1937 Ford Van Pelt Fire Truck Fire Truck

1937 Ford Van Pelt Fire Engine The Town of Fairfax, California, contracted to purchase this finished fire engine from P.E. Van Pelt, Inc. on January 14, 1937. P.E. Van Pelt Inc. purchased the Ford V-8 chassis, #18-3520605, with a Ford Flathead V-8, 85hp engine on February 14, 1937, for $951.93. The original owner was the Town of Fairfax, California. This truck was built at the original P.E. Van Pelt factory, 160 North 3rd Avenue, Oakdale, California. On June 15, 1937, P.E. Van Pelt fire sales agent Reverend Duane B. Bardell delivered the completed Van Pelt fire engine, serial # 179, for $4,532.25 to the Town of Fairfax. This truck has a rotary booster gear pump driven by a PTO so you can drive and pump at the same time. The main pump is a 500 GPM Hale model ZL3 midship pump, #7422, two (2) stage centrifugal which is not connected to the booster tank and a 100 GPM Hale model H booster pump. The booster tank can only be pumped from the booster pump. There is also a 200-gallon water tank installed on this truck. All fittings on the truck are national standard thread. The truck weighs 8000 pounds. It is 18 feet, six (6) inches long, seven (7) foot four (4) inches wide and is six (6) foot eight (8) inches high. The Town of Fairfax is in the San Francisco Bay area, in Central Marin County. San Francisco is located south of Fairfax and Point Reyes National Seashore is to the west of the Town of Fairfax. This truck was used as first line service from 1937 thru 1957. It was then used as a reserve truck for seven (7) more years, 1964, and was replaced with a new GMC Van Pelt engine. The truck was used to fight many structures and wildfires during its time. In 1946 the motor was replaced with a 1946 Mercury flathead V-8, 100hp. The Town of Fairfax sent the truck to a Ford dealer for an engine swap as the original 85 hp flathead was worn out from operating on the steep terrain of the town streets. The motor is equipped with a four (4) speed transmission and an Eaton two (2) speed rear end (direct and overdrive). The Town of Fairfax sold the truck in 1964 to the owner of Port Sonoma Marina. The truck was repainted and lettered with the marina name. The owner of the marina was going to use the truck to provide fire protection for his marina until he found out what the liability insurance would cost. In the 1970’s, the truck was sold to its third owner, Ed Rominger from Livermore, California, who owned the truck until 2011. While Ed had this truck, he participated in several shows and parades during this time. The truck was sold to its fourth owner, Lee and MaryAnn Smith of Wanaque, New Jersey, in September 2011. The truck was then shipped across the country from California to New Jersey. A frame on restoration was started immediately on its arrival to New Jersey. In 2023 Lee and MaryAnn Smith sold the truck to its fifth owner, Tod A. Mumpire, Salem, Ohio. The truck had issues with the motor and had sat for two (2) years without work being done to repair or replace the motor. Once it arrived in Salem, Ohio, the motor was immediately reviewed. There was a loud pounding sound coming from the motor once it was revved up. It was then determined that the motor needed to be removed and rebuilt. Once the rebuild was completed, the motor was increased to 149hp. This extra horsepower will aid the truck in maneuvering in modern traffic and ensure its longevity for many years to come. In 2024 the truck undertook another restoration. This restoration included re-lettering the truck back to its original “Fairfax” on the hood, new tires, chroming of the nose, bell, grab bars, windshield, and the housing and face of the CAM siren. The truck has also been repainted with PPG paint and clear coat. During this restoration, the voltage of the truck has been converted from 6v to 12v. This will allow the truck to have working headlights, turn signals, and running lights.