Yesteryear Collection

Each year, the Clayton community shows its holiday spirit by launching one of the finest parades around. High school bands and vintage automobiles are interspersed with juggling clowns and festive floats in a mile-long march of music, color and good cheer. But every year, the greatest excitement of all is left for the end - when the Clayton Fire Brigade brings out its vintage fire engine to carry the most important guest of the parade: Santa Claus! This year is even more special because Santa is accompanied by Mrs. Claus herself, as well as a trusty reindeer. Surrounded by presents and waving cheerily to the onlookers lining the streets, Santa's appearance on the classic engine is truly the official start of the holiday season! The pride of the Clayton Fire Brigade's fleet is a 1932 Ford AA open engine, a classic vehicle that represented the last year for the Model AA truck. In 1932 it was replaced by the Model BB with the newly-introduced mass-produced, low-price V-8 engine. The AA truck was one of many Ford trucks thaat were adapted for fire fighting needs in the early part of the century. In the '20s and '30s, Ford trucks, were as popular - and as easily maintained - as its automobiles. So when it came time for a community to purchase a vehicle for its fire-fighting needs, the Ford Model AA was a logical choice. Fitted out with ladders, hose, and sirens and painted a bright red, the Ford Model AA Fire Engine quickly became the pride of communities across the nation. Now, the classic 1932 Ford AA with Santa, Mrs.Claus, reindeer and gifts is recreated in an authentic replica produced by - and available exclusively from - Matchbox Collectibles, the greatest name in die-cast.