APPARATUS CHASSIS SPECIAL - FORD "C" SERIES

Wakefield Squad 1 - 1981 Marion (Retired)

Previously, special segments here have focused on local fire apparatus manufacturers of the past. However, recently after following a few posts on the MAFT Facebook page, it occurred to me that the Fire Service is slowly, but surely, losing a historic workhorse in the world of Fire Apparatus. The Ford "C" Series is arguably the most prolific commercial chassis ever used in apparatus manufacturing. Nearly every apparatus company made trucks on this chassis, from its origin in 1957 to its final days in 1990. Maxim, FMC, Bean, Farrar, Continental, Grumman, Pierce, and E-One just to name a few utilized this cost effective rig to produce dependable fire apparatus, and in the case of Thibault in Canada, they bought the rights to develop this chassis as a "custom" built truck under their logo. The chassis was designed by Ford, and built by Budd Company exclusively for Ford....with one exception. Mack Trucks purchased the rights to develop the same dimensional cab and built it themselves calling it the Mack "N" series. Departments coast-to-coast, including large cities such as Boston, Chicago and Washington D.C. relied on the Ford C-series trucks to get the job done. Here is a sampling of Ford C photos I have taken.

Abington Engine 3 (Retired) - 1980 Continental

Acton Engine 27 (Retired) - 1988 E-One

Acushnet Engine 4 (Retired) - 1976 Continental

Beverly Engine 2 (Retired) - 1986 E-One

Boston Engine 54 (Retired) - 1985 E-One

Boston Dive Rescue (Retired) - 1987 E-One

Boylston Engine 1 - 1989 E-One

Brimfield Engine 1 (Retired) - 1974 Worcester

Brookfield Engine 1 - 1988 Grumman

Carver Engine 4 (Retired) - 1980 Farrar

Charlestown, RI Engine 812 (Retired) - 1982 FMC

Charlestown, RI Engine 816 - 1985 E-One

Cheshire Engine 1 (Retired) - 1986 Pierce

Chesterfield Tanker 2 (Retired) - 1987 Dept. Built

Dennis Engine 2 {107} (Retired) - 1981 E-One

Dighton Engine 1 (Retired) - 1982 Farrar

Dunns Corners, RI Engine 4 (Retired) - 1984 E-One

East Brookfield Engine 1 (Retired) - 1986 Maxim

Eastham Engine 2 (Retired) - 1986 E-One

Edgartown Engine 221 (Retired) - 1985 E-One

Edgartown Engine 224 - 1989 E-One

Exeter, RI District 2 Engine 12 (Retired) - 1979 FMC

Fairhaven Engine 2 - 1983 Ranger

Fall River Engine 29 (Retired) - 1986 Pierce

Falmouth Engine 20 (Retired) - 1987 E-One

Falmouth Rescue 31 (Retired) - 1987 EVF

Florida Engine 2 (Retired) - 1986 E-One

Foster, RI {Moosup Valley} Tanker 21 (Retired) - 1990 American Eagle

Gardner Engine 4 {Squirt} (Retired) - 1980 E-One

Gosnold {Cuttyhunk} Engine 1 - 1982 E-One

Grafton Brush 1 - 1982 Pierce (former New Castle, NH)

Groton Engine 5 (Retired) - 1983 Pierce

Hanover Engine 6 (Retired) - 1987 E-One

Hatfield Engine 2 - 1989 KME

Hope Valley-Wyoming {Hopkinton}, RI - 1981 Pierce

Hubbardston Engine 3 (Retired) - 1987 KME

Hudson Engine 3 (Retired) - 1987 E-One

Kingston Engine 3 (Retired) - 1987 E-One (Former Wayland)

Leominster Snorkel 1(Retired) - 1973 Pierce/Snorkel

Little Compton, RI Engine 2 (Retired) - 1984 E-One

Lynnfield Engine 4 - 1984 E-One

Marion Engine 4 (Retired) - 1984 E-One

Methuen Engine 2 (Retired) - 1985 Pirsch

Middletown, RI Engine 38 (Retired) - 1983 Ranger

Millbury Rescue 1 (Retired) - 1981 E-One

New Ashford Engine 2 (Retired) - 1968 American LaFrance

New Bedford Engine 26 (Retired) - 1987 Maxim

Newbury Engine 10 (Retired) - 1989 FMC

Newport Engine 4 (Retired) - 1980 E-One

Northborough Engine 1 (Retired) - 1989 E-One

Onset Squad 3 (Retired) - 1984 Farrar

Plymouth Engine 6 (Retired) - 1986 Farrar

Quincy Rescue 1 (Retired) - 1987 Saulsbury

Rehoboth Engine 5 (Retired) - 1985 E-One

Richmond, RI Engine 814 (Retired) - 1979 FTI

Richmond, RI Engine 814 (Retired) - 1984 E-One

Rockland Engine 4 (Retired) - 1988 E-One

Rockport Engine 3 (Retired) - 1986 FMC

Royalston Engine 1 (Retired) - 1979 FMC

Rutland Rescue 1 (Retired) - 1988 Farrar

Scituate Engine 6 (Retired) - 1989 E-One

Shelburne Falls Engine 2 (Retired) - 1970 ??

Shrewsbury Engine 4 (Retired) - 1988 KME

Shutesbury Engine 1 (Retired) - 1987 E-One

Somerset Engine 2 (Retired) - 1986 E-One

Sterling Rescue 1 (Retired) - 1986 Saulsbury

Stow Rescue 1 (Retired) - 1986 Farrar

Sturbridge Engine 1 (Retired) - 1981 Maxim

Sudbury Engine 1 (Retired) - 1987 E-One

Sutton Engine 1 (Retired) - 1987 FMC

Sutton Engine 2 (Retired) - 1987 FMC

Sutton Engine 3 (Retired) - 1987 FMC

Templeton Engine 4 (Retired) - 1982 E-One

Townsend Rescue 1 (Retired) - 1981 E-One (Former Walpole E-4)

Tyngsborough Engine 7 (Retired) - 1990 FMC

Tyringham Engine 4 (Retired) - 1975 Pierce

Waltham Engine 9 (Retired) - 1978 E-One

Waltham Engine 9 (Retired) - 1983 E-One (Former Weston E-4 Cab)

Wareham Engine 3 (Retired) - 1988 E-One

Watch Hill, RI Engine 103 (Retired) - 1985 FMC

Wayland Engine 4 (Retired) - 1983 E-One

West Greenwich, RI Squad 25 (Retired) - 1979 Saulsbury

West Tisbury Engine 722 (Retired) - 1988 Maxim

West Warwick, RI Engine 7 (Retired) - 1985 E-One

Westford Engine 2 (Retired) - 1984 Farrar

Westford Engine 6 (Retired) - 1982 Pierce

Westport Engine 5 (Retired) - 1978 Pierce (Former Dartmouth D1)

Windsor Engine 2 (Retired) - 1986 Middlesex

Wrentham Engine 2 (Retired) - 1985 E-One