History
*******Make not available in list this is a Genuine "DENNIS FIRE ENGINE"********
Thank you for making me an offer to enter your Show & Shine 2022 Competition
I own a 1952 Dennis F1 Fire Engine which I purchased in 1982 with the idea of restoring it to its original condition to enable children to have a ride in a real Fire Engine. It had been in-service for many years in the Goldfields town of Boulder.
It had seen better days and needed a lot of work to bring it to a safety standard.
The engine was removed, rebored, and cleaned up and the body was altered by removing the five hundred gallon water tank to allow an area where seats could be installed.
The hose reel was removed from between the rear seats to be relocated to the rear area over the pump to allow more seating.
I drew up a plan of how the work could be carried out and submitted the plans of the conversion to the W.A Traffic Department for their approval.
Two inspectors came out to my workshop in Osborne Park to inspect the vehicle.
They gave me directions on the “then” requirements of the Traffic Code to enable me to conduct alterations to be able to have the vehicle licensed.
Two of the main things required were to raise the body sides or fit a handrail 225mm high, to make the seating depth 600mm.
Because I wanted to carry children, I had to make two doors to the rear area with seat belts for all passengers.
(Fire engines in 1953 did not have doors, just a side handrail, and no seat belts)
One of the problems I had was, that the whole body had been painted with red and black house paint, all paint had to be removed.
The main body was aluminium sheet on a wooden frame, and the mudguards and the front bulkhead were Steel.
I started work by removing the paint and making the seat frames in the rear compartment.
Manufacturing two doors for the rear area.
Because of my profession as a Commercial Building Contractor, I did not have much time to work on the Fire Engine It was slowly pushed to the rear of the workshop and covered in dust.
After 23 years my company changed workshop and the Fire Engine had to be moved to a new location in Osborne Park.
I was determined to carry out some more restoration work on the Dennis Fire Engine.
I re-engaged with the W.A, Traffic Department to check changes that may have come about over the Past 23 Years.
The W.A. Traffic Department sent two inspectors to inspect the Fire Engine for 2005 requirements.
They informed me the goal post had changed since 1982.
There was no way I could have seats in the rear compartment because of a law covering open buses or open Trucks and Utes carrying passengers.
They suggested if I want to license the vehicle, I will have to return it to the original seating as it was in 1982 this I agreed to make it three seats across the front and four seats in the second row.
The bodywork was completed with a cover over the rear seating area where the water tank was removed.
A row of four seats in the rear was constructed and the body was undercoated with two-pack undercoat grey.
Once again, the Dennis Fire engine was pushed to the rear of the workshop and covered in dust.
All this time I did however run the engine periodically.
In 2013 I moved the Dennis Fire Engine to my home Garage.
By this time, the W.A. Traffic Department informed me they had moved the Goalpost again allowing open vehicles providing they met the seating standards required could now apply for a full license.
The time has stretched over the years from what my original time frame.
I must admit I have had to improvise many times to make it all come together as it is now
I would not like to add up the time and money spent working on a dream of 39 years ago.
I'm now 87 and can enjoy it with my 4 children, 11 grandchildren, and 3 great-grandchildren.
Modifications
Newer seating, movement of hose real, and automatic step on the passenger side and rear doors and seatbelts.
