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Just completed a 5-year restoration of my grandfather's fire truck!

My name is Keith Seafield, I am a 25-year vet of the Miami-Dade Fire Department. I just finished a 5-year restoration of my grandfather's fire truck. He actually used this vehicle in the early 50's when he was a member of the Chicago Fire Patrol. It’s a 1951 Ford F7 with a custom body built by the Schukraft Company of Chicago. While writing a book about the Chicago Fire Patrol, I met members of the Fire Museum of Greater Chicago who had 3 former Fire Patrol trucks in their collection. When it came time to downsize their inventory of fire trucks in 2007 they offered me first shot at buying my grandfather's truck. The price was $800!! This past April, my grandfather's original driver, former Patrol member and retired CFD Batt Chief Ron DiRenzo, drove my family in our cities annual parade. Here are some links to the event and to my website on the Chicago Fire Patrol. I also just finished writing my second book entitled, " Chicago Fire Patrol #5 The Story and Restoration of My Grandfather's Fire Truck."
My website: http://chicagofirepatrol.com/

The restoration of the fire truck documented on the Ford truck Enthusiasts website: http://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/10...heetmetal.html

Youtube videos of the truck:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zVtenzz5F1Y

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C3U0YZ1Du8c

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WKtxAL76Zxk

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3LirA61jiDQ

Colorized photo taken in 1954
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Photo taken May 2013

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mtflat

Flatheads Forever
2,559
147
Hi Keith, welcome to FTF! Thanks so much for sharing the story, pics and links. It is one of life's joys to be able to restore a truck with that much personal history. Definitely a labor of love - I salute you!!
 
Thanks for the nice comments guys!! Yes, she is in Florida. It cost me more to have it hauled down here (1K) when what I paid for her!! I didn't mention in my first post but my grandfather's driver just passed 2 weeks ago. He was an interesting man. You just have to read his Obit. A real hero!!

Mark, I am going to paint the center and top of the bell red. I have done a few minor things since those pics were taken. I have added the spotlights and got the correct green bulb for the right bumper light. Here are some more pics:

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Salvage covers in the rear bins:
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