Waitati volunteer fireman Jody Williams said the V8-powered truck started life at the Taieri Aerodrome as a crash tender for the Royal New Zealand Air Force base during World War 2, and was later put to work in what was the Blueskin Volunteer Fire Unit in Waitati.
Mr Williams said the vehicle had personal significance, because his grandfather, Robert Angell, drove it during the war.
The ‘‘Jailbar'' name came from the style of the grille, which looked like the bars of a jail house, he said.
Little was known about what happened to the Ford once it was retired from the Fire Service - and particularly how it came to end up in a Feilding farmer's shed.
‘‘Long story short, it came to light through some people in the North Island that knew a member of our local fire brigade.
‘‘They said there was this old fire truck with ‘‘Blueskin VFU'' on the side of it.''
Mr Williams said a small group of Waitati volunteer firefighters decided it would be good for the community to have it back, and had since formed an organisation called Blueskin #1 to make that happen.
‘‘We want to restore it to some capacity - probably not to immaculate finish, but restored to semi-working order.
‘‘We more or less want to use the vehicle for charitable events.
‘‘We're thinking of events like the Foodbank Can Appeal, Big Rigs for Special Kids, A&P shows and market days.
‘‘It would also be used to raise safety awareness. It would be a great ad for Smoke Alarm Week.''
Blueskin #1 was attempting to raise about $10,000 to buy the vehicle and have it transported back to Waitati. Further fundraising would be needed to pay for its restoration, Mr Williams said.
