Probably after they heard about a fire Jeep appearing on the April 2005 cover of The CJ3B Page, Maisto rushed to release a brushfire version of their 1/18-scale Rubicon TJ. Scheduled to be available in May 2005, it can be ordered through a number of online dealers.
See also some prototype Fire Service Wranglers on The CJ3B Page.
As of 2003, Fisher-Price was offering a Power Wheels Fire Rescue Jeep (70K JPEG) -- a version of their popular battery-powered riding toy including light, siren, shovel and water pump.
One of the Jeep toys most prized by collectors is this CJ-2A Jeep Fire Truck, from the Al-Toys series cast in aluminum by Toledo Brass in the late 1940's. With realistic extended front and rear bumpers it's nearly a foot long, slightly larger than the Tonka Jeep Pumper produced in the 1960's.
This is probably the most detailed of the Al-Toys, with a front pump, ladder rack, handrail, spotlight, fire extinguisher, and bell all added to the basic body. In addition to the ladder and the suction hose which can attach to the pump, the toy came with accessories including a roll of hose for the hose bed, and a shovel. The photo taken on the hood of a CJ-3B fire engine is courtesy of the Historic Civilian Jeeps Collection of Jim and Peg Marski.
There is a nice Al-Toy Jeep Fire Truck (110K JPEG) in the collection of the Chrysler Museum in Michigan. See also a mint example in an Al-Toy Jeep Collection.
Pete Pearson photographed this Corgi Limited Edition 1:43 scale M151 fire tender and water trailer, on the way to a brushfire call. The model carries a Texaco star on the hood (40K JPEG), but is it likely that an M151 MUTT was used by an oil company as a fire fighting vehicle? The M151's retired by the U.S. military were considered unsafe for civilian on-road use, and many were cut in half in an effort to prevent such use.
See also the Corgi packaging (50K JPEG).
As of 2002, Majorette, the French company now merged with Solido, has a Fire Rescue version of their reliable 1/56 CJ-5 casting. It's created by means of adding a plastic ladder clipped to the roll bar, and a paint job similar to that recently put on the Majorette SJ Cherokee.
Majorette released a "Fire Dept." version of their larger CJ-5 in 1998. Marked as 1/46 scale, it appears by rough measurement to be closer to 1/36. Manufactured in Thailand, it includes a plastic roll bar, ladder rack and ladder, and comes in a set with two plastic figures. See a larger version of the photo (40K JPEG) and a front view photo (40K JPEG).
"Vigil del Fuoco" is a 1/43 diecast produced by Mebetoys of Italy in 1974. Mebetoys produced diecasts beginning in 1966, and became a subsiduary of Mattel in 1970.
This photo was taken by Jarek Skonieczny, who comments that the model seems to be largely based on the M170 as opposed to the more common CJ-6. There are military blackout lights in the rear, and a pick and a shovel where the tailgate would be on a CJ-6. The split windshield has vacuum wipers on the top, but the front blackout light and the larger passenger-side door opening of the M170 are missing. Jarek also says, "It would be interesting to see how the blue emergency light holds up on the soft top, while driving over some rough terrain to put out brush fires."
See also a photo by J-C Guerry of a Carabinieri (Italian police) version of the Mebetoys model (60K JPEG).
This "Fire Chief" tinplate Jeep appears to be a version of the "T.V. Police Jeep" made in Taiwan by Kuang Hui, a large (9 in. long) toy with an elaborate rear console which includes a lighted "TV screen". The screen displays changing pictures, and the toy also makes a siren sound. (See the police version on the More Police Toys page.)
"Feuerwehr" is printed on the hood of this 1/64 CJ-7, apparently a Made in China toy destined for sale in Germany, and photographed by Mike Albright.
A similar Jeep is included in a dollar-store Fire Vehicles Playset (100K JPEG).
A recent toy made in China has a working flasher and siren, activated by the yellow button on the roof. It's also available in a police version (70K JPEG).
This "Bomberos" (fire department) Jeep from Spain is a recycling by Rico of their Jeep tow truck toy, which was also sold as a military version in camouflage, as well as a yellow "Popcross" wrecker. Thanks to Juan Manuel Yeste Cortes for the photo.
Like many of the fire Jeeps seen here, this is more a fanciful toy than a model that reflects a real prototype. I hope that some of the manufacturers will take a look at the full-size Fire Service Jeeps on The CJ3B Page, and get inspired.
Also from Spain is this Jeep Bomberos made by Guisval, who also have a yellow Renegade and a military version in their line. Comes with a one-peseta coin (dated 1975) in the package for scale; the toy is about 4 inches (10 cm) long.
In a similar scale, this 1950 Joyax tinplate set from France totals about 10 inches (25 cm) long with trailer. See also Early Jeep Toys Made in France for more examples of Les Jeep Pompiers.
The smallest fire Jeep toy I know of is this version of Roco's HO-scale CJ-5 from Austria.
This "Goofy Off Road Rescue" Jeep is actually a version of the Maisto "Ford GP" 1/64 casting, that is sold in a play set at the Disney Store.
Thanks to Mike Albright, Toshimi Ohashi and the other photographers. -- Derek Redmond
See more Fire Service Jeeps Toys.
Return to the Toy Jeeps Pages on The CJ3B Page.
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