Fire Engines Photos

I seem to remember that at one time Prague operated a few Rapiers - I think there were around three. It was an excellent design, but Dennis were very late and tentative in their efforts to export them in Europe. There were two in Germany, and a handful in the Netherlands and Belgium. Probably only around a dozen in total. My favorite was a single unit built by Rosenbauer. That could have been a winning combination, but was a missed opportunity!

Added by Rob Johnson on 24 July 2022.

Rob is this it? Rosenbauer/Plastisol/Godiva combo



Added by Petros on 24 July 2022.

Yes indeed. Netherlands Plastisol body, Rosenbauer pump and equipment and a Dennis chassis and cab. In my view this combination could have been a World beater.

Added by Rob Johnson on 25 July 2022.

The following Mk2 Rapiers where exported 198/202/26/30-1/35-8/57/9/63-6/8-9/71-6/78-83/88-302/4/6-7/9-12/16-21/23-32/6/40-7/51/7-61/6/8-71/6-7/9/83-90/93, seems a fair number there, + some more went overseas for 2nd Users.

Added by Martyn West on 25 July 2022.

Do we know where they went? My sources sugggest most went to former Colonial or Commonwealth countries, while very few were sold in Europe.

Added by on 25 July 2022.

Yes I do know where they went, to Europe including former Eastern Bloc, 198/202/26/35-8/59/64-6/68-9/71-4/78-83/88-302/4/6-7/9-12/16-21/40-7/51/57-61/6/8-71/6-7/9, seems a fair number there.

Added by Martyn West on 27 July 2022.

9 X Mk2 to Prague.

Added by Martyn West on 27 July 2022.

Thanks. As you say, quite a few more than we already knew about, but far from the numbers European manufacturers were selling to British fire services, and who very quickly dominated the UK market. Because Dennis were a custom manufacturer, with low production volumes, they had real problems providing service and spare parts to these export markets. On the other hand, the European appliances sold into Britain were - and still are - all based on standard lorry chassis and have the same easily sourced components as them, which are readily available.

Added by Rob Johnson on 27 July 2022.

I recently discovered that a main reason Dennis were forced to stop building these was that they had a front axle which was purchased from Renault. When Renault stopped building any more trucks with this axle, it became unavailable. Their was no alternative except to re-engineer the whole front end to accommodate another design, which was not economically feasible.

Added by Rob Johnson on 08 August 2022.

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