice .
In the mid 1960’s we had a gifted 1928 Chevrolet firetruck, compared to this it was tiny, it was rigged out as a pumper for rural use with fire ponds .
I have some really happy memories of riding in the back platform as it rattled down narrow back roads at 40 MPH or so .
The nozzle on the right hose reel appears to be a ‘fog nozzle’ .
This rig looks more like it needs careful polishing then waxing then restore or repair the gear as necessary .
I love old firetrucks too and they’re amazingly affordable but don’t fit in most garages =8-^ .
-Nate
Small world — my wife and I lived in Zionsville, IN for a short time after we were married in 1977. It was a small bedroom community then, and I assume that fire truck was in regular use at the time.