DESCRIPTION

London Fire AEC Regent III

The London Fire Brigade took 62 of the total of 139 that Merryweather built on AEC Regent chassis between 1950 and 1956.Of the total, 111 were dual-purpose fire engines, equipped to carry wheeled escape for use in fighting large fires - upon which we have based our model - or supplied with extension ladders to combat small fires. The fire brigades usually purchased the vehicles in pairs comprising both options. With this in mind, as an added extra, look out for the spare extension ladders that we're enclosing in the packs, enabling you to display both alternatives.

The AEC Regent fire engine chassis were assembled at the Maudsley Motors Coventry Works and the coachwork was built at the Park Royal Coachworks in London. It was the first post war diesel fire engine and had a carrying capacity of 100 gallons of water, with the ability to pump 1000 gallons a minute from its midship pump. It could be operated with either a wheel escape ladder (pump escape) or 35 ft extension ladder (major pump).