timtimtimajim
Elite Explorer
- Joined
- May 29, 2014
- Messages
- 732
- Reaction score
- 478
- City, State
- Colorado Springs, CO
- Year, Model & Trim Level
- 1993 Explorer Sport
Several of my friends are firefighters and my “boss” is a retired fire chaplain. Most of them have classic/vintage fire trucks. We get together to rescue and work on these old trucks. A lot of times it’s so we can all decompress from the stresses of the day, especially the firefighters who deal with so much every time they’re on shift. It’s a lot of fun to be around these old trucks especially because the trucks all have very cool histories and stories. For a lot of the guys I would almost call it an obsession. Always on the hunt for another truck or vintage parts. That obsession is definitely contagious. Because now I have my own truck.
This is my 1937 International D-30 pumper. This truck was bought brand new by Littleton, Colorado VFD. It spent nearly 40 years in service at Littleton VFD, which would later become part of Denver South Metro. A friend of ours rescued this truck out of a barn near Parker, CO. It’s believed it spent most of its retirement in this barn. Our friend was trying to sell it back to Denver South Metro to be restored for a parade and funeral procession truck. After many meetings they chose not to purchase the truck. He sat on the truck for a while trying to sell it but didn’t really get any bites. So, it’s mine now!
Plan is to restore this truck to “used” condition. I don’t want to go full showroom clean restoration. I just want it in better condition than what it is right now. Fortunately our friend stripped down a 1938 D-30 flatbed to get most of the needed parts. Between the two trucks I have several duplicate parts. Not so easy finding parts for trucks this old. Makes finding parts for 30 year old Explorers seem easy!
We also have a huge pile of pictures and history on this truck. As I make progress and as the pictures find their way to me I’ll post here. Here’s one from the late 40’s or early 50’s outside Littleton fire. My D-30 is on the far left.
Need to get the motor and trans bolted into the chassis and get it running. Once it’s running all of the equipment will get stripped off so it can be painted. Super excited to be working on this piece of history.
This is my 1937 International D-30 pumper. This truck was bought brand new by Littleton, Colorado VFD. It spent nearly 40 years in service at Littleton VFD, which would later become part of Denver South Metro. A friend of ours rescued this truck out of a barn near Parker, CO. It’s believed it spent most of its retirement in this barn. Our friend was trying to sell it back to Denver South Metro to be restored for a parade and funeral procession truck. After many meetings they chose not to purchase the truck. He sat on the truck for a while trying to sell it but didn’t really get any bites. So, it’s mine now!
Plan is to restore this truck to “used” condition. I don’t want to go full showroom clean restoration. I just want it in better condition than what it is right now. Fortunately our friend stripped down a 1938 D-30 flatbed to get most of the needed parts. Between the two trucks I have several duplicate parts. Not so easy finding parts for trucks this old. Makes finding parts for 30 year old Explorers seem easy!
We also have a huge pile of pictures and history on this truck. As I make progress and as the pictures find their way to me I’ll post here. Here’s one from the late 40’s or early 50’s outside Littleton fire. My D-30 is on the far left.
Need to get the motor and trans bolted into the chassis and get it running. Once it’s running all of the equipment will get stripped off so it can be painted. Super excited to be working on this piece of history.
