1930 Ahrens-Fox P-S-14 Hose & Equipment Truck

1120 cu. in. dual exhaust valve T-head inline six-cylinder engine, three-speed manual transmission, solid front axle with full floating rear and semi-elliptic leaf springs in the front and rear, and four-wheel mechanical brakes. • The largest six-cylinder Ahrens-Fox engine • Concours restoration by Firefly Restorations • Offered from the collection of William Ruger Jr. Mr. Ruger acquired this Model P-S-14 hose truck in 2005, with only 2,500 original miles. According to Ahrens-Fox model nomenclature, the first letter in the model designation conveys the engine type, with the “P” denoting Ahrens’ largest six-cylinder offering, which has a bore of 5-7/8 inches and a 7-inch stroke. The “S” conveys locomotion aided by shaft drive as opposed to chain drive, which wasn’t found on very many Ahrens-Foxes, or motor cars in general for that matter, after 1920, and the number “14” identifies the body as a hose wagon. Mr. Ruger once again commissioned fire apparatus experts Andy Swift, of Firefly Restorations in Hope, Maine, and gold leaf artist Peter Achorn, of FireGold in Tenants Harbor, Maine, to perform a thorough, concours quality restoration on both the mechanicals and cosmetic aspects of this truck. The restoration effort was concluded over a period of four years and like the other Ahrens-Fox offered from the Ruger Collection, the result is concours presentation of all aspects of this truck, from the sheet metal, paint, and intricate gold leaf to the leather upholstery and finish on the flawlessly varnished wooden dash. At the time of the restoration, the odometer was reset to “0,” and it now reads 60 miles. Mr. Ruger notes that the absence of a pump makes this machine relatively comfortable to drive and that he had installed four forward-facing and very comfortable seats in the hose body. While they may be easily removed, if so desired, as presented, this provides the opportunity for a driver and five passengers to enjoy the experience of the sound and the feel of riding in this exceptional Ahrens-Fox.
Addendum Please note that this lot was originally a model P-S-44; during restoration the chassis was shortened so that an authentic hose body from another Ahrens-Fox could be mounted, rendering this a P-S-14.