Ten months of 'date nights' gets 1942 fire engine ready for centennial parade in Havelock North

Volunteer fire brigade members showing off the restored 1942 Ford Bonus truck. Photo / Supplied

A lovingly restored 1942 Ford Bonus firetruck is primped and primed to put its best wheel forward at the Havelock North Volunteer Fire Brigade centennial on Saturday .

The truck's owners and couple Deb and fire brigade station officer Gordon Flanders have been restoring the truck for the past two years.

Volunteer brigade members have been having a "date night" every Wednesday for the past 10 months to work on the truck and make it parade-ready.

"It is an ex-Canadian truck, with a closed in cab, quite possibly the one left in New Zealand", Deb said.

The Havelock North Volunteer Fire Brigade members along with the 1942 Ford Bonus truck they helped restore. Photo / Supplied

"There have been thousands of hours spent on the restoration of the truck", Deb said.

The truck currently lives at the Flanders' property in Havelock North.

In the 1950s the truck came up to Hastings from Wellington and was the first closed-in cab in the area.

It came from the Griffins Biscuit Factory and it was nicknamed "The biscuit wagon" when it was brought up to Hastings.

"It was stationed at the Hastings fire brigade, before it was sent out to Havelock North were it was stationed from 1956-1975," Deb said.

"Then when it was no longer required Hastings brigade gifted it to the Motat Museum, Auckland in the 90s.

"It was there for a few years but sadly deteriorated. It finally found its way back to Hastings where we took possession of the truck."

The couple has owned it for at least the past 18 years, Deb said.

"Gordon has been a member of the Havelock North Volunteer Brigade for 33 years and we paid for the restoration of the truck, but the brigade will be donating money for the truck.

"With the truck restoration, we had 90 per cent of its wood replaced, we had it fully re-wired, work was done on the motor and panel, the truck had got a new coat of paint, new upholstery, and new signage", she said.

The restored Ford Bonus 1942 truck in all its former glory. Photo / Supplied

A joint decision was made by the couple that the centennial was a good time to get the truck back up and running.

The couple was also incredibly grateful to everyone responsible for getting the truck back out into the community.

The fire truck will be in the parade with about 16 other fire trucks from different eras, she said.

"There will be a 1948 Land Rover, Series 1 from Haumoana which was in a fire and has been done up.

"And we have a 1939 Ford open cab truck from Waipukurau which will also be at the parade."

The parade starts at 10am on Saturday and it will go through the Havelock North Village.

There will also be a dinner on the night for past and present members. Honours/medals and bars will be given out to present members for their service to the community.

THANK YOU Deb and Gordon Flanders have a lot of people they want to thank for helping with the restoration. She sent the list below in:

Havelock North volunteer brigade members: Gordon Flanders, Kevin Lay, Erin Marsden, Chris Milne (Moony), Carl Vose, Paul Fisher and Dillion Adamerson.

Family and friends include: Cameron, Victoria and Bianca Flanders, Barry Wall, Tim Durnell, David Potts, Hayden Hart, Colin Hunter, Ben Yates, Mike Garitty, Bruce Botherway, Phil from Scotland and David Toop (retired Station Office), Richard Robinson and Tony (Possum).

Companies include: Ullrich Aluminium, Gregory Glass Clive, Fire and Safety Napier, Havelock Tyres, Trim and Canvas and Topaz Paint.