On a roll Antique autos cruise into Kentville’s Centre Square
Derek Wood’s friends joke that he might have to build a new trophy case for all of the hardware his restored fire truck is collecting at car shows this year.
Wood, a cabinetmaker from Centreville, had his bright red 1930 Model A Ford fire truck on display at Kentville’s Centre Square for the Antique Auto Cruise- In Merchant Sidewalk Sale and Yard Sale in downtown Kentville on Sept. 17.
“I bought it in Port Williams from Blair Embree, a farmer. He bought it for the pump that was on the back for irrigation on his farm,” said Wood.
“I did a kitchen for him so we did some trade- offs and I ended up with the truck.”
The truck’s engine would still turn over when Wood brought it home, but the body was a far cry from what is it today after the truck sat idle for 45 years.
“It ran fine. The guy that had it kept the radiator full of antifreeze and once a year or two he’d turn it over with the crank,” said Wood.
Wood tore everything apart and restored the antique auto from the inside out. It took about a year to get it show ready.
“I can fix anything, make anything at home,” he said, noting that he’s refurbished several old cars.
“When I was a kid going to school - from the time I started vocational school until I finished - I had 19 cars. I took carpentry but I could fix cars. I had to keep my own cars running.”
He’s still collecting parts for the fire truck, which is complete with an axe on the side, a 1931 firefighting helmet, a siren and lights, and a hose on the back.
“It’s probably the most expensive vehicle I have,” he said, adding that it was not hard to find parts to order in from the United States considering the popularity of Model A restoration today.
“You can buy anything for a Model A you want.”
He admits his passion for restoring antique autos can be time consuming and costly, but says it’s never felt like work.
“It wouldn’t be near as fun if you had to do it every day.”