Thanks! Very fond memories, especially as I was very involved in the first ever D series fire appliance deliveries, with eleven units to Gloucestershire in 1967. Because the Bedford TK was such a great fire appliance chassis, and had already been introduced six years earlier, getting traction with the D series was a bit of an uphill struggle in the early years. Eventually, Ford sold them into around thirty brigades in the UK, as well quite a few factory brigades - and exported them to fire services in Denmark, Belgium and New Zealand in quite large numbers.
A major reason for their success in the 70s was the 1317 chassis, after SVO shoehorned the 170 BHP Perkins V8 diesel into the 13 ton chassis, giving fire brigades the same power train as brands like Dennis and ERF - but at a lower total cost.
A major reason for their success in the 70s was the 1317 chassis, after SVO shoehorned the 170 BHP Perkins V8 diesel into the 13 ton chassis, giving fire brigades the same power train as brands like Dennis and ERF - but at a lower total cost.
Added by Rob Johnson on 31 March 2024.