https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/376643_424466760923950_1199578792_n. jpg
American-LaFrance, ex firetruck
It is an American-LaFrance (prior fire truck) speedster. Beautiful it is.
And I bet it is a blast to drive!
It's a BEAST! I'd love to take it for a spin!
When I was with the Fire Dept back in the 60's
we had an American La France with a large Hall Scott. I was called back for greater alarm fires
and brought it out, it had a 6inch monitor mounted on it and was heavy enough that it was not pushed around when in use. In driving it to a fire, you had to remember it was a right hand drive, had a friction drive siren, no brakes,
and armstrong steering. The only thing that came close to the adventure was driving a chain drive Mack.
I can't get excited about an unattractive fantasy vehicle like that.
It was discussed back in 2009:
http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/80257/117856.html?1261760819
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yCRSLDtXlWY
Looks like a car that drives at 300RPM on the open road would be fun.
It may well be an unattractive, fantasy vehicle....to some. But I never get tired of it's repost. Do I love it? Hell yeah!
First time seeing it for me, That bad boy would be a heck of a head turner.. I'm not to sure about my arm being that close to the drive chain... It would for sure give me a reason not to let any body parts stray to far from the seat!
I reckon to some it would be attractive in pieces sticking out of a container ship headed to china to stamp out Christmas toys from?
Granted,if it was a complete,decent fire truck,shoulda been restored as such.But if it was a relic out in the field with pump missing,controls gone and just not enough there,at least someone is having fun with it.
There was a nice looking one in the 2000 Greatrace. Even with a real pro crew, he couldn't keep it running long enough to give me a chance to put the T beside it for a David & Goliath pic. . Rodney also had original Professor Fate and Great Leslie cars from the 1964 Great Race movie. Rodney made his money cleaning up railcar accidents, so he was used to big machines like his ALF speedster.
rdr
I was on the Greatrace in 1985 with a 40 horsepower 1913 Cadillac Touring Car. There was a huge six cylinder American LaFrance Fire engine on the tour with about four other ones with different sized engines.
It kicked out a rod or something and they had to re-work some of the parts so they took off the center two jugs that were cast in pairs and the two rods and piston assemblies. They sent them off to a machine shop in one of the next day's stops and put a plate over the two center spaces in the crankcase-block. The truck didn't appear to run any slower the next day while running on the front and back four cylinders. The machine shop had done the work and they re-fastened all of the pieces and continued the run in good order.
Fantastic car. It would sell my first born for that thing!
Looks like a car renown connoisseur Tom Lafierre would have. He also owns my favorite Model T Speedster in the whole wide world.
Fantastic car. It would sell my first-born for that thing!
Looks like a car renown connoisseur Tom Lafierre would have. He also owns my favorite Model T Speedster in the whole wide world.