Key unique features of 1938 Ford fire engines include:
- Engine: The 24-stud Flathead V8, often equipped with a Model 94 Holly carburetor.
- Pump System: Many were equipped with front-mounted 300-420 gallon-per-minute rotary gear pumps, allowing them to draft water directly from water sources.
- Body & Utility: Often built on a Ford 2-ton truck chassis, they were configured with essential equipment like ladders, hose reels, fire buckets, and 300-gallon water tanks.
- Open Cab Design: The open-cab design was characteristic of the era, chosen for rapid entry/exit by fire crews.
- Historical Impact: Frequently used by smaller, municipal fire departments as their primary pumper, many survived to become preserved parade pieces, such as the one featured in "A Christmas Story"
Saratoga Rotary Club Foundation granted $7,300 to Saratoga Fire Protection District to purchase a rebuilt engine for Saratoga's Fire Protection District’s historic 1938 Ford Model A Fire Engine, which was installed by Saratoga community volunteers.