Jeep Forward Control cab-over-engine trucks built by Kaiser-Willys from 1957-65 were the basis for a number of fire apparatus conversions around the world, quite different from those seen in North America.
Most Forward Control fire engines in Europe were fully enclosed apparatus, with bodies supplied by various coach builders in Europe, on imported Jeep cab and chassis units.
This example from Sittendorf, Austria is courtesy of Das große Buch der Feuerwehr-Oldtimer in Österreich ("The Big Book of Oldtime Fire Apparatus in Austria") by Günther Graber und Erwin Hauke (1990). The FC-170 had a box added to the rear, with crew cabin, storage and pump compartment.
A different way of achieving a similar configuration is seen in a pair of FC-150s from coachbuilder Peter Reitbauer (130K JPEG) in Stanz, Austria. A winter photo of one of them shows suction hose on the roof, and a canvas covering snapped over the open rear compartment for the gas-powered pump. Not much was going to stop this truck with its chains and winch, from protecting this area at the eastern edge of the Austrian Alps.
This unusual photo shows the same truck being consecrated by a clergyman as it goes into service with the Freiwilliger Feuerwehr ("Volunteer Fire Brigade") in Edelsdorf in 1962. The FC-150 is serial number 65548-25213.
The other FC-150 (left) was nearly identical, but equipped with a plow instead of a winch. It was used in the village of Fischbach, about 20 minutes east of Edelsdorf.
The value of tire chains and a snowplow to the volunteer firfighters in this part of Austria, can be fully appreciated in this beautiful photo of Fischbach. Photo by M.B. under CC.
Valentin Eggbauer, who grew up in Fischbach, always dreamed of restoring one of the FC-150 fire trucks. He says the Fischbach truck was "sadly scrapped 10-20 years ago, but I found parts from this truck including the doors (90K JPEG)."
In 2012 Valentin was able to purchase the Edelsdorf truck. it had been repainted in green (310K JPEG). Another photo of the Jeep on his trailer gives a view of the rear compartment (270K JPEG).
This undated photo shows a parade in Fischbach. In the background is a Willys MB still in service with the Feuerwehr at the time.
Valentin has documented his restoration of the Edelsdorf Jeep on his Austrian Jeep FC-150 Blog.
Here's a surprise -- a lighting truck seen in Hamilton, Bermuda in 1978. Photographer unknown.
This Mumbai fire engine is built on a Forward Control Jeep chassis (210K JPEG) fabricated in India by Mahindra & Mahindra. It appears to be based on UK apparatus designs of the 1960s.
I also ran across this photo advertising United Manufacturing Co. of India, makers of fire apparatus. Again it's reminiscent of a British design.
Here's something unusual for Forward Control apparatus in Europe, or anywhere else for that matter: a front-mount pump. This 1961 photo of the the Selbu Fire Department shows an FC-170 apparently sold by Norwegian vehicle builder Grødem & Dyrseth. Courtesy Trondheim Municipal Archives.
Chris Doka in Sweden rescued this FC conversion which apparently had a front-mount pump, hardly ever seen on a Forward Control other than those built by Howe in the USA.
I don't know what this truck carried in the way of water and hose, but it has a crew cab and lots of gear storage.
Jan Scheele took this photo of a 1964 FC-170 beautifully preserved by the community ("gemeente") of Gendt, south of Arnhem. Designed for equipment and personnel transport, the truck was never equipped with a pump, but can be seen here pulling a pump and hose trailer.
Fully-enclosed fire apparatus built on an FC-170 chassis was of course popular in Switzerland's climate. The photo below shows fire truck bodies built by three different coachbuilders, at a 2023 show organized by the Feuerwehrverein ("Fire Department Association" in German) in Vordemwald, west of Zürich.
On the right is a truck built by coachbuilder Carrosserie Hänni Co. of Zürich for the volunteer fire department in Regensdorf, a suburb just north of the city.
The Swiss FCs typically did not have an onboard pump. They carried equipment and personnel, and sometimes towed a pump trailer. The Regensdorf truck was restored by the brigade association.
The van on the left above was the first piece of apparatus for Feuerwehr ("Fire Department") Vordemwald, who organized this apparatus show to celebrate the department's 60th anniversary in 2023. It was built by Carrosserie Rudolf Rohr in Hunzenschwil, and remained in service until the end of 2003, after which it was restored by members of the department.
The truck carries extinguishers (40K JPEG) on the left side and
air packs (40K JPEG) on the right. The rear has storage for five 100-meter rolls of hose, plus nozzles, medical gear and stretcher. Thanks to the Feuerwehrverein for the photos.
In the center of the lineup above, the FC-170 from nearby Feuerwehr Murgenthal has a larger cabin with additional doors for personnel. I don't know where this extended-headroom body was built.
Many of the FC conversions in Switzerland were done by Hänni Co. of Zürich, whose work is identifiable even at a distance by the Hänni badge (90K JPEG) on the front grille. Also distinctive is the chrome trim and the high, flat windshield rather than the standard FC curved glass.
This Hänni FC-170 was sold to Oetwil am See, southeast of Zürich, in 1964. Photo courtesy of BOS-Fahrzeuge.info.
This rear view of a Hänni conversion gives an idea of how much storage space these trucks have. Photo courtesy of Thomas Müller.
See also a front view (310K JPEG) of this FC, proving that it can handle trails like any Jeep.
This one is all storage, behind sliding doors. It belongs to Service du Feu ("Fire Service" in French) of Vallorbe, north of Lausanne in western Switzerland. Photo courtesy of Swiss Firefighters.
Here's something different, a truck with a 750kg dry chemical tank. It retired in 2000 from Huber+Suhner, a Swiss company making power and data cables and components. Photo by Andreas Frei.
See also the Jeep-Zanzi, a Swiss-built cab-forward truck on a CJ-5 chassis.
Thanks to the photographers. -- Derek Redmond
See Forward Control airport crash trucks in Willys Fire Trucks in Australia.
Also on CJ3B.info, see Forward Control Fire Engines in North America.
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