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Vintage fire engine narrowly escapes the fire inferno

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Created on August 23, 2013

Text:

Bruno von Rotz

Photos:

Bruno von Rotz

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Archiv Fiat Group

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Archiv

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Bruno von Rotz

23

Archiv Fiat Group

2

Archiv

10

Fiat 521 fire engine (1928) - getting fresh air again for the first time

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Fiat 521 fire engine (1928) - rediscovered after many years

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Fiat 521 fire engine (1928) - idyllic picture

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Fiat 521 fire engine (1928) - one meter in front of the gate, the first movement in many years

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Fiat 521 fire engine (1928) - the fire engine rested in this shed for two decades

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Fiat 521 fire engine (1928) - almost looks as if it could drive off at any moment

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Fiat 521 fire engine (1928) - has been dormant for over 20 years

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Fiat 521 fire engine (1928) - the cat also examines the almost 90-year-old classic with interest

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Fiat 521 fire engine (1928) - radiator and thermometer

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Fiat 521 fire engine (1928) - large radiator, the car looks more like a truck than a passenger car

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Fiat 521 fire engine (1928) - the in-line six-cylinder engine with a displacement of 2.4 liters

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Fiat 521 fire engine (1928) - the engine developed around 50 hp

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Fiat 521 fire engine (1928) - simple construction, the crankshaft has seven bearings

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Fiat 521 fire engine (1928) - Dashboard with timer and speedometer

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Fiat 521 fire engine (1928) - oil thermometer and oil pressure indicator

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Fiat 521 fire engine (1928) - the crank on the right was installed to operate the fire engine siren

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Fiat 521 fire engine (1928) - a beautiful Veglia clock that has to be wound by hand

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Fiat 521 fire engine (1928) - beautiful interior with practical map pocket

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Fiat 521 fire engine (1928) - you can see the years of resting

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Fiat 521 fire engine (1928) - the spiders have completed their work

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Fiat 521 fire engine (1928) - Cobwebs everywhere

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Fiat 521 fire engine (1928) - steel disk wheel with eight bolts

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Fiat 521 fire engine (1928) - on the right you can see the buildings destroyed by the fire, the shed with the Fiat survived without damage

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Fiat 521 fire engine (1928) - this is what the car looked like in the 1980s before restoration

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Fiat 521 fire engine (1928) - This is what the door painting looked like before restoration - Civici Pompieri Viganello

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Fiat 521 fire engine (1928) - during restoration in the 1980s

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Fiat 521 fire engine (1928) - the engine before renovation

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Fiat 521 fire engine (1928) - the chassis before restoration in the 1980s

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Fiat 521 fire engine (1928) - the restored rear axle

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Fiat 521 fire engine (1928) - fully restored chassis

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Fiat 521 (1928) - Owner's manual - Explanations on starting the car

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Fiat 521 (1928) - Operating instructions - Explanations of operation from the manual

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Fiat 521 (1928) - Operating instructions - Lubrication plan for the 1928 Fiat

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Fiat 521 Sedan (1928) - a stately sedan for the large family

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Fiat 521 (1928) - as a two-door version for the self-driver

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Summary

An 85-year-old fire engine narrowly escapes a blaze and is rediscovered after almost being forgotten. It almost sounds like a fairy tale, but that's exactly what happened recently. Now the 1928 Fiat 521, which was restored around 30 years ago, is looking for a new owner. This vehicle report describes and shows the unusual car in many pictures, looks back at its past and gives an insight into the operation of such an old vehicle.

This article contains the following chapters

The big Fiat
Used as a fire engine
Extensive restoration in the eighties
Truly a classic car!
For sale due to lack of space

Estimated reading time: 6min

Preview (beginning of the article)

It's a story that could hardly be made up. A Fiat 521 from 1928 served as a fire engine in a village in Ticino for many years until it was taken out of service. The car found its way to the picturesque village of Madiswil via other owners, was extensively restored many years ago and then driven on special occasions. That was over two decades ago. Since then, the car had rested in a shed, even the owner hardly remembered it - until the great conflagration that destroyed several buildings around the small shed. While investigating the damage, all the buildings were searched and the dusty Fiat was found again, undamaged and almost ready to drive.

Welcome to Zwischengas!

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