1916 American LaFrance Speedster

The legacy of the American LaFrance, the 'ALF', began in 1873 by Truckson LaFrance based in Elmira, New York. They were builders of various fire engines that eventually included hand-drawn, horse-drawn, and steam-powered fire engines. In 1903, the American LaFrance Fire Engine Company was established and soon added internal combustion engines to its inventory. The company progressed from building petrol-powered fire equipment to the construction and assembly of automobiles. Throughout its lengthy existence, which lasted until January 17, 2014, the company built thousands of fire trucks, hose wagons, aerial hook and ladder vehicles, airport emergency vehicles, and chemical engines.

Around 1910, American LaFrance began building roadster-style passenger cars. Like its fire fighting vehicles, they were very powerful, with nearly 100 horsepower on disposal from the 855 cubic-inch T-head six-cylinder engine. Production remained exclusive with around 22 of these passenger cars built through 1920. Additionally, some early ALF fire trucks were retroactively converted into speedsters.

by Daniel Vaughan | Feb 2025