Twin-Engine Screaming Jimmy 8X8: 1960 FWD P-2 Air Force Crash Truck























Tired of building up the same succession of diesel-powered trucks over and over again? Looking for an interesting alternative from the same-old fire trucks out there for sale? Need more than one engine and more traction than four-wheel drive? Look no further than this 1960 FWD P-2 Air Force Crash Truck! Dealer antics aside, this FWD P-2 is definitely a vehicle you do not see every day, and featuring not one but two two-stroke Detroit Diesel 8V-71s and eight-wheel drive! Find it here on Craigslist in Mountainair, New Mexico, with an asking price $15,000.





















With production believed to have fully kicked-off production in 1962, this P-2 was formally used by the US Air Force for its ARFF (Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting) department. In 1980, this P-2 was purchased by the Quality Truck company, where it was overhauled and subsequently renamed the P-2A. Referred to by the Air Force as the "Rolling Tetanus Shot" (due to its tendency to rust), the majority of the outside sheetmetal appears to be fairly solid, though the wheelwells do raise a few red flags. Taking a look at the equipment aspect of this FWD P-2, most of the equipment appears to be still there, including the the roof-mounted cannon. The rusted recess in the front nose houses an electronically-controlled nozzle, and there's also a 1,400 GPM (gallons per minute) pump, though its reportedly seized after sitting unused and dried-out for a winter. Believed to have been originally finished in red, the truck does look good in desert tan. I would address the rust, rebuild the one water pump, make sure the holding tanks (2,300 gallons of water and 200 gallons of foam) are still solid, and decide whether to repaint the truck in red or tan.
























Before you go ranting and raving that this truck has not one but two diesel engines, let me help you get back to reality and explain to that one of the Detroit Diesel 8V-71 engines drives the 1,400 GPM pump. Having said that, the other Detroit Diesel 8V-71 is coupled to an Allison automatic, much like the other 8V-71. Rated at 318 horsepower and 866 lb-ft of torque at 1,400 RPM, this P-2 needs all the power and torque it can get to get going. Featuring a poppet-valve two-stroke design, both 8V-71s use a low-pressure Roots-type supercharger for scavenging. Mileage is low at approximately 5,000, so I would check over the drivetrain and make sure everything is ready to go.

















If you were hoping for a better view of the interior, sorry, this is the best view that you can get. From what can be seen, the steering wheel and dash appears to be in fairly decent shape. Said to seat a total of four firefighters (including the driver), the instrument panel in this interior could easily rival an aircraft, but fortunately an 80-page manual containing information on the air, water and hydraulic systems is included. Though in need of a bit of attention, this FWD P-2 reminds me of a Tonka toy truck I had as a kid, and could easily be more than ten times the fun that the toy provided. I would restore it, take it to some cruise-ins (just because), and enjoy it for a while before selling it to a military of firefighter collector. What are your thoughts on this rarely-seen FWD P-2 Crash Truck?
Location: Mountainair, NM 87036, USA

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Ghost in the Machine: 1996 Callaway Supernatural 450 C9 Impala SS

Image
After my brother briefly drove my dad's 455-equipped 1975 Trans Am and found out how terrible it was on gas, he switched to a 1995 Chevrolet Caprice 9C1 decked out to look like an Impala SS. Furthermore, my dad worked at a junkyard where the owner has a 1995 Callaway C9 sitting in his yard, albeit rotting away. To summarize, I've been a huge fan of 1994-1996 Impala SSs for a long time now, especially ones modified by Callaway. This 1996 Impala SS is not only a Callaway C9, it's also been upgraded to a Supernatural 450 model. Find it here on Hemmings in Leesburg, Virginia, with an asking price of $50,000 obo. After getting his start as a driving instructor for Bob Bondurant's driving school in 1973, Reeves Callaway got his start in modifying cars by making turbocharger kits for BMW through Car and Driver's Don Sherman. After Sherman told Callaway that he had neither the manpower nor the equipment to build the turbos, Callaway founded C
Read more

T-Topped G-Body: 1981 Pontiac Grand Prix

Image
One of the coolest options that I hope will return to production one day are T-tops. Last used in the early 2000s, T-tops were the practical and economic way to enjoy the great outdoors while driving without the fuss and worries of the convertible. It would be really cool to see a new six-gen Camaro or Mustang (heck, even the Challenger would look cool) to feature T-tops from the factory, but until then, take the wildcard route and buy this needy 1981 Pontiac Grand Prix. Find it here on Craigslist in Doylestown, Pennsylvania, with an asking price of $1,595. After a full redesign in 1978, Pontiac's G-body Grand Prix was given a major facelift in 1981. The sheetmetal was given a more aerodynamic design, the tail section was revised, and a new grille was fitted. This 1981 Grand Prix is a LJ model, and is one of 46,842 cars built for the year. Painted a two-tone blue, the grille is cracked, the landau roof needs replacing, the bumper
Read more

Mint Baja: 1991 Chevrolet S10 4X4

Image
There are certain vehicles that one rarely sees in nice, unmolested condition out on the road. Finding one for sale, however, is like trying to find the proverbial needle-in-the-haystack. One of those vehicles is the Chevrolet S10, especially 1982 to 1993 versions. An even harder version of the S10 to find is the Baja appearance package, which is a rare sight in any condition, let alone one as clean as this truck is. Find it here on Craigslist in Dallas, PA, for $13,750. Introduced in 1988, the Baja was an appearance option that was available on any S10 that had four-wheel drive. Available in Midnight Black, Apple Red and Frost White, the Baja option included  a roll bar with off-road lights, a front tubular grille guard with fog lights, a tubular rear bumper, an under-body shield package (transfer case shield, front differential shield, fuel tank shield, oil pan/steering linkage shields), a suspension package, a Chevrolet windshield bann
Read more