Fixing up the Ford

While waiting for the fire siren to howl, Tauranga Fire Brigade volunteer firefighters are in a men's shed tucked away at Judea with their tools.

Tauranga Fire Brigade volunteers Kris Wright and Paul Sykes with the 1950 Ford V8 fire engine. Photo by Cameron Avery.

About six of them are restoring one of the first motorised fire trucks – a 1950 Ford V8 fire engine that served in Tauranga from 1950 until the early 1970s. It has a story very similar to the childhood fictional book character ‘Flick' the fire engine.

The guys at Gisborne Transport Museum didn't want the fire engine. So the old truck was hauled up to the city about two years ago for Tauranga volunteers to get stuck in to preserving a bit of their organisation's local history.

Station officer Bruce Nilson says once restored, the fire engine will be used for promoting fire safety at community events. Or it could be used in the community for children's rides in the back of the truck – just like firefighters did in the 1950s.

'They'd be open to the elements, so if you were tearing up Cameron Rd on a cold winter's night, you'd get soaking wet and freezing. So I'm glad it's changed since then.”

But the boys only started pulling the wheels and back deck off last September. They've been busy – working full-time jobs and fighting fires in their spare time.

'The brakes and the engine's pretty much done,” says Bruce. 'Then there's the body work.”

But to carry on, they need a new men's shed. The lease on their man cave in Judea ends this month. So they're looking for something with a roof and somewhere close to the fire station. 'In case we get called out to a fire,” says Bruce.

The boys are funding the DIY project out of their own pockets. They haven't put a price on it yet. 'Most of the guys have been doing it for love,” says Bruce.

Anyone who can help with restoration, storage, funding or sponsorship, email Bruce at bruce.nilson@fire.org.nz

To view the progress, visit the 1950s Ford Fire Truck Rebuild Facebook page.

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