This 1942 General Motors Corporation based fire truck was built by Howe Fire Apparatus Co. as a gift for its home city of Anderson, Indiana and was presented to the city by Howe on September 25th, 1942. It is based on a GMC ACR620 chassis and is powered by a physically massive and over-built big truck line 361 cubic inch straight six engine. Unlike the smaller passenger car stovebolts, the block on this engine is two castings- the bank of cylinders bolts to the crankcase instead of cast as one piece. This engine is coupled to a four speed manual transmission and a manually shifted Eaton two speed rear end. It has a Waterous 750 GPM pump mounted directly behind the driver’s seat and it originally had a bench seat directly above that, facing backwards for additional fire crewmembers to ride on. I haven’t tried to run the pump as I’m guessing engaging that while it is bone dry (not hooked up to a hydrant) is probably a major no-no. The odometer shows 30K miles and the truck engine starts up and runs like a new one. The body does have some rust in the bottom of the cab and doors, but it is nothing out of the ordinary for a truck of this vintage. The brakes will work if you put fluid in the reservoir, but as the wheel cylinders leak badly you can’t drive far without resorting to using the driveshaft mounted emergency brake. The gas tank is gummy so I’ve fitted a small lawnmower tank under the hood to run on for now that’ll get you about 3 miles down the lane before you have to fill it again and neither of the dual generators seem to be putting out any amps (one mostly because it isn’t hooked up…) and the fairly basic wiring will need to be totally replaced, although the gauges and -most importantly- the rotating red “cherry on top” cab light does work!
If this truck looks a tad familiar to you, it may be because you have seen it in the book “American Fire Engines Since 1900” by Walter McCall. Yes, it appears on page 206 in the bottom corner with a caption that reads:
“The Howe Fire Apparatus Co. built this triple combination pumper for its home city of Anderson, Ind. Built on a 1942 General Motors Truck (GMC) chassis, it features a canopy style cab and has a midship-mounted 750 gallon-per-minute pump. Note the booster reel(*) behind the cab and how low the headlights are mounted on this job.”
OK, so, not only is this truck undeniably cool, now it’s even famous! I’m not sure why it didn’t make the cover of the book because it is by far the best looking truck in the entire volume, but maybe that was an editorial decision. Now, I’m sure there are a few skeptics out there that will need even more proof that these two trucks are in fact one in the same. Oh, ye of little faith! OK, here’s the clincher: if you look carefully at the photograph in Wally’s book, you can see a small plaque just to the left of the Howe gauges and slightly above the water valves. This plaque was attached by Howe to this vehicle to commemorate the occasion in September 1942 when they presented this truck to the mayor of Anderson and it is still riveted to this very truck! It reads:
“September 25th.1942
Harry L. Baldwin
Mayor
Board of public safety
Fred Barr
Everett McDaniels
Charles Hartley
Frank Clem
Fire Chief”
How’s that for documentation? You would think that the city of Anderson, Indiana, a fire truck museum, someone with an interest in preserving this bit of that city’s history, or any smart person looking for a unique and rare vehicle would be all over this truck! I just hope for your sake Jay Leno doesn’t catch wind of this auction…..
Unfortunately, I have neither the space nor time that this project deserves so I’ve decided to sell it. Given its provenance, it deserves to be restored to its original glory, but as the new owner, you can do with it what you will. I briefly toyed with the idea of removing the box and fitting a gooseneck hitch, removing the pump and making that area behind the seat a sleeper cab and having the baddest tow vehicle in town, but I just couldn’t do it. Literally. That stuff is heavy!
It comes with a clear title, although the vehicle type listed on the title has it described as a “Tank”(!) True, GM WAS making tanks in 1942, but this is definitely not one of them. When I finally got around to transferring the title into my name years ago I sought to correct that to the more accurate description of “Truck” at the local DMV and brought in a few pictures to prove that it was indeed a rubber tired truck. After the gal behind the desk grudgingly signed off on the change, she sent the title off to the Secretary of State main office and I breathlessly waited for my new, corrected title. Suffice to say, five days later when I opened the letter containing the new title, it had been miraculously changed back to “TANK” and that’s how it remains. The VIN number is correct so I guess it’s cool, and it actually is after all a WWII era vehicle (note the original painted grille and headlight rings- that is typical of the VERY limited vehicle production allowed during the war -mostly hearse / ambulances, police cars and fire trucks- as the chromium used to plate trim was redirected to the production of vital weaponry). I guess you could say you’re getting two vehicles in one-a truck AND a tank- at least on paper.
Overall length of this truck is 24 feet with a 160 inch wheelbase. It stands100 inches tall to the top of the cherry, is 8 feet wide and, according to its “Tank” title it weighs ”- -“. Yep, it’s blank. I don’t know why, but it didn’t get its weight recorded. Perhaps Howe was supposed to do that after they got done loading it up with fire gear and never got around to it. Beats me. What I DO know is that it is fairly heavy. There is NO SHIPPING on this truck and you’ll need at least a tandem axle gooseneck trailer or a lowboy to haul it home, a Toyota and a tow strap won’t cut it. This vehicle must be paid for in full within 10 days from end of auction and picked up within 90 days.
If you wish you can come out and drive it around the field before bidding, but you can’t drive it on the road (two cops live in the neighborhood…).
*while the booster reel is missing, I do have 150 feet of 1 inch firehose that goes with the truck- wrap it tightly around a piece of 12 inch plastic pipe, mount it across the back of the cab and nobody will be the wiser!
Other Emergency & Fire Trucks for sale offered via internet auctions:
Mack CF-600 (1977)
For Sale by Township Fire Department, 1977 Mack CF-600 Tele Squrt Model B5042,
Ford E350 (2003)
2003 Ford E350 Taylor Made Type III Ambulance7. 3L Diesel Engine Vehicle Runs
Chevy Ambulance, Type III , Crestliner conversion, Diesel motor (2008)
2008 Chevy Ambulance Used type IIIUp for sale is a used type III ambulance made
International R-1856 (1955)
I am now selling this 1955 IHC model R-185, American Fire Apparatus 750gpm