Fire Engines Photos

A very interesting Front-Mount Pump, mid-engined design, hidden behind the grille.

Thanks, Liam; for showing us.

Regards, from Canada,
Pat_R-B

Added by Pat Rivers-Bowerman on 14 January 2010.

Originally launched at the Interfire Exhibition,Olympia,London,in 1975 by Chubb Fire Security Ltd and Loughborough Consultants Ltd,a company set up by Loughborough University of Technology,in collaboration with the Merseyside Fire Brigade.
This particular appliance(reg-OYH 417R)photographed at the Fire Service College at Morton-In-Marsh in the County of Glostershire,England is from 1976 and was actually one of I beleave only 13 ever built by Chubb on a Boughton'Scorpio'high performance chassis.The appliance was a design exersize and was of a simular design to the much older Leyland'Firemaster'appliance with a front mounted pump.
Great picture Liam,thanks for sharing it with us.

Added by Pete Matten on 14 January 2010.

Once upon a time, I believed all future fire engines would look like this - a sort of Logan's Run but with fire engines! Because as a boy, and when I first clapped eyes on one of these, I really thought they were out of this world!!! Now they remind me of toy bin wagons.

I think the most interesting changes that occur over the years are one's perceptions and not design.

Added by Yelp Bullhorn on 15 January 2010.

This vehicle seemed to have a couple of good ideas,like all the ladders and hoses being accessible from the ground and the rear engine giving a quiet cab,just wondered why it didn't catch on.Be interesting to hear any comments from people who have used it.

Added by Roger Mason on 17 January 2010.

Too complicated and too expensive Roger. A great machine like the Firemaster...shame it didnt catch on

Added by Barrie Green on 17 January 2010.

Interestingly, although Merseyside FB were heavily involved in the development of the Pacesetter, they never accepted it and it certainly never went operational with the brigade.

Added by Andy Daley on 28 January 2010.

The front mounted pump reminds me of Leyland's "Firemaster" appliances, once again a good idea that never caught on.

Added by Bob James on 13 June 2010.

i think the pacesetters are funky machines and should have caught on, i think at the time they were the glimpse of the future for some people, even though i wasn't even born to see them

Added by Luc Galloway on 13 June 2010.

Problem being that you have to have about the third of the fire engine market to make production viable
Look at the present situation, about three chassis manufactures and about the same number of British body builders. All very similar designs.....it would take a very brave company to build something revolutionary like the Firemaster or Pacesetter today

Added by Barrie Green on 13 June 2010.

I purchased this Pacesetter OYH 417 R from the Fire Service College in 1994. It was a great vehicle to drive and also made a great sound. It was fittered with a Perkins 640 V8 about 210BHP. When I got it from Fire service College it had covered about 8000 miles only but had had a hard life. The big problem was the auto gearbox, but that was fixed with a new box. It was ahead of its time ie. push button PTO engagement, bus type crew door, power streering, air operated braking system etc.
The disadvantages were engine access and the lack of locker space combined with a low weight capacity, but the main problem was that front mounted pump just too different for 1975.

Added by David Pickard on 24 November 2011.

Just like the ill-fated Firemaster, this was an answer to a question no-one was asking. Leyland were the first, Chubb the second, and the Australian Austral was the third - but it had a rear or center mounted pump and they at least switched quickly to a more sensible four door cab.

Added by Rob Johnson on 20 July 2012.

I can see I'm a few years late on this discussion, however if any one is still looking at this site, I sold 5 of the 13 pacesetters built, to the South Australian Fire Brigade, obviously in Australia. As the then State Manager of Chubb Fire, I received a black and white cutaway sketch of the Pacesetter, courtesy of Chubb Fire- U.K.. For interest, I showed this sketch to the then Chief officer of the Fire Brigade, which ultimately led to an order for 5 Pacesetters (3 standard pumpers, and 2 with wheeled escapes mounted). Although the design was well accepted, especially for crew comfort, & with the B.A. sets set into the seat backs, was very convenient, however with Australia still using brass and bronze fittings and standpipes etc. the units finished up overloaded which of course effected performance. Other than the first Merseyside liveried prototype, ours were the first appliances built, and unfortunately Quality control was a major issue. There is however at least one of these still in existence in Queensland, Australia. I believe the remaining 8 Pacesetters were sold to South Africa. I hope this is of interest to someone. The black and white sketch has just been downloaded on this sight, but is yet to be approved.


Added by Trevor Modistach on 13 January 2015.

What were the Wheelbase, width & height of the Pacesetter?


Added by Bill Edwards on 16 December 2016.

Hello Bill, I don't think I have the dimensions you were after, but I will delve into my literature on the Pacesetters and let you know.
Regards, Trevor

Added by Trevor Modistach on 20 December 2016.

G'day Bill, Sorry but I don't have those dimensions

Cheers, Trevor

Added by Trevor Modistach on 01 January 2017.

I own the prototype of this vehicle. It’s still running and now is used a a mobile sound system at festivals and events. Check out Onfire and Rescued on facebook.

Added by Nick Terrific on 19 September 2022.

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