Split screen single cab fire truck

[jolas]

This is a project which is nearing completion, I'm just going to search for, and, upload pics for now and edit the thread later.

The chassis/cab is a 1975 Fleetline model.

This pickup started out its second life with me as a farm type truck. It came to me as a shell only with no motor, interior, papers, electricals, etc, etc. The previous owner had blanked off the indicators on the front and had fitted earlier tail lights to make it look older I guess. I kept it like this and simply added the wooden dropgates.



Arrival at B&C Auto in Stellenbosch for painting - the rear locker section and housing for the tank, pump and hose reel almost complete and fitted

[Chardivw]

Cant wait! Mayb this is a stupid question but Is it gonna be red.?

[jolas]

Cant wait! Mayb this is a stupid question but Is it gonna be red.?

hehehe !!!

[jolas]

Why a fire truck - I worked for the Durban Metro Fire and Emergency Services for 10 years, when we moved to the Western Cape in 2003 I started searching in earnest for my own fire engine (pre marital agreement, thanks Wendy ), but could'nt find one. And after the second bush fire that swept through our smallholding in Klapmuts, I decided to convert my split screen single cab "Farouska" into a proper little fire truck. (I had in the meantime purchased a tank and pump combo which was temporarily fitted to my '74 bay window single cab).





My friend Pieter Hamersma, the blacksmith, was tasked with building the frame and "box" section at the rear to house the pump and water tank.

[jolas]

The 4 locker doors were salvaged off a scrap Bedford fire track, as were the ladder brackets. The aluminium panels were also taken off the Bedford and cut to size and then fitted to the rear "box" which was built by Pieter.
Pieter also separated the Pump and hose reel from the top of the tank and fitted both to a separate mounting which was fitted to the floor of the loadbed - thus vastly reducing the overall height of the appliance in general

[jolas]

[jolas]

(Bedford ended up with the George Museum guys)

[jolas]

[sean]

(Bedford ended up with the George Museum guys)

That's a sorry excuse boy, that thing was gutted for spares. Shame, poor Bedford.

[jolas]

(Bedford ended up with the George Museum guys)

That's a sorry excuse boy, that thing was gutted for spares. Shame, poor Bedford.

get lost man, the thing was rotten !!!! Spares from the Bedford for my project were 4 locker doors and 2 ladder brackets. I sold the the water tank and the pump, and all the brass goodies were already stripped by scavengers in Cape Town.
Unfortunately none of the mechanical stuff was compatible with the Kombi (thank God, Lucas electrics, etc sies !)

Another Bedford fire truck in George lives on now with this wreck's mechanicals - ok boy !!!!

Please go and cause trouble on the Land Rover forums and leave my thread alone thank you !!!!!!

[jolas]

Door rubbers, window seals, ordered from Wolfsburg West, very happy with the quality



Christo's favourite job ....







Seats scored from fig at at previous visit to Parys - thanks Christian

[jolas]

And then it was put into early "service" for a few days when veld fires ripped though our area - again.

[jolas]

There were'nt many reference pics available for what I had in mind with this project. Most of the "factory" VW fire appliances were busses, panelvans or single cabs with ladders or "cherry pickers".
I have no doubt that over the years and around the world, various municipalities, districts, boroughs, etc would have done similar conversions to suit their requirments at the time.
But I tried to keep the equipment, and ancillary bits and bobs as "authentic" as possible. Yes there might be a siren from the USA on an early German firetruck which might not be correct, but so be it. The fibre-glass water tank and Honda pump will have to stay - but they are pretty well hidden.
Collecting the bits and bobs has taken a few years, and obtaining those items was a lot of fun as well. I have many people to thank for helping me out along the way with storage, transport, etc.

[Chardivw]

This is very awesome. Love it. Congrats on a very cool build

[jolas]

Bosch beacon came with the Bedford fire truck, it was lying in a crate in one of the lockers (there were also 4 kittens inside that wreck, but thats another story) - and the spotlight for R50 at a second hand tractor yard (but originally off a fire truck)



Horns from a junk shop in Somerset West, had them powdercoated and the old hooter from a previous George Car show



Wooden extending ladder is from Durban but originally from a forestry fire station down the South Coast in KZN
This thing weighs a ton and had to stay in Durban for a year or so. Thanks to Rob Wiles and Stutz (Richard) for storage
and help getting it to the Western Cape and huge thanks to my friends in Durbs for sourcing it for me