I bought a '52 Ford F-8 former fire truck and picked it up last week. It has 24K original miles and is from the Fox River Grove, IL fire department. It has been out of commission for many years and was bought in a dispersal auction a long time ago. The farmer who bought it never put it back into service and was parked outside. the paint is faded and with lots of surface rust, but it is a SOLID BODY.

I have contacted the Fox River Grove, IL fire department and they are excited to forward some information and pictures from its "Glory Days".

I've been restoring old farm tractors and small crawlers and wanted something to haul them around with to the tractor shows.

I discovered this truck for sale by a recovery operation who had towed it in a "clean-up" of the farm. Apparently, the old farmer who bought the truck in the dispersal auction years ago had died, and the farm estate was bought by the State of IL to convert into a wildlife preserve.

I'll see if I can start posting some pictures of my $196.50 bargain.

Ken McWilliams
Dayton, OH

 

I had to quickly get it off the trailer before the wife got home. I pulled a "wheelie" getting it removed from the trailer.

I have about another 2 months to finish the CASE 310 crawler that I'm restoring before starting on the truck. I've put the truck in the "que to be restored" which is the pole barn along with tractors a '64 Galaxie (with 390, blower, 4-speed, etc.), and 2 Lincoln Marks.

Ken McWilliams
Dayton, OH

 

Ken, I loved the wheelie picture! The truck looks like an awesome project vehicle and I'm a little envious. I'm sorta watching for a big truck with a dump bed for a sander and snow plow. But first, we need to have a little talk - just how do you propose to hide something that big from your wife??? I could really use some pointers

 

It's what works for me. I picked up a Lincoln Mark IV about 3 months ago (a former co-worker gave it to me, and I can't refuse free stuff, particularly with 460's, C-6 and 4-wheel disk brakes). I planned for several weeks ahead to choose a day when she worked on a Saturday morning. I hooked up the trailer, got it home, and put it in the barn before she got home. She didn't know for a couple of weeks, because she hardly ever goes to the barn. It was too late for her to stop it, but it didn't stop her protestations.

I've learned to never ask for her permission ahead of time - just apologize, and assure her it won't happen again.

At the company Christmas party a few weeks ago, one of my co-workers who knows how my wife dislikes my hobbies got in a few digs. Just after I bought the '52 Ford F-8 and told him about her reaction, he decided to raise the issue at the Christmas party. He told her that I had made such a deal on the truck from EBAY that I bought a locomotive too, and was preparing to store it in the field behind the barn because it was too big for the barn. Needless to say, she went ballistic. With friends like him, who needs enemies.

Ken McWilliams
Dayton, OH

 

Looks like a pretty solid truck allright. Hope you enjoy fixing it up!

 

Sam
Amazing, I went through the same thing, only for about
7 mo. hidden In my friends junk yard. The only problem you and
I face, is sharing with others,especially me with Big Job trucks.
Mine is a one owner,26,000 mile truck with all options even seat
belts. Wheels have never been off tires are 11-22.5 tubeless,
power steering 15speed with overdrive. How rare is that. Its
a 1956 T-800 yep 10wheeler the frame is perfect even writing
on it. Theres not a mark on the steering wheel air scoop on the
hood, tack, 12,000lb front end 34s eaton rears- door jam sticker
serviced 2500miles 1960! I to bought it in an auction they said
it was never registerd just used on a College ground. Being in
construction we had several trucks like yours F7&8s and prior
to 1957 there were absolutly no Ford 10wheelers around here until
they started to come in mainly 1958 T-950s up through the 60's.

I wish some one in this site will start a big truck forem the only
thing us guys share is the cab and the hood. The rest of these trucks are totally different! I think I,ll post that;
good luck sam

 

I think I heard when that thing hit the ground after the wheelie... and I live in California!!!!

Daryl