New Member from Switzerland - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

SwissFireTruck · 04-13-2023, 05:01 AM

Thank you very much for having me here. I would like to introduce myself briefly. My name is Ralph and I live with my family in Switzerland. While looking for a base vehicle to build a motorhome, we came across an old fire truck. It was offered to me as a "Chevrolet K2503".

The base for it is a 1963 K20 pickup. According to my current knowledge, the components for it were brought to Switzerland from the USA and assembled there. I am currently clarifying if this is true. If so, it would be a Chevrolet "Suisse Montage".

A panel van was then built on top of the chassis and up against the cab in Switzerland; I suspect by hand. According to unconfirmed information, there are exactly 11 from this year and in this version. In 1964 the vehicle was delivered to the fire department.

Funfact: The birthplace of Louis Chevrolet, the namesake and founder of the "Chevrolet Motor Car Company", which today belongs to the General Motors Group, is La-Chaux-de-Fonds. Independently of him, the Swiss GM production plant was established in 1934 in Biel, which is 50 km (31 miles) from La-Chaux-de-Fonds. That's where nearly 330,000 GM vehicles were assembled and adapted for Swiss road use until 1975. One of them could be my vehicle.

We have had the truck since 2022 and it will serve us as a camper. We dream of various trips. I am curious if these dreams will come true. I would also like to document the history of the vehicle.

The body is in good condition. Brakes, steering, engine and drivetrain still need some love and I am sure I can use some help for that. At the same time, I'm happy to share what I'll inevitably learn in the coming months.

Let me know if you are interested in the story, and what of it specifically.

**68bowtie** · 04-13-2023, 11:34 AM

Welcome

Very nice truck, thanks for sharing.

SwissFireTruck · 04-13-2023, 04:57 PM

Thank you for your welcome, 68bowtie. Looks like your "BlueBomb" was functional once what our "BigRed" has yet to become.

FamilyTruckster65 · 04-13-2023, 07:10 PM

That is very cool! Please do keep posting you progress.

SwissFireTruck · 04-14-2023, 10:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FamilyTruckster65

That is very cool! Please do keep posting you progress.

Thank you, @FamilyTruckster65. What a cool name.

**The Rocknrod** · 04-15-2023, 07:30 PM

Nice truck. Welcome to the forum.

**allchevy58** · 04-15-2023, 10:26 PM

NICE! Welcome to this site.

**Getter-Done** · 04-15-2023, 10:42 PM

Welcome to the best Forum on the Net.

Braunschweiger · 04-16-2023, 04:18 AM

Hallo und Willkommen hier.
In diesem Forum bist du perfekt aufgehoben,
ein enormes Wissen ist hier vorhanden.
Gruß aus Niedersachsen/Deutschland, Harald

**3757chevy** · 04-22-2023, 03:19 PM

Welcome! Very nice looking truck.

SwissFireTruck · 04-30-2023, 06:18 AM

Thank you for the warm welcome. (Ganz besonders freut mich die Antwort in deutscher Sprache.)

The most important reason to be here in the forum is surely to find occasional help for the partly rare components installed in my truck.

Currently I am making good progress. The engine has been sealed, currently I am working on the rear axle and brakes. Oil was leaking into the brakes, the oil seal outside was leaking. Sealing the front axle, transfer case, transmission and PTO are still to come.

It's gratifying how simple everything is set up. Exciting on the other hand: Ask 3 people about a topic and you get at least 4 recommendations. For example, on sealing. It is exciting to find your own way. As it looks, this goes about trial and error.

In the middle of May, the local authorities will decide whether the Chevy is suitable for road use in its current condition. Hopefully everything will go smoothly, because there are already some trips planned: a bachelor party, classic car meeting at the builder of my car body, classic car family vacation in summer.

What are you working on, what plans do you have with your trucks and what trips do you want to take?

04-13-2023, 05:01 AM	#1
SwissFireTruck Registered User Join Date: Jan 2023 Location: Castrisch (Switzerland) Posts: 3	1963 K20 fire truck from Switzerland Thank you very much for having me here. I would like to introduce myself briefly. My name is Ralph and I live with my family in Switzerland. While looking for a base vehicle to build a motorhome, we came across an old fire truck. It was offered to me as a "Chevrolet K2503". The base for it is a 1963 K20 pickup. According to my current knowledge, the components for it were brought to Switzerland from the USA and assembled there. I am currently clarifying if this is true. If so, it would be a Chevrolet "Suisse Montage". A panel van was then built on top of the chassis and up against the cab in Switzerland; I suspect by hand. According to unconfirmed information, there are exactly 11 from this year and in this version. In 1964 the vehicle was delivered to the fire department. Funfact: The birthplace of Louis Chevrolet, the namesake and founder of the "Chevrolet Motor Car Company", which today belongs to the General Motors Group, is La-Chaux-de-Fonds. Independently of him, the Swiss GM production plant was established in 1934 in Biel, which is 50 km (31 miles) from La-Chaux-de-Fonds. That's where nearly 330,000 GM vehicles were assembled and adapted for Swiss road use until 1975. One of them could be my vehicle. We have had the truck since 2022 and it will serve us as a camper. We dream of various trips. I am curious if these dreams will come true. I would also like to document the history of the vehicle. The body is in good condition. Brakes, steering, engine and drivetrain still need some love and I am sure I can use some help for that. At the same time, I'm happy to share what I'll inevitably learn in the coming months. Let me know if you are interested in the story, and what of it specifically. Attached Images __________________ kind regards from Grison Highlands Last edited by SwissFireTruck; 04-13-2023 at 09:11 AM. Reason: images added

