This Mini-Tonka "Fire Fighter" No. 72 is based on the Kaiser Gladiator. It's about 10 inches long, and has dual rear wheels. A front view (140K JPEG) reveals the early (1962-69) style grille, and a top view (130K JPEG) shows the molded plastic hose detail. The ladder is metal. The truck was also available in Fire Department Set No. 103 (70K JPEG).
A 1953 Willys panel delivery is seen in this photo, in service in 1958 at a four-alarm blaze not far from the Kaiser-Willys Parkway Plant in Toledo, Ohio.
Actually, that fire is fiction and this picture is a photo I took of the 1/25-scale model of the panel delivery in the colors of the Toledo Fire Department, produced by Liberty Classics, combined with a background photo.
Marx turned its pressed-steel Willys Jeep truck into a fire department runabout by simply adding a red light and "VFD" decals. Reproductions of the V.F.D. decal are available to help complete a nice restoration like this one.
Surprisingly, this Japanese tinplate FC-170 is the only production toy I have run across, of the popular Forward Control Fire Trucks built by many manufacturers. The detailed hose compartment in a rear view (50K JPEG) is a good example of tinplate lithography. The truck is about 7 inches long, and features rotating beacon and operating bell. See also a side view (40K JPEG).
Bob Bateman is a Land Rover enthusiast in the UK, who is aware of the large number of Jeep FC fire engines in North America. He converted a Corgi diecast FC model into a fire engine by adding a Dinky Toy Land Rover rear body, and sent the photo to The FC Connection.
Jarek Skonieczny built this custom model using primarily the Hot Wheels 1/64-scale FC, as part of a 1-week custom challenge in the Diecast Jeep Collectors group on Facebook in 2023. The idea was a fire truck version of the M677 military FC crew cab -- which is a great idea.
See also a rear view (120K JPEG), a mockup assembly (200K JPEG) and the painted parts (200K JPEG).
Uli Slovig in Germany kitbashed this HO-scale version using the EKO 1/87 FC pickup model with a new bed built from plastic sheet. The wheels are from a Roco HO Jeep. See also the right side (60K JPEG). Photos courtesy 1/87 Vehicle Club.
The Willys Station Wagon was popular with European fire brigades, and this tiny 1/87-scale rendition is one version of the model from Eko Toys in Spain. See also a front view (100K JPEG) and the base (80K JPEG).
See also a Station Wagon in 1/43-scale from Atlas Editions, based on The Fire Truck in the Tintin Book.
Thanks to J-C Guerry and to Uli Slovig of Miniworlds. -- Derek Redmond
See more Fire Service Jeep Toys.
Also on CJ3B.info, see some some full-size Jeep Fire Trucks.
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