Vehicle Description
This model AA Fire truck was bought new in 1930 for a fire truck in
South Dakota. Its had a frame-off restoration completed by Solid
Gold classics in which they made a new flat bed and used the
original canisters and original Federal Enterprises, Inc., light
and siren model #C6BR and all its original tools, jack, hand crank,
tire chains and hoses. Its mounted on new Firestone tires 6.50x20
This model AA Fire Truck was one of the first chemical and foam
vessels built for fighting gas fires in South Dakota. This Model AA
Ford Fire Truck is powered by the same 201-cubic-inch (3.3 L)
engine I4 engine that the Model A Ford used. The engine produced a
maximum of forty horsepower at 2,200 rpm. The engine featured an
up-draft carburetor, six-volt generator, 2-blade fan, mechanical
water pump, mechanical oil pump, electric starter and four-row
radiator. All of these features were identical to the Model A Ford
except the radiator. The engine could also be crank started if
necessary by a hand crank that is inserted through a hole in the
radiator shell. The Model AA was based on a chassis that was
similar in design to the Model A Ford, except it was substantially
larger and heavier to accommodate the work this truck was designed
for. Model AA Ford has a four-speed manual gearbox. The
transmission is geared lower than the Model A Ford to provide more
power to move a loaded truck. This lower gearing reduced the top
speed of the truck when compared to the Model A Ford. The
transmission also featured a lock-out on the shift knob for reverse
that required a lever to be activated with the thumb so reverse
could be engaged. This was done to prevent accidental engagement of
reverse while the truck was in motion. Early trucks had a worm gear
rear-end that limited the top speed of the truck. That rear-end was
replaced by a Ring and Pinion rear-end Differential to improve the
speed of the truck. Later models were fitted with braces on the
outer casing of the rear-end to provide addition