04-13-2023, 11:34 AM	#2
68bowtie Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Turlock, CA Posts: 8,363	Re: New Member from Switzerland Welcome Very nice truck, thanks for sharing. __________________ I live in California, but identify as a Texan "If a job's worth doing, it's worth doing well" Project "Little Sister" (70 c10 blue original paint refresh) Project "C10 Fever" (68 factory black 396 swb) Project "Blue Bomb" (70 c30 blue original paint refresh) Project "Vitamin C" (71 c10 orange original paint refresh)

04-13-2023, 04:57 PM	#3
SwissFireTruck Registered User Join Date: Jan 2023 Location: Castrisch (Switzerland) Posts: 3	Re: New Member from Switzerland Thank you for your welcome, 68bowtie. Looks like your "BlueBomb" was functional once what our "BigRed" has yet to become. __________________ kind regards from Grison Highlands

04-13-2023, 07:10 PM	#4
FamilyTruckster65 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2019 Location: Oregon Posts: 158	Re: New Member from Switzerland That is very cool! Please do keep posting you progress.

04-15-2023, 07:30 PM	#6
The Rocknrod Moderator Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: China Spring, TX Posts: 7,280	Re: New Member from Switzerland Nice truck. Welcome to the forum. __________________ Master Chief, US Navy, Retired 1964 C10 Step-side Short Bed - In Progress 2009 2500HD Duramax LTZ 1948 GMC Panel 1956 Big Window Stepside 1953 5 Window Chevy Stepside 1932 Coupe New Seat Foam for Bench Seats?

04-15-2023, 10:26 PM	#7
allchevy58 Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Reno, Nv. Posts: 1,424	Re: New Member from Switzerland NICE! Welcome to this site. __________________ 1927 Willy's Knight 24,000 original miles, 1958 Impala 283/Powerglide, 1964 C-30 383/4 speed, 1971 Monte Carlo 350/350, 1972 GMC K2500 350/350, 1976 Chev. K10 350/350, 2006 GMC Sierra 2500HD LBZ Duramax/Allison, 2006 Chev. Silverado K3500 LBZ Duramax/Allison

04-15-2023, 10:42 PM	#8
Getter-Done Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: TN. Posts: 7,736	Re: New Member from Switzerland Welcome to the best Forum on the Net. __________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________ 84 Chevy K-20 63 Impala (my high school car) http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...Crew Cab Build

04-16-2023, 04:18 AM	#9
Braunschweiger Registered User Join Date: Aug 2020 Location: Braunschweig, Lower Saxony, Germany Posts: 752	Re: New Member from Switzerland Hallo und Willkommen hier. In diesem Forum bist du perfekt aufgehoben, ein enormes Wissen ist hier vorhanden. Gruß aus Niedersachsen/Deutschland, Harald __________________ ------------------------------------------- Greetings Harald My 62 build thread http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=829782

04-22-2023, 03:19 PM	#10
3757chevy Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2016 Location: Near Canon City ,Colorado Posts: 3,855	Re: New Member from Switzerland Welcome! Very nice looking truck. __________________ '35 1/2 ton Pickup (bought 2020) '68 C10 Suburban (bought 2021) '72 K5 Blazer (bought 2013) '67 Stepside (bought 1997-sold 2021) '96 Bronco Eddie Bauer (inherited 2010) My 1st day here-'67 C10(sold)and '72 K5 Blazer http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=702056 "Another Blue Chevy"(1935) http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=799203 '68 Burb...https://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/...d.php?t=822994 MIKE

04-30-2023, 06:18 AM	#11
SwissFireTruck Registered User Join Date: Jan 2023 Location: Castrisch (Switzerland) Posts: 3	Re: New Member from Switzerland Thank you for the warm welcome. (Ganz besonders freut mich die Antwort in deutscher Sprache.) The most important reason to be here in the forum is surely to find occasional help for the partly rare components installed in my truck. Currently I am making good progress. The engine has been sealed, currently I am working on the rear axle and brakes. Oil was leaking into the brakes, the oil seal outside was leaking. Sealing the front axle, transfer case, transmission and PTO are still to come. It's gratifying how simple everything is set up. Exciting on the other hand: Ask 3 people about a topic and you get at least 4 recommendations. For example, on sealing. It is exciting to find your own way. As it looks, this goes about trial and error. In the middle of May, the local authorities will decide whether the Chevy is suitable for road use in its current condition. Hopefully everything will go smoothly, because there are already some trips planned: a bachelor party, classic car meeting at the builder of my car body, classic car family vacation in summer. What are you working on, what plans do you have with your trucks and what trips do you want to take? Attached Images __________________ kind regards from Grison Highlands Last edited by SwissFireTruck; 04-30-2023 at 06:54 AM. Reason: added pictures



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