Fire Engines Photos

Forward control trucks were slow to catch on in Germany with both fire services and truck operators in general. The reason was mainly that they were considered to be much less safe in a frontal collision. In addition, they were often a bit more inconvenient to service and maintain. This was Magirus' second series of forward control chassis, introduced around 1963, but the first barely sold at all. It did, however, rapidly become very popular with fire services. The various chassis - from 9 to 26 tons, engines between 110 and 260 BHP and cabs with two, six or nine seats were used for every conceivable fire appliance application. Many were exported, including the first water tender escapes ever imported into the UK, which were bought by Glasgow in 1966.

Uniquely, Magirus built not only their own chassis, engines, cabs and bodywork, but incorporated their own pumps and/or turntable ladders too. Fire brigades could buy complete appliances, bare chassis or chassis cabs. ZF was - and may still be - Germany's largest manufacturer of automotive gearboxes and automatic transmissions.

Added by Rob Johnson on 11 March 2021.

Looking carefully at this photo, the two center grill sections are actually doors. These conceal the controls, gauges and deliveries for the front mounted 800 LPM pump. The suction inlet is mounted in the bumper. The small added on grill behind the Magirus badge, which is also an air inlet, ensured that the V6 aircooled engine was able to get enough ambient air to cool properly - as the pump obstructed part of the normal airflow through the standard grill inlets.

I have been asked why the relatively low capacity 800 LPM pump was so common in Germany. Bear in mind these were rated at 800 LPM at 10AT, while UK pump ratings were at that time at 7AT. In practice most German 800 LPM pumps could manage over 1000 LPM at 10AT and around 1400 at 7AT - comparable to a 440 IGPM pump of the same era.

Added by Rob Johnson on 11 March 2021.

The Magirus pump offerings were nominally rated at 800, 1600 or 2400 LPM. Turntable ladders were 18, 22, 25, 30 or 37 metres and - to order - various other lengths up to 45 metres. Standard tank capacities were 800, 2400 or 5000 litres, but other sizes appeared on custom and export bodied versions.

Added by Rob Johnson on 12 March 2021.

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