Restoring the GMC CCKW-353 Water Tanker

Museum of Fire Heritage Team
3 hours ago
4 min read

Some restorations reveal more than a vehicle's mechanical history — they uncover a story that had been hidden for decades under layer after layer of paint. That is exactly what happened during the ongoing restoration of No. 010, the Museum of Fire's GMC CCKW-353 Water Tanker, when volunteers stripping the vehicle's bodywork found the truck's original wartime green paint sitting intact beneath its fire brigade red.

A Wartime Workhorse

The GMC CCKW — affectionately nicknamed the "Jimmy" or the "Deuce and a Half" — was the principal 2½-ton, 6×6 all-wheel-drive truck used by Allied forces throughout the Second World War. No. 010 began life as a decontamination variant, built to respond to chemical weapons attacks. Rather than water, it was originally equipped to carry chemical neutralising agents, allowing crews to decontaminate personnel, aircraft, vehicles and ground surfaces exposed to blister agents such as mustard gas, or choking agents such as phosgene.

From Air Force Decontamination Unit to NSW Firefighter

The truck's transformation into a firefighting vehicle came in 1952, as the NSW Fire Brigades (NSWFB, today Fire and Rescue NSW) moved to strengthen bushfire protection across the Blue Mountains. Hose post boxes were established throughout Metropolitan Sydney, Newcastle and Blue Mountains Districts, with staff and auxiliary firefighter numbers increased to match the growing risk. As part of this expansion, the NSWFB acquired nine mobile decontamination units from the Royal Australian Air Force in Queensland to bolster its bush firefighting capability. The GMC's original wooden water tanks were removed and replaced with steel tanks capable of holding 620 gallons of water, turning a wartime decontamination vehicle into a fire brigade water tanker.

No. 010 went on to serve at four NSW fire stations over nearly three decades:

1953 — No. 445 Springwood
1973 — No. 343 Katoomba
1975 — No. 363 Lithgow
1978 — No. 301 Glenbrook
1980 — Withdrawn into the Heritage Fleet

Bringing the Brakes Back to Life

Restoration work began in earnest in early 2025, starting with the front brake assemblies, which had corroded and seized solid after years in storage. Volunteers used hydraulic porta-power equipment to free the severely seized wheel hubs and brake drums, finally gaining access to the brake shoes, backing plates and wheel cylinders beneath. Each component was cleaned, assessed and prepared for refurbishment.

The centrepiece of this stage of the project was the overhaul of the Hydrovac brake booster — a vacuum-assisted braking device that was a critical safety feature on heavy vehicles of this era. Inspection revealed a degraded vacuum diaphragm and significant internal contamination. Volunteers fully disassembled, cleaned and rebuilt the unit with a new diaphragm and refurbished internal components, restoring the truck's braking system to working order. Attention then turned to the vehicle's pump, with volunteers working to make the tanker capable of pumping water once again.

Rust, Rescue and a New Hatch

Attention then turned to the vehicle's steel water tank, which internal inspection revealed to be filled with a heavy build-up of rust flakes and corrosion debris — enough to fill multiple tubs once removed. Volunteers carried out an extensive manual clean-out of the tank's interior, clearing rust scale and preparing the surface for further treatment.

Because access inside the tank was so restricted, a new maintenance and inspection hatch was designed, fabricated and cut into its upper surface. The modification was carried out sensitively, in keeping with the vehicle's historical character, and now provides essential access for rust removal, internal treatment and ongoing conservation. A new removable lid was also fitted, improving accessibility while preserving the tank's historical integrity.

Once the volunteers' internal preparation work was complete, the tank was removed from the vehicle and sent to an external contractor in Parkes, NSW, where it was sandblasted to remove all remaining grime and corrosion. The contractor also repaired the tank's structural integrity, patching holes and deterioration caused by age, while stripping the exterior paint layer in preparation for repainting. The tank returned to the Museum in November 2025.

A Discovery Beneath the Red

While the tank was away, volunteers turned their attention to the cab, chassis and tank body, stripping paint and cleaning the exterior in preparation for conservation decisions about the vehicle's final appearance. It was during this process that they made a remarkable discovery: beneath decades of fire brigade red, the truck's original World War Two green paint had survived intact — a tangible, physical link back to No. 010's earliest service with the Royal Australian Air Force.

Back in Red

With the tank returned from Parkes and all paint stripped from the vehicle, volunteers repainted the tank in the NSW Fire Brigades' traditional bright red before reinstalling it on the truck. From there, the GMC Tanker was taken to a local sign craftsman to complete its lettering and livery — the finishing touch that returns No. 010 to an appearance consistent with its decades of fire brigade service.

The completion of the repaint and tank reinstallation marks a major milestone in the restoration of this remarkable vehicle — one that served two very different roles across two nations, and now stands ready to tell both stories at the Museum of Fire.

While restoration work was being conducted on the GMC, Reg Varley, a Museum of Fire volunteer of over a decade and a NSW Fire Brigades veteran of 23 years’ service, sadly passed away. Reg brought a lifetime of mechanical skill and generosity to the Museum’s workshop. The GMC CCKW-353 was the last vehicle he worked on, and following his passing the restoration was completed ahead of schedule so that No. 010 could stand ready in time for his funeral. A plaque mounted on the vehicle now recognises his contribution, ensuring his craftsmanship and dedication remain part of the truck’s story for future generations.