Fairfield Mint 1:24 1934 Ford Gasoline Truck

As automobile engines improved, it was fast becoming apparent that fuels had to improve as well. One of the most common problems with the various fuels of the day was pre-ignition, or “knocking,” a phenomenon that occurs when fuel ignites before its proper time in the four-cycle order (intake-compression-ignition-exhaust) due to an insufficient octane rating. If allowed to continue, knocking leads to spark plug, valve, and even piston failure (literally blowing a hole in the top). Various methods were used to boost the octane rating of fuel and avoid pre-ignition. There were three major types of octane boosting additives: 1. Vapor-phase cracked products. 2. Benzol (another name for benzene) blends. 3. Gasoline from napthenic-base crudes. Ethyl alcohol was one method used, but benzol was also widely used, accepted, and demanded by the motoring public. Eventually, lead tetraethyl (a compound of lead, suspended in alcohol) became the industry benchmark, until its general discontinuance and finally outright banning, for environmental and health reasons. To this day, especially in the South, high-octane gasoline is referred to as “ethyl.”

In 1934, the day of the “service station” was a couple of decades down the road and it wasn’t necessary to deliver gasoline to stations in 5,000-gallon eighteen-wheelers. A smaller, straight-job tanker would do the trick. Ford manufactured the Model BB-157 as a chassis for flatbed, stake-bed, tow truck, and tanker duties. With a cross-braced, ladder-type frame, and double wheels on the rear axle to carry the weight, it was widely used for medium-to-heavy duty service.

The Fairfield Mint (FFM) has put out an inexpensive ($39.99) version of this Thirties workhorse in 1:24 scale. The cab, hood, and body sides are painted in dark blue; the tank and fenders are painted silver. Two large signs on each side of the tank indicate it’s carrying Ford Benzol-enhanced gasoline. The lettering on each cab door says, “Ford Motor Company,” but my guess is that it would more likely be the name of the company that delivered that gasoline. License plates front and rear have the date of the truck’s model year on them.

This is a solid die cast image, with a lot going for it. Starting from the front, I like what they did to replicate the radiator shell—it actually looks like nickel plating and not just chromed plastic (it’s die cast metal). When you lift either of the hood sides (which have individual, cast, Ford V-8 logos on them), you’ll find a flat-head V-8 underneath with a decent amount of detail, right down to the plug wires. Both cab doors open to display a surprising amount of detailing in the interior. The seats are soft plastic and the floor (cast in simulated wood grain) is painted to make it look like real wood floorboards. Moving to the tank area, there are doors that open on both sides to reveal some of the inner workings of a tanker. On the left side are photographic representations of pumps, controls, and gauges. On the right side, however, the machinery’s done in separate 3-D parts, including a hose, reel, and nozzle (the hose doesn’t unreel). Two rear doors open to reveal more 3-D machinery. All doors have the appropriate safety labeling tampoed on. Up top, are three opening filler hatches. Two sets of chromed grab rails are mounted along the sides and in the back. The headlights and taillights are separate, translucent plastic lenses. Moving to the undercarriage, again we find a good amount of detailing. The wheels are done nicely to scale, with period correct tread patterns. There are working suspensions for all four wheels as well. As a bonus, extras like a fire extinguisher, a red toolbox with opening lid, a red Gerry can, a pour-spout oil can with wire handle, two five-gallon cans with wire handles, eight quart-sized oil cans (in two groups of four), a molded bundle of six hose sections, and a fifty-five gallon drum (!) are included—although it’s a puzzle to me as to where some of this stuff would be stashed on the truck. It would all look great in a diorama, however. Oh yeah, two additional sideview mirrors are also included, which seems to be a standard practice with this image’s manufacturer. I’m pleased at all the extras you get considering the relatively bargain price of this image. Kudos to Unique Replicas for going the extra mile with this image—it’ll look great displayed with your 1:24 die cast cars of the period.

Changes were coming fast—in cars, and the fuels they used—until the automobile would change the landscape of America with super-service stations, drive-in restaurants, roadside attractions, and unprecedented road construction. The gasoline tanker has become a common sight on the highways and byways of our nation, a chapter in the story of the vehicles that put America on wheels—and shaped our national character in the process.

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