We know all about Big Red; it's a monster-ized 1937 International fire truck that we first saw at the Woodward Dream Cruise. The beast weighs in at a whopping 30,000-pounds and measures 38-feet long; it's the world's heaviest and longest monster truck. But now it's just sold at the Palm Beach Barret-Jackson auction for— only $26,000. Now obviously this isn't a traditionally practical vehicle, but for sheer pounds of awesome-to-dollar value, we think this thing was a steal.

Big Red has a Cummins Turbo diesel engine connected to Allison automatic transmission with a Spicer transfer case. Those tires are 66 x 43 x 25. The 1937 body and frame are all original. Back in the day, this was the first truck to pump 600 gallons per minute. Amazing. [Barrett-Jackson]

4:15 PM on Thu Mar 27 2008
By Mark Arnold
2,202 views
32 comments

Comments

RoyLFuchs at 04:20 PM on 03/27/08
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Valeting this at jasons would be the shnizzel
Miscellanea at 04:21 PM on 03/27/08
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For that price I'd make this thing my daily driver! I'll shorten my commute time in half. If cars don't get out of the way, I'll just run 'em over.
$Image of Dr.Danger\'s got it all$ Dr.Danger's got it all at 04:24 PM on 03/27/08
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Yes, fuck water, just romp the shit out of the fire until it is out.

Imagine seeing this ramping over houses "gravedigger style".

sweet.

SUNDAY SUNDAY SUNDAY!
AT YOUR HOUSE!

ON FIRE!!!
crespo at 04:25 PM on 03/27/08
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"pounds of awesome-to-dollar"

that needs a trademarkin'.
BlownOring at 04:26 PM on 03/27/08
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@Miscellanea: now you can truly achieve the shortest distance between two points via a straight line to work ... I wouldn't worry about cars, trees, houses or shopping malls with something like that.

It lends one hell of a helping to those that currently complain about the size of SUVs though.
jnostalgics at 04:26 PM on 03/27/08
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That'd be a might neato fire truck if it didn't have the monster tires.

Is monster truck "rallying" a sport?
BlownOring at 04:27 PM on 03/27/08
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Oh, and add big red truck nuts and I'd take it for double the price easy.
elwood at 04:29 PM on 03/27/08
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Just more proof that the amount a car sells for at Barret-Jackson is in no way indicative of its actual value. The sum of the values of the parts on this thing is way more than $26,000.
RoyLFuchs at 04:30 PM on 03/27/08
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@BlownOring: dont forget the oversized hose option.
smokyburnout at 04:30 PM on 03/27/08
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@Dr.Danger: if it were up to me, that would be COTD... brilliant mental imagery.

i'm not sure if the low prices so far are a sign of how bad the economy is, or just a sign that this is just the Palm Beach Barrett-Jackson, and it's not even the weekend...
RoyLFuchs at 04:31 PM on 03/27/08
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@elwood: i heared the slant six mopars with be the next big thing on BJ
DrJeffie at 04:33 PM on 03/27/08
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Gawd Damn - that would be fun to drive
Ash78 at 04:33 PM on 03/27/08
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REO Stompwagon
$Image of Dr.Danger\'s got it all$ Dr.Danger's got it all at 04:34 PM on 03/27/08
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@smokyburnout: How about this image:
Monster firetruck doing doughnuts in the yard with the smoking pile of debris in the background.

cue Motorhead - Ace of Spades
Novaload at 04:51 PM on 03/27/08
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Hmmm...Less than a dollar a pound. It's a--FIRE SALE!
Unevolved: Whoop! at 04:59 PM on 03/27/08
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I think the awesome-to-dollar ratio need a numeric scale.
charles_barrett at 05:11 PM on 03/27/08
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@jnostalgics: I agree. This thing would be far more awesome if in original stock condition and polished up. Now, it's just a parody of everything that makes little boys and grown men fall in love with fire engines.
clinto at 05:25 PM on 03/27/08
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Lame
Kelly at 05:42 PM on 03/27/08
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Completely impractical yet totally bitchin'.

The near ultimate ride.
CharlzR at 05:55 PM on 03/27/08
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@jnostalgics: I agree. Maybe a newer firetruck would be cool with the full Gravediggerization. This just seems to ruin a classic.
MarionCobretti at 06:02 PM on 03/27/08
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If I have one regret, it's that I can't nominate "Porkchop Sandwiches!" for COTD.
Isetta at 07:04 PM on 03/27/08
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@CharlzR: Yes, return this grand old lady to her original configuration.
FatBraff at 07:10 PM on 03/27/08
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This is what Giulliani drives when he is in Iraq, breakin' off terrorists...
Number_Six at 07:15 PM on 03/27/08
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I rarely get indignant over monstertruckinization but this one makes me feel queasy. For the love of god, someone fix it, please.
tad49 at 07:17 PM on 03/27/08
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A nice old fire truck ruined!!
milo_carrera at 09:38 PM on 03/27/08
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For so many nights, I've cried out to the heavens, trying to understand how to fill the void in my life. What theology failed, Big Red has filled. Where do I sign?
TrikeKid at 10:32 PM on 03/27/08
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Ahem, it's CUMMINS, not Cummings. There's no "g". The only fixing this needs is a true alcohol burning 1500 horse engine that belongs in a monster truck.
Mark Arnold at 09:20 AM on 03/28/08
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@TrikeKid: sorry, fixed. In my defense, it was spelled "Cummings" on the B-J description.
TR3-A at 01:20 PM on 03/28/08
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Just the thing to get your wife to leave you... and finally live in peace and happiness.
Turboner at 01:35 PM on 03/28/08
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At 600GPM, you could fill the water tank with Diesel and have enough fuel flow to keep up with a VW-bug sized turbo pushing approximately 1,301 PSI. Wheelstandingmonsterfiretruckmadness!
FuzzyPlushroom at 05:51 PM on 03/29/08
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@Number_Six: Eh, it's great as it is. I'd probably return 'er to stock, sell 'er at a profit...

...and do something like this to a city bus.

Then live in it.
markspyguy at 09:40 PM on 03/30/08
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I saw that on woodward ave.