In an emergency, it isn't always the fire departments with their great shining fire engines tat are the answer for every situation. Often it is a variety of support vehicles that are best suited to a particular dilemma. Civil Defense, for example, is an organization of men and women who respond to natural and man-made disasters such as floods, tornados, hurricans, earthquakes, terrorism and war. While much of Civil Defense's early efforts were focused on nuclear war during the height of the Cold War, it has since been influential in responding to all sorts of emergencies, as well as educating the general public on how to respond to modern disasters. In 1954, at the height of Civil Defense concern with potential threats from the Soviet Union, a Civil Defense unit might have been outfitted with a rugged, classic truck like the 1954 Ford. In 1954, Ford had introduced the latest in its overhead-valve-engine family, a mid-size V-8 that could be used in light or medium trucks. With these engines, Ford had become the first major automaker to transfer completely to domestically built overhead-valve powerplants. And, while the engine changes were the major news from Ford in 1954, there were other important departures from previous years' models: a 115.5 inch wheelbase, a ball-joint front suspension, an entire reworking of the frame, a new steering linkage and a three piece link-type stabilizer bar.

Now, a rugged 1954 Ford truck is outfitted with all the features needed by a Civil Defense rescue squad. This highly detailed die-cast replica is authorized by the Fire Brigade Society. Precision-engineered and marked with authentic Civil Defense logos and graphics, your 1954 Ford Civil Defense Rescue Truck is produced by - and available only from - Matchbox Collectibles.

Scale: 1:43