The American LaFrance 800 Series was a fire-fighting appliance that was only in production from 1956 until 1958. It was an update of the 700 Series and was built and sold as a pumper only. This 1957 ALF 800 Series is listed for sale here on eBay. It is located in Las Vegas, Nevada, and the seller will provide the original commercial title and a Bill of Sale to the new owner. At the time of writing, bidding had reached $4,100.
This is a vehicle that most definitely has a presence. It was ordered new by the city of Bishop, California, and during its entire working life, it was designated for city use only by the city of Bishop. As a result, the vehicle has only clocked 7,000 miles between its delivery and its retirement from active duty last year. The vehicle is in wonderful order. The paint and pinstripe is all original, and the vehicle looks like it rolled out of the factory yesterday.
The interior is very functional, and, by necessity, is also very hard-wearing. The interior of this vehicle displays only minor wear on the wheel and shifter as evidence of vehicle usage. All of the original fittings and controls that saw use in the vehicle’s former life also appear to be present, with the apparent exception of a two-way radio.
The appliance is fitted with a Continental 6 engine, but it is not clear which version is in this one, as there were six versions available for fitment to the 800 Series. The seller states that the vehicle drives like new and that the air-brakes will stop the vehicle on a dime. In this shot all of those controls are mesmerizing, but even these are in fantastic condition and reflect the fact that the vehicle has spent its entire life to date in a temperature controlled environment.
This American LaFrance is an unrestored vehicle that is truly a time capsule for fire-fighting appliances from the 1950s. It is a stunning looking vehicle from a manufacturer who is no longer with us. It is not a vehicle for everybody, but if you are a collector and enthusiast of trucks, then this is a vehicle that might suit you.
This is simply to nice to do any changing it really should be in a museum or dry storage in someone’s collection. Jay Leno got a fire truck given to him by one of the LA airports after it sat at the end of a runway for years, of course not as nice as this one but the problem was that nobody wanted it. They’re big and they’re useless for anything but fighting fires. They take up a lot of space and still reguire some maintenance. Just to keep them running. If it wasn’t in such nice shape I’d be in favor of taking it down to cab and chassie. Replacing the drive line with a cumins or a cat diesel Allison overdrive auto and higher gears out back. Than I’d put a period looking van body ( aluminum) on it up to the back of the cab. I’d have that part painted red to match the cab and then rapt with the ladders, hoses, gauges, and pin stripping. Lastly I’d build the interior into a motorhome incorporating the cab into the design. This way it can still look like a fire truck but serve a fresh new purpose. The problem with this plan is it is in such nice condition. And should be preserved.
I say, again, donate it. I have the utmost respect for fire fighters, and I’m sure depts. need updated equipment, like me as a truck driver, would rather have the new Peterbilt than an old “Crackerbox” Jimmy, but there’s nothing wrong with this. It could easily be used somewhere, it may even help put out a fire. Otherwise, like you say, what do you do with it? We go thru this everytime a fire engine is featured. I say donate it or it’s just going to sit somewhere and deteriorate. This sure is a nice one.
Yes if you could it. Many state have restriction about age of equipment, even with low hours. The gallons per minute of flow is also a problem in some places. Still wish a department could still use it.
Somewhere there is a rural fire dept. with a chief who likes the old gear and an empty space in their climate controlled steel building. May this old girl find a new home there.
You’re welcome…
I own a similar ALF but the earlier 700 series with open cab. Not sure about original paint…. looks like someone went overboard and painted things red that shouldn’t be, like the side and rear cabinet door handles, and side running boards under the cabinets. Also, the front bumper should be chrome, not red.
50, 60 years ago was there a cooler toy than a fire truck? When I was 3, 4 years old I had a playmate named Scotty who had a wooden leg (seriously) as a result of a car accident. Scotty had what must have been the most awesome toy fire truck ever. This thing actually squirted water. So one day when I was over at Scotty’s playing when the curtains caught fire and the two of us put it out with his truck. I wish I could say I actually remember this happening but try as I might, no. I do remember the truck itself, vaguely, but what I know of the incident comes from my Mom telling the story from time to time as I grew up.
I own a similar engine (not appliance – that’s what they call them in Europe) but it’s an earlier 700 series open cab pumper. Not all the paint on this one is original- someone went overboard painting red over the originally chrome front bumper and side and rear cabinet door handles, plus the running boards under the side cabinets should be silver, etc.
We have a fire department museum in Hudson NY that would love to have this truck,if anyone could contact them please
There are a very few uses for these things, I say this as a volunteer fireman, our oldest is a ’74 International which is headed out to pasture as soon as its replacement shows up. Micro brewery making it into a beer truck, with kegs in what was the water tank, but much too big for most places other than weddings and other parties at event places with big parking lots where it is legal to serve beer outdoors, fire truck but mostly a ranch vehicle to drive around the ranch and fill water troughs, might put out a small fire, “event” truck for weddings and funerals, put the coffin in the back, cut out the rear part of the water tank, closed cab for safety, so not so good for showing off the bride and groom as an older open cab engine. Any more ideas? Usually departments strip these of useable ladders and hoses, so if this one has it all but the 2 way radio, this is a good deal, if you can use a working fire engine.
This fire department here in Bishop is all strictly volunteer and they take very much pride in the condition of all their equipment unfortunately they are now going to smaller engines and more capabilities of going off road due to the fire conditions that we have here during the summerh this fire department here in Bishop is all strictly volunteer and they take very much pride in the condition of all their equipment unfortunately, they are now going to smaller engines and more capabilities of going off road due to the fire conditions that we have here during the summer. It is in beautiful condition when you see it in person.
I am sick and tired of the disparaging remarks every time a piece of fire apparatus shows up here on Barn Finds. They always say that it’s useless for anything but fighting fires and to cut it down and make another type of truck out of it. Doesn’t anyone know that each and every piece of fire apparatus is a one-of-a-kind? They are built to a certain set of specifications set out by a fire chief to meet a certain set of requirements and since every municipality is different every set of requirements is different. Each time someone butchers a fire engine we lose a piece of history and I once knew a gentlemen who said, “you can’t tell where you’re going unless you know where you’ve been.” If you think no-one cares about fire apparatus check with the members of SPAAMFAA, the Society for the Preservation and Appreciation of Antique Motorized Fire Apparatus in America, there are thousands of us world-wide who own, maintain, display and use our antique apparatus for any number uses one of the most important of which is to educate the general public about the history of fire-fighting and fire safety. It’s obvious to me that someone who advocates cutting up an antique rig has never owned one or had the fun of operating one.