The Department of Defense is auctioning two 1950s collectable military trucks to the public via its online auction www.GovLiquidation.com.
Both vehicles, which include a 1952 Air Force ambulance and a 1957 Air Force aircraft rescue and firefighting truck, were built exclusively for the U.S. Air Force and are currently on display at Barksdale AFB. Now, the public will have a chance to purchase these unique vehicles for personal use; starting bid for each is $150.
The ’52 USAF Ambulance was built by the Chrysler Corporation in 1952 for exclusive use by the USAF. The Dodge M43 4x4 truck is painted “Air Force blue” with emergency logos on its sides and back; it also has the customary swing-out spare tire mount on the driver’s side door. This particular type of ambulance was produced from January 1951 to July 1954, with a few delivered after that date. It has a Chrysler engine with a six-cylinder manual transmission and runs off of diesel fuel; the ambulance will need some work to get it back up and running again as parts of it have weathered and gone missing throughout the years.
The ’57 USAF Fire Truck was used during the Korean War, American LaFrance produced this type of aircraft rescue and firefighting trucks for the USAF. This model O-11B 6x6 truck was one of the last produced and in service to the Air Force from 1957 until the mid 1970s. The truck was used under all climactic conditions for combating aircraft fires and providing fire protection services for unconventional fuel fires, aircraft maintenance and support of Air Force structural fire fighting units. It is an all-weather vehicle with a fire extinguishing capacity of 1100 gallons and its fire pump is powered by an eight-cylinder engine.
Online bidding for each vehicle begins on Thursday, Oct. 18 at 11 a.m. and closes Tuesday, Oct. 22 at 4 p.m. Minimum bid for each is $150. The winning bidder of each vehicle will be required to trailer or tow them out.
For more information on the auction, please visit tinyurl.com/9ck258t
