I always get a kick out of hearing the younger guys talk about canopy cab rigs as "open cabs". I remember riding the true open cab rigs as well as riding on the tail board.

Location: Baltimore

The new Athearn Ford C short pumper is appears to be an FMC/John Bean pumper, from around 1975-1978, judging by pictures of prototypical rigs of these I've seen today on the web.

Regarding that seating capacity... If I remember correctly they had that floor shifter between the seats so you were limited to a max of 2 people.

Riding the tailboard was great... kids used to stand on the street to wave at you. You know that they were dreaming of the day they would be in your shoes...

Our department had a 1976 "C" Ford with ALF body. I was a stick shift, with a driver's seat adjustable fore-aft only. The other cab seat was fixed and seated two, although it seldom ran with more than the driver. We also had a Ford "C" canopy cab FMC. It was our first automatic diesel with a Cat 3208T, very dependable. Now operated by a volunteer dept south of us.
I started out my vol ff career in Allegheny Co, PA in 1968 riding the tailboard of a 900 series ALF. We had a strap to hang onto, but that was the extent of the "safety features". Riding the tailboard sure woke you up in a hurry on a cold winter's nite!

Location: PEACHTREE CITY, GA

I notice this is also available in "N" scale.

Location: PEACHTREE CITY, GA