OUR STAR OF THE SHOW

Originally a seven-seater limousine, this 1926 Cadillac Series 314 fire engine conversion was bought secondhand by the fire crew of Merrell, Virginia, to be adapted into a tender. The body was removed aft of the firewall and replaced by a two-seat bench for the driver and mayor – the only ones privileged to ride in the vehicle seated, while the rest of the crew made do with standing in the rear load bay. Two water tanks were provided, along with a ladder, a hook, a fire extinguisher and a pair of axes. The latter items disappeared while the car was on its way to Russia by sea, so a new pair had to be fabricated from scratch – and covered in a hefty layer of chrome. The cowl-mounted siren is also a vital part of the firefighting package.