this is the new addition to the eagle field museum fire trucks its a 1942 ford delivered to the USAAF in may 1943, from there it went to the bureau of indian affairs, then surplused out, has just under 7000 miles on it, we were using it at the eagle field drag races this weekend it was a big hit, all original except it has had a ranger transmission added, to give it 8 speeds, its owned by Mark Jones of the Napa area who is our head paramedic, he also owns the 42 gmc sitting next to it,










the hood number is its original military issued number

 

We won't hold it against him if he owns a GM truck, as long as he knows how to double clutch and not grind a pound of coffee with each shift. My boss when I was a punk kid had a '41 GMC and I had a hell of a time getting clean shifts. A couple years later I had an AA and finally got it down. At 63, I still fall apart on some downshifting with a heavy load. I guess you had to grow up with this stuff, Thanks for posting. Very cool trucks!!

 

i got to drive it once on sunday, that was a hoot, everybody giving a thumbs up, driving it back to the hangar, wasent a long trip but still fun.

 

Love the truck. Missing the driver side hub cover - are they available anywhere? Does all the fire equipment work? I don't feel quite so bad about my downshifting hearing that Gary has trouble at times.

 

everything works on it, the owner mark Jones is fussy about his equipment in a good way, he likes everything in good working order.

 

Always loved the rear hub covers. Stayed in an old motel in Twisp Wa years ago and there was a '38 fire truck out back. Burned to a crisp, sheet metal warped etc. It had 2 perfect srainless rear hub caps and I asked the motel owner if he'd sell them (ok, begged).... A hearty NO! "My son and I are gonna restore that truck". Nothing in that spot stirring today. No repops of that cap as there isn't enough interest in big trucks. For my '37 I found one at an antique auto store and another from Bob Selzam in New Jersey. Business name 'half ton fun'.....

 

you know it never crossed my mind to ask Mark if he has the hub dinger
or if it was missing when he bought the truck,

 

Thats a beautiful truck! Everything is all there and it's operational- very nice.

And I'm with you guys on the downshifting. I have no problem driving standard shift vehicles, but the double clutch ones are tricky.

 

That is a nice truck and looking at all the lights on it got me to pondering. Did those trucks have a higher output generator on them compared to a normal big truck? Would like to see more pics of the other trucks in the photo too.

 

Come to think of it, it would have to wouldn't it? It's a friggin' Christmas tree. My guess, is it probably has two large generators?

 

Ford offered 50-amp and 55-amp alternators 1942 up.

 

In addition to the very rare alternators (typically used on city buses) Ford also offered high amp generators. I found two later high output generators and run one on my 53 sedan. These are BIG, about two inches longer than the standard generators.

 

Interesting! They would have to take special regulators as well.

 

Yes, I have the matching regulators for the generators. They too are larger than normal regulators.

 

Thanks for posting these photos and the included information; I ran across this while researching another 1942 Ford fire truck.

I have found two completely different sheet-metal styles/body styles of 1942 Ford fire trucks; while this style is a true 1942 Ford, the others have 1941 sheet-metal; my theory is that the fire apparatus builders started with 1941 chassis, but did not title them until they were completed in 1942; also, there was a World War going on.

It would be interesting to see original titles to various fire trucks and see if they are labeled as the chassis maker or the fire apparatus maker.

Of course, this day and time, one could not hold the year-model labeling back a year or so due to the constantly changing emissions requirements --- which I think is a total crock.