We wish to thank the CDF Museum in San Bernardino, CA,for providing us with these two early pictures. This one is most likely not our REO, but . . .
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. . . there is a huge possibility that this picture is of our REO in earlier times. Thank you, CDF Museum!!!
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THE REO STORY
Forestry Water Pumper Fire Truck
1938 Cab Over Engine (COE)
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Found buried up to its axle in a wash in a storage yard near Fallbrook, CA. Man interested in buying the truck actually drove it for the Forestry Service. Believe it was for the California Department of Forestry (CDF).
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Forestry Service modified the truck which probably included making it into a crew cab somewhere in the Berkeley/Davis area after it was purchased.
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The interested man retired to Oregon. He contacted the owner of the storage yard saying he wanted to restore the truck. Several months went by; the owner did not hear from the man. The truck was sold to Ralph.
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Ralph put the truck body on a 1978 Chevy chassis and put in a 350 Chevy engine with a 400 turbo transmission.
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Ralph also restored and painted the truck to its present colors. He sold the truck to Brent in the mid-90's.
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We spotted the truck at the Rose Bowl Swap Meet in Pasadena, California. Vintage shirts were sold out of the back bed; it had a "For Sale" sign on it. Chuck loved it but walked on. Toni decided Chuck needed it and bought it for him for Christmas 1999.
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We brought it home.
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