Fire Engines Photos

Was this appliance bodywork build by Pyrene? I also had a fire appliance photos pose in similar style and background.

Added by Bomba Boy on 28 March 2010.

This is the same as picture 22710,Ford Pyrene.

Added by Bristol Bob on 28 March 2010.

How ever did a Ford engine, from Canada, wind up in a thoroughly British, and with unique looks, Pump Escape ?

Usually, the Canadian Car Industry is thought of as a mere import company of "The Big Three" (Ford, GMC and Chrysler) from Detroit, Michigan...

If there was any importing to be done - it would be more likely British Ford company, from Ford,USA - if you see what I mean.

Was it a 'V-8'; or a 'Straight 6'(6 cylinders in line) configured petrol engine ?

BTW, great detailed B&W photo here.

Added by Pat Rivers-Bowerman on 30 March 2010.

I worked at Ford of Britain and sold the first 11 D series appliances, which were supplied to Gloucestershire County Fire Brigade on the standard D series tilt cab chassis in 1967. The crew cab was integrated with the rear bodywork, with a rubber grommet around the hole where original cab's the back window had been, so the OIC could talk to the crew. Ugly, but cheap to build and quite practical!Because almost all UK brigades wanted petrol engines in those days, our Special Vehicle Operations team sourced a five litre straight six petrol engine from Ford of Canada, and this later became our standard offering for what turned in to our SVO fire engine chassis, along with other modifcations to meet JCDD specifications. Later D series were also supplied with turbo diesel six litre sixes and Perkins V8 diesel engines, which were also used at that time by Dodge, Dennis, ERF and - I believe - Shelvoke and Drewery. When the D series was replaced by the Cargo, Ford of Britain decided not to develop a fire engine chassis, due to the low volumes involved. If British brigades had been allowed to buy canopy crew cabs, instead of completely enclosed trucks, as was happening in the US and Canada at that time, the D series story in service to fiefighting in the UK might have equalled the C series story in North America, but it was not to be!

Added by Rob Johnson on 03 February 2012.

Never been a fan of Ford Trucks but this looks good

Added by Glenn Ramsden on 03 February 2012.

Ah - the Ford/Pyrene FFH 960K that was commonly known as "Trumpton" !!!!!

Added by Ian Moore on 03 February 2012.

Just to add, more than eight years after this pic was posted. This appliance is still in my possession (I got it in 1985) - it did get a respray about 25 years ago but is now in need of another when there are enough pennies in the bank. I'd like to get it to the Odiham Fire Show in 2019 so I'll see if I can find that pot of gold!


Added by Simon Rowley on 16 December 2018.

Good to know it is still around. This was a one off, so it is particularly important that it should be preserved.

Added by Rob Johnson on 20 December 2018.

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