Antique Fire Engines / Trucks. Cool to the second power

1937 Dennis Light Brigade used until 1969, now used as a playground fire engine. Well, sad to see it wasn't kept up, but I bet the kids think it's awesome!

1940 American LaFrance 100' Ladder Model JOX600 Series

It was originally bound for the Singapore Fire Brigade when Pearl Harbour was bombed on 7 Dec 1941. The ship put in at Fremantle Harbour and fearing Singapore may fall to the enemy, was off-loaded and commandeered by the War Dept.

Totally restored to near new condition by the members of the Western Australia Fire Brigades Historical Museum. It still has its original compliment of ground ladders and equipment and is surprisingly quick on the road.

It can be viewed at the Old No 1 City Fire Station Museum im Murray St Perth

1933 Datsun originally based in Kawasaki, a suburb of Tokyo, where it stayed in service until 1960.

In 1962 it was purchased by a sailor who was based in Yokohama, during 1962 it was handed to Nihon Kikai Limited (fire engine manufacturers) where it was restored.

In 1964 it was shipped to California, when the sailor was stationed in San Francisco. In 1967 it was moved to New York, where it stayed until his retirement in 1976.

By 1987 it was moved to Pennsylvania, but it was now in need of major restoration. In 2002 this finally happened. Sold in 2005 to a private collector

Thunderguts our 1948 Leyland Merryweather TTL

Dennis Dart fire appliance New Zealand

http://www.fire-engine-photos.com/ also see: http://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2008/07/vintage-fire-truck-photo-set-on-flikr.html

World's Fastest Indian, 205.67 mph. Damn good movie

Cut right to the 17 second mark, (skip the ratings nonsense)



"Offerings to the god of speed" I dig that.

Think you have made concessions to speed before? Burt was able to sit 3/8" lower because of these rocker arm divots.
http://hooptyrides.blogspot.com/2006/08/gale-gearhead-banks-accidently.html

Burt set the under-1000cc world record, 183.586 mph (295.453 km/h), at Bonneville, 26 August 1967, on his 1920 Indian Scout. This record still stands today.
Look over http://www.indianmotorbikes.com/features/munro/munro.htm for more tidbits like these;
He used an old spoke for a micrometer
He made two new con rods from DC6 B propeller
He cast parts in old tins and pistons in holes in the sand at the local beach! He built his own four-cam design to replace the standard two-cam system and converted to overhead valves.
He made his own cylinder barrels, flywheels, pistons, cams and followers and lubrication system.
He effectively hand-carved his con-rods from a Caterpillar tractor axle, and hardened and tempered them to 143 tons tensile strength.
He built a seventeen plate, thousand pound pressure clutch and used a triple chain drive.
Burt still held the Australian sidecar record, as-late as 1977.