Matchbox has several versions of a chief's car based on the XJ Cherokee. The original version is seen here responding with other Matchbox Fire Rescue and EMS vehicles (and a Majorette aerial ladder) to an incident of a Jeep trapped in the vehicle elevator of the "Matchbox Motors" service department. It's a frequent call for the local ladder company. They also respond when Jeeps with 9-inch brakes come down the exit ramp from the second-floor service area, and straight through the plate glass doors of the showroom.
See also the front and the rear of the Matchbox Motors box (180K JPEG's).
This Matchbox XJ Chief's car, part of the 2002 "Rescue Chiefs" multi-pack, was the first one to have a red light bar. For many years, Matchbox and most other small diecast toy lines had used the European-standard blue warning lights on fire apparatus, even models based on North American prototypes.
See also the Matchbox limited-edition Premiere Collection Fire Chief Cherokee, in a more realistic two-tone livery, on the Matchbox 1999 Jeeps page, and a less realistic one with a yellow light bar in Matchbox 2004 Jeeps.
Majorette is full of surprises. A Fire 911 version of their small diecast SJ Cherokee, which has been around in many variations since the 1970's, was a new release for 2002, with a realistic fire department paint job (but no light bar). Too bad that Majorette's North American distribution is pretty thin. Many stores never saw the Emergency XJ Cherokee (below) last year.
In 2000, Majorette finally issued a fire service version of its XJ Cherokee, the one that had been used by so many sheriffs and surfers over the previous decade or so. It was available as #224 (30K JPEG), or as #376 (left) when packaged with the same plastic water tank trailer pulled by the Majorette Range Rover pumper.
I hate to complain, but why would a support/command/EMS vehicle like this be pulling a large water trailer? And couldn't they have come up with something more interesting than "Emergency" for the lettering on the side? OK, I'll stop complaining, but maybe Majorette could take a look at the Laguna Beach Lifeguard Jeeps or even the Suggested Matchbox Cherokees for 2001 for some more ideas.
Tonka's fire toys (made in Minnesota) always had red lights of course, including this
Mini-Tonka Fire Chief's Unit based on the Cherokee. The Chief's car was available in a Fire Department Set No. 103 (100K JPEG), together with the Gladiator fire truck (45K JPEG) and a red CJ.
Red light bars are also found on several 1990's Grand Cherokees in fire service paint jobs. This Majorette Grand Cherokee, "Fire Chief Unit 18," is in 1/24 scale. See a larger copy of the photo by J-C Guerry (50K JPEG).
This 1/18 model from Solido carries New York markings. See a larger copy of the photo (40K JPEG) See also a side view photo (30K JPEG) of this large, well-detailed model.
At the other end of the size spectrum is this Herpa HO-scale (1/87) ZJ in European-style livery. A "Search and Rescue" version is on the EMS Toys page.
The red lights on this little diecast flash when you press down on the vehicle. Made in China and sold under the Realtoy or FastLane brand names, it's a Grand Cherokee whose siren also sounds.
Play the siren:
The badge on the hood and doors says "Emergency Service" and shows a fire helmet. Small text on the sides reads "Rescue Equipment."
Road Champs settled on the Baltimore FD for the livery on its Grand Cherokee Limited.
The only full-size Grand Cherokees actually in service with a fire department that I am aware of, are used by the Chief and Assistant Chief in Southington, Connecticut. They are painted black, with the department shield on the front doors, and all lighting is dash/hide-away style. Anybody know of any others?
A Matchbox 1/58 WJ Grand Cherokee (30K JPEG) released in 2001 as part of a fire vehicle 5-pack, has no light bar or other detailing other than the "Metro Alarm" graphics.
Elsewhere on the web, see Takeshi Imai's ideas for fire-fighting Grand Cherokees in his Cherokees website from Japan.
Thanks to Pete Pearson, Mike Albright and Jarek Skonieczny, also to eBay seller "Wayne's World" for the Tonka sets photo. -- Derek Redmond
See some some full-size XJ Fire Service Cherokees on The CJ3B Page.
See more Fire Service Jeep Toys.
Return to the Toy Jeeps Pages on The CJ3B Page.
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