The Red Baron Strikes Again
( UPDATE IV: the truth about American LaFrance)

• 

We wish to express our thanks to all of you who have sent us Christmas Cards and New Years Wishes. Really great! It’s almost impossible to thank each and everyone personally, so we decided to do this with this old style photo of the “Red Baron”. Pictured at the 2009 Nürburgring event, it features owner Thomas Bell at the wheel. Have a great 2010 with lots of events to enjoy your antique or classic car!
UPDATE IV by Hugh Nutting:"One of the reasons these early firetrucks were converted into semi-racer speedster is do to the fact the engine is a continuation of the Thomas Flyer engines. Some of the basic bits from early A la F trucks have even been transformed into 'fake' Thomas's. In later years this fire truck manufacturer took over the rights to the Auburn Lycoming V-12. Some of these engines, last built in 1956, have found there way into Auburn Speedster re-creations. Individual Fire Depts may have converted old trucks into "chief" cars. but they are not a company product."
UPDATE III by Toby Ballard:"I adore these vehicles and have my beloved number 39. However, these vehicles were never ever used for racing. Many owners like to say that their la france is one of the very rare racers but this just is not true. There is only one real La France car and this is owned be the La France museum. Hal Fillinger is a very good friend of mine and is one of if not the most knowledgeable man on La France vehicles. If anyone should know it would be him. Having said all that, they are still fantastic touring vehicles and I cover more than 15000 miles each year with mine."
UPDATE II by Hal Fillinger (USA):"Contrary to what has been represented in the antique vehicle market over the past years The American LaFrance Fire Engine Company was not is the business of making automobiles and racing cars. However one original factory car is known to exist. It is a 1910 type 8 4cyl 9 1/2 litre and it is NOT chain drive. Supposedly built for the Syracuse NY. race that year it was never entered and never known to have been raced. This car is restored and can be seen with the vehicles of the American LaFrance collection at the Fire Museum of North Charleston South Carolina. American LaFrance did experiment with building a very small unknown number of cars not using their chain drive chassis and they were also not chain drive. Non of these are known to have surrived. Thank you." Hal Fillinger
(UPDATE by editor: "We are collecting material with respect to the yes/no of LaFrance's racing history. The current website of AlF says there is some history, but they never show it. We are into contact with several experts who like to help in producing conclusive evidence. If you have available any facts in early books, magazines, documents or photo material, please E-mail us

Kommentar abgeben...