September 9, 2012

Spotted - American LaFrance Fire Truck Series 900

When I was a kid when you thought of fire apparatus, you though of an American LaFrance Series 900. If you were given a toy fire truck for Christmas, chances were that it would resemble a Series 900. It's rounded front end with quad headlamps and large turn indicators made it instantly recognizable. That is why when I drove by this used car lot the other day, I just had to stop to take a look. This one looks like the slightly better equipped Series 1000. Low, wide and sleek, these trucks were the bread-and-butter of many fire departments in the United States. Power came from a variety of sources, including seven Continental engines ranging from 175 to 330 horsepower and a 215-horsepower American LaFrance V-12.