They won’t be taking it on any emergency calls, but the Mattapoisett Fire Department's newly refurbished 1949 No. 4 engine looks as good as the day it rolled into town, thanks to a complete overhaul by Check Collision.

“The department can’t thank you enough, none of us can,” Lt. Justin Dubois told Check Collision owner Paul Zammito.

Zammito and his employees rolled out the gleaming bright red engine on Thursday afternoon after six months of work.

“The doors came off. The hood came off. Everything that could be unbolted was unbolted and taken down to bare metal in some places,” said Zammito.

The engine has had a long history in Mattapoisett. Built in Middleboro, it arrived in town brand new in 1949 and was in active service until 1974 when the department retired it to make way for a newer engine.

At the time, G.H. Dunn Insurance, whose logo is a fire truck, acquired the engine and kept it until recently when they offered to give it back to the town.

The Fire Department had hopes to return the engine to its original luster, but the extent of the work needed would have taken a long time and a lot of money.

Members of the fire department mentioned the truck in a conversation with Check Collision Manager Luis Rebelo, so they took a look.

“We were kind of shocked to see the good condition it was in,” said Rebelo.

Kept in a closed garage at Dunn’s building on Route 6, the fire truck had been protected from the elements in the 40 years since the department retired it.

Check Collision, which relocated from Dartmouth to Mattapoisett almost four years ago, specializes in repairing cars, not antique restorations, but Zammito said they were happy to take on the project.

“We like to be good neighbors. It wasn’t a big decision for us,” he said.

Lead technician Stephen Corteau kept the restoration moving over the past six months with employees working on the engine when there was a lull in the shop. Students interning from Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical High School also put in some elbow grease.

Using a specialized camera, Check Collision was also able to match the original paint color.

The countless hours of work definitely paid off.

“I can’t get over it,” said Dubois.

A few finishing touches are still in the works. The wooden ladders are being restored, the rims need to be repainted and the lettering still needs to be hand painted on the hood and side. The original lights, bell and siren will also be reattached.

Many are eager to see the engine returned to its original glory.

“It’s already being requested all over town,” said Dubois.

The No. 4 engine will be on display Sunday at Harbor Days and also on weekends at the Mattapoisett Historical Society in conjunction with the “Mattapoisett’s Finest” summer exhibit.

Like a proud new dad, Dubois is likely to be nearby whenever the fire truck is out and about.

“No fingerprints and you gotta wear white gloves,” he joked.