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American LaFrance fire engine and racing car - a monster with a top speed of 130 km/h

Name: American LaFrance Typ 10 1915
Brand: American LaFrance

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Created on April 1, 1990

Text:

Bernhard Brägger

Photos:

Daniel Reinhard

Bruno von Rotz

Balz Schreier

Lucio Pompeo

Daniel Reinhard

Bruno von Rotz

Balz Schreier

Lucio Pompeo

American LaFrance (1915) - at full speed

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American LaFrance (1915) - Around 10 liters of displacement need to be cooled

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American LaFrance (1915) - two seats and a lot of engine

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American LaFrance (1915) - you can't see its size in the photos

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American LaFrance (1915) - everything is carved from solid wood

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American LaFrance (1915) - Launch preparations

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American LaFrance (1915) - the crew quickly gets wet in the rain due to the lack of mudguards

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American LaFrance (1915) - produced real fountains

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American LaFrance (1915) - special care is required when going downhill, as the drum brakes mounted only on the rear axle take a long time to reduce speed

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American LaFrance (1915) - the monumental four-cylinder engines were up to 130 km/h fast

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American LaFrance (1915) - needs almost the whole road

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American LaFrance (1915) - always keep going

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American LaFrance (1915) - in the event of damage, the tire would have to be mounted first

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American LaFrance (1915) - sympathetic appearances

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American LaFrance (1915) - requires full concentration

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American LaFrance (1915) - the steering wheel is loose in the hand, the steering is very direct

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American LaFrance (1915) - giant wooden steering wheel

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American LaFrance (1915) - moving forward very quickly

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American LaFrance (1915) - two comfortable seats, almost like club chairs

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American LaFrance (1915) - rudimentary controls

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American LaFrance (1915) - if you're that fast, you have to be able to draw attention to yourself

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American LaFrance (1915) - important settings can be made on the steering wheel

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American LaFrance (1915) - Spare parts on board

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American LaFrance (1915) - a "stovepipe" as an exhaust pipe

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American LaFrance (1915) - Four cylinders and around 10 liters of displacement

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American LaFrance (1915) - rustic technology

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American LaFrance (1915) - the red of the engine block is reminiscent of the fire engines built in parallel

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American LaFrance (1915) - Impressive piston and valve size

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American LaFrance (1915) - the gas tank is "unbuckled" at the back

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American LaFrance (1915) - the sprockets can be changed to adjust the transmission ratio

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American LaFrance (1915) - the rear wheels are driven by chains

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American LaFrance (1915) - the chain must be able to withstand considerable forces

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American LaFrance (1915) - filigree details

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American LaFrance (1915) - the chassis number is clearly visible

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American LaFrance (1915) - Chassis badge

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American LaFrance (1915) - The company could look back on a long tradition as early as 1915

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American LaFrance fire engine - the manufacturer made most of its money with commercial vehicles

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Impressions of the Michaelskreuzrennen 2011 - Two American La France rest after the strenuous ride at the top of the pass

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Arosa ClassicCar 2010 Hill Climb - American La France Type 12 1917

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La France Type 12 (1917) with starting number 174 at the Arosa ClassicCar 2011

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La France 12 (1917) at the Michaelskreuzrennen 2011 (starting number 222)

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American la France Type 12 (1917) - Lenzerheide Motor Classics 2011

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American La France 10 (1915) at the Michaelskreuzrennen 2011 (starting number 224)

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Klausen Bergrennen Memorial 2006 - American la France

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Summary

This article contains the following chapters

Fire engine or racing car?
Roaring, pounding monster
With a double clutch ...
Today still at 130 km/h
With just three gears ...

Estimated reading time: 6min

Preview (beginning of the article)

If you come across a LaFrance on the open road, it can certainly seem like a noisy, fire-breathing monster from the devil's kitchen. A whole series of these almost monstrous vehicles with displacements of around 10 liters are still on our roads and are popular guests at classic car events. When the LaFrance - there are different name notations between American La France, LaFrance and Lafrance - was bolted together in Chicago around 1910, its manufacturers did not yet know exactly whether the power from the four cylinders was to be used to win over fires or to win on the just-opened Indianapolis brick track. LaFrance primarily produced fire engines. But because the firefighters equipped with a LaFrance were always the first to appear at the scene of a fire, it was not so far-fetched to thunder down the racetracks in the fire-free minutes with the fire engine.

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