1957 VW Fire Engine Kiddie ride

[skinnerclassics]

The Kiddeland Fire Truck restoration has been put on hold for a reality TV show that's in the works. Everyone is on board with the highest anticipation of seeing the restoration happen on the screen. I'll make sure to update this thread as more information is available to us. Thanks for your patience!

In the meanwhile, check us out on FB "Skinner Classics VW Restorations". Thanks y'all, RS

[Bulli Klinik]

I'm sure Rob would approve!

_________________
I've never met a Bus I didn't like.
Mike K
Bulli Klinik
Colorado Springs

[Pinetops]

_________________
"A rolling bus gathers no rust."

[Bulli Klinik]

Interesting! I believe that only three were made.

I have the nose from one of them.

_________________
I've never met a Bus I didn't like.
Mike K
Bulli Klinik
Colorado Springs

[vwuberalles]

Nefken built something similar, but I think his was open-topped.
_________________
1973 Superbeetle: 1st car, owned since age 12. Update thread --> https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=9919140#9919140
1967 Kombi: Owned since age 17, Dad's retirement project.
1966 Beetle: My new project. (SOLD) Build thread--> https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=678040

[Oldbug.com]

_________________
Cheers!
Randy Carlson
http://www.oldbug.com
951-795-1175

[LAGrunthaner]

Any images and info on the chassis and drivetrain?
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[Bulli Klinik]

So awesome to see this back on the road!

Props to Skinner. Can’t believe he found two.
_________________
I've never met a Bus I didn't like.
Mike K
Bulli Klinik
Colorado Springs

[Oldbug.com]

I’ll get some underside shots. In fact I’ll probably do a full video walk around of them to post on YouTube.

For the record , the initial “find” was mine, not Skinners. I just sold him one and we went together to grab them. He is the perfect home for it, like me he loves to share the stories and will get it out there into the world and play with it.
_________________
Cheers!
Randy Carlson
http://www.oldbug.com
951-795-1175

[Oldbug.com]

Actually...I really need to give credit to Brett Smith for the discovery.
He is the one that found them and put me in touch with the owner.

The rest as they say, is history.
_________________
Cheers!
Randy Carlson
http://www.oldbug.com
951-795-1175

[72MUST]

[Bulli Klinik]

It was never mine. It belonged to Rob Cress. After he passed away, I sold it to Skinner for the family. The original nose is pretty rusty and Rob was in the process of replacing it when he was diagnosed with brain cancer. I’m not sure who he got it from? Maybe Randy?

The nose just ended up on my wall.
_________________
I've never met a Bus I didn't like.
Mike K
Bulli Klinik
Colorado Springs

[72MUST]

[Bulli Klinik]

The nose isn’t reunited with the current owner. It’s on the wall of my shop in Colorado, where it will remain. Rob’s old Kiddieland truck is one of the current, restored trucks, unless they found a third that I’m unaware of. Maybe Randy can chime in.

The one on my wall, the one that went to Skinners, was a 56 from what I remember. It (they) were covered by the oldest fire truck manufacturer in the US. This is what I was told.
_________________
I've never met a Bus I didn't like.
Mike K
Bulli Klinik
Colorado Springs

[72MUST]

Bit confusing!

My understanding is that the 4 known fire trucks are pictured in this thread.
Rob's restoration project which Skinners now have & are hoping to restore.
The clean pair recently shown, Randy owns one, Skinners the other, ie Skinners have two.
The fourth is the modified one with temple logos pictured earlier in a parade.

[Oldbug.com]

Rob Cress' Truck is now in the hands of Skinner. It remains unrestored and needing significant work. The nose on the wall in Colorado must be the original for that truck as he has a new nose skin for it. This truck started out at Fun Faire in Skokie Illinois.

The two that Skinner and I just pulled out of Chicago are all original and unrestored and in excellent condition. These were from the Melrose Park Kiddieland. Ive kept Engine #1 and sold Skinner #2.

There is a fourth one known currently that is being used as a Shriner parade vehicle in Alabama (photos are in this thread)

There were two other parks known to have these trucks, Kiddietown and Hollywood Kiddieland. How many of the trucks they had is unknown and if they are still out there anywhere remains to be seen.

So...the current tally is 4 known to exist.
My gut feeling is that there was probably about double that built back in the day. Would be safe to say "less than 10"
_________________
Cheers!
Randy Carlson
http://www.oldbug.com
951-795-1175

[Bulli Klinik]

Thanks for the clarification. I can imagine that having an original one next to the one that needs restoration is going to help out significantly.

Rob was going to lower it a put it on Fuchs. Times have changed.
_________________
I've never met a Bus I didn't like.
Mike K
Bulli Klinik
Colorado Springs

[Oldbug.com]

Robert and I talked about it on the whole drive home. It's a big project, and now with a nice one in his hands...will there be the motivation to complete the restoration of Fun Fair 2?

I think he would let it go if the price was right and the home was a stable enough one to support completion.
_________________
Cheers!
Randy Carlson
http://www.oldbug.com
951-795-1175