The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot Big Bolts '48 Fire Truck advice

Ok, here is the deal. There is a small town in Eastern Oregon (Pop. around 25 people) and they own a 1948 Chevy fire truck that has been sitting out in a field for at least 30 years. The town MAY be willing to sell me the truck. I'm not into fire trucks per say, but this truck deserves to be saved.

The skinny. It's a 1.5 ton. I cannot find any rust on this truck, (except the water tank of which I have access to a replacement). It has a little over 16,000 miles. I don't know if the engine is seized or not. The truck is complete but of course needs restored. Oh, and when I say no rust, I mean not even surface rust. The body is straight, no dents. Floor pans great, etc...

The catch.......They might be willing to sell me the truck providing I restore it and only sell it back to them if I decide to ever sell it.......Oh, and the town councel has to approve the sale and I don't know the price yet.....

Like I said, I'm not really into fire trucks but I hate to see this truck just sit there and rot. I might be able to get this truck cheap. I just don't know if I want a fire truck!!!

If fire trucks are not your thing you should pass...especially if there are strings attached. Fire trucks take a lot of space and are expensive to restore...it needs to be a labor of love, if not you'll never finish it.

My 2 cents...

Mike B

Iron Clad,

I'll offer a different opinion, though Mike B. will probably agree with parts of it.

You'll never get better looks in your stovebolt than you do in a fire truck! Yeah, they're a little bit of a different beast than a pick-up, but that just makes it fun.

In my mind, the fact that the city wants you to agree to sell it back to them and is making you jump through hoops, well . . . yeah, it's a PITA, but it ALSO means that they value the truck. This will likely translate into a lot of support for your restoration, and good will from the town at large. You'd be surprised how supportive the fire department can be, if you get off on the right foot.

Our club had the chance to receive a truck in similar circumstances. The town sent a lawyer-written document with 20 or so "points" that they were demanding, should we receive the truck. Well, we sent it back, saying too many strings attached. We offered them a "buy-it-back" only clause, for the money we had in it, and they went ahead and gave us the truck! They even joined the club for a year.

Then, when interest in the truck within the club flagged, we offered it back to them, they refused, and we sold it to a local, private collector.

I'm of the mind that firetrucks are the most noble of trucks, representing man's service to man, and yes, they do deserve to be saved, moreso than most.

FWIW, I'm glad to help with your potential project!

-Michael

And as a student of human nature here is yet another take on the town's condition; the "they" that Mikestem refers to is most likely a single individual(pop. 25) who has designs on the truck himself...otherwise why would it matter? If you decide to go ahead insist on a cost plus basis for re-selling it to the town. If "they" kick then you can rest assured it is a single and same person objecting. That being the case I'd pass. Buyer beware.

Thanks guys for the advice. Oh by the way, I typed in the wrong year, I don't know what I was thinking....The fire truck is a 1943! I'm going to start another thread to clear this up.

If the town or the fire dept cared they would have NOT left it in a field to rot away for 30 years. Fire trucks do not cost more to restore than any other truck, if all the lights and siren have not been stolen. A siren can cost 300 to 500 for a good one. If it does not run and no brakes it is probably worth more as scrap that as a truck with current prices. Also is the body part of the cab or could the body be removed and the truck rebuilt as something else? They are getting more popular as you will find them with very low miles, garage kept and are not beat to death and worn like most old trucks you will find parked behind some barn. My Fire truck is a 1959 international and has less than 9000 miles on it. Just broke in. I would pass if strings are attached, sounds like they want you to do all the work for them. Check out your local craigs list or e-bay, you would be surprised what you can buy a running driveable fire truck for. Good luck. Bill

As a former small town alderman, I can tell you this: Go to the city council meeting. Walk in, offer them cash, straight up, no strings. Wait. They'll hem and haw a bit, but sooner or later you'll get a call.

With the state of the economy municipalities don't have on extra cent to put towards things other than essential items. Go to your council meeting and state your case, tell them what you will pay and what you plan to do. Sit back and listen. I went through this with a 34 Firetruck years ago. It took a couple months but we got the truck and saved it from misuse and general rotting away from being ignored. Most small fire departments are all volunteer and the prospect of having a toy truck gets their blood flowing. Once the reality of the costs, time to restore and take care of the truck the interest for someone else to do it sets in. I'd stay away from it if they give any conditions to the purchase. A simple exchange of money for the title is in your best interest and if not, keep looking. The sea has many fish in it. Good Luck Don

Dry lok and Don give sound advise...

I had a friend call me to let me know their local VFD had their old brush truck for sale. It had been sold years before to a man that turned the truck into a brick layers truck. He striped all of the fire equipment off and welded a mortar mixer on the back. When he died his wife gave it back to the VFD because the younger members wanted to restore it to it's former glory. After sitting in storage for over three years and no one taking a wrench to it the Chief said it had to go. They had good intentions, just lacked the time and money to make it happen. It's now on my to do list...

Mike B