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.

Re: New Member from Switzerland
 

Welcome

Very nice truck, thanks for sharing.

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.

Re: New Member from Switzerland
 

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

Re: New Member from Switzerland
 

Thank you, @FamilyTruckster65. What a cool name. :D

Re: New Member from Switzerland
 

Nice truck. Welcome to the forum.

Re: New Member from Switzerland
 

NICE! Welcome to this site.

Re: New Member from Switzerland
 

Welcome to the best Forum on the Net.

:welcome2::welcome2::welcome2::welcome2::welcome2::welcome2::welcome2:

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

Re: New Member from Switzerland
 

Welcome! Very nice looking truck.

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?