Marcus Herfort, the enterprising organizer of Classic Days Schloss Dyck, has a really good idea. As part of the major annual event, which will take place from August 3 to 5 in 2018, the aim is to bring together as many American LaFrance (and direct relatives) as possible.
XXL displacement giants, once developed as fire engines
Huge displacement, big wheels - this is what characterizes the veterans, most of which are now over 100 years old. Most of them had a previous life as fire engines, but have been converted into racers decades ago. The large American LaFrance cars are iconic in our vintage and classic car landscape.
Technically, they are impressive, they are usually individually designed and they give spectators and interested parties a very lasting taste of what is required in terms of vehicle control with significantly more than 5 or 9 or even 14 liters of displacement when it comes to pre-war technology.
ALFs, as they are also known, are not without controversy in the classic car scene. They are always specials - vehicles that never saw the "light of day" in their current appearance. According to sources, fire engines have been converted into speedsters since the 1920s. The frames were shortened and the equipment reduced to the bare essentials.
They are an eye-catcher, the quaint sports cars are also special in the way they represent the classic lifestyle and to a certain extent unique. They are beautiful vehicles that are lovingly cared for and enthusiastically driven.
Their owners come from England, the Netherlands, Austria, Switzerland, Scandinavia and, of course, Germany. In the USA, there is a very lively scene for American LaFrance - there in Summerville, South Carolina, rescue vehicles and fire engines were originally built for the brand. The "International Fire Engine Company" was founded in 1903 and renamed the "American LaFrance" Fire Engine Company in the same year.
The production facilities were set up in Elmira, New York. In 1929, American LaFrance merged with the Republic Motor Truck Company to form LaFrance-Republic.
An eventful company history
According to unsecured information, the company produced around 10 to 15 passenger cars in 1903, which were marketed as La France. This was followed in 1905 by a prototype with cardan drive, which was probably also called La France. Between 1907 and 1914, further passenger cars were produced, which were now marketed as the American La France.
Between 1995 and 2005, American LaFrance was a subsidiary of Freightliner and thus also of Daimler-Benz and Daimler-Chrysler. In 2005, American LaFrance was acquired by the investment company Patriarch Partners. In January 2014, the company announced that it would cease operations.
Special run and a single-variety meeting in 2018
The Classic Days want to make this opportunity for very high-displacement and still affordable pre-war enthusiasm a reality with a special run and a single-variety meeting of American LaFrance vehicles in 2018 at Schloss Dyck in the Classic and Motor Festival from August 3 to 5, 2018.
Participants can already register now and take advantage of attractive special conditions (significantly reduced entry fee, commemorative badge, T-short, etc.).
Further information can be found on the Classic Days 2018 website.
