Nov 18, 2015  •  For Sale  •  11 Comments

Cheap Fire Truck: 1956 American LaFrance

Cheap Firetruck

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Offered for sale here on craigslist, this truck is located in Granite City, Illinois, with the seller stating the truck is a retired former St. Louis City Fire Department vehicle. The seller provides details about the truck’s house number, and presumably has some kind of documentation to back this up. Said to be in running condition, this truck looks like an interesting deal at $995. He further states that many of the trim parts that have been removed, are in storage and are included with the vehicle.

1956 American LaFrance Pumper

While old fire trucks in general aren’t super difficult to locate, this one’s bargain price, interesting history, and great mid-century looks make it stand out from the rest! What do you think?

Comments

  1. Chris A.
    Nov 18, 2015 at 2:56pm

    This is one of the important American LaFrance fire engines as it sucessfully started the closed cab engine forward pattern. This would be such a neat project for a HS body and mechanical restoration class.

    Like 0
  2. Donnie
    Nov 18, 2015 at 3:41pm

    Could be a nit car hauler .

    Like 1
    • Wayne Thomas
      Nov 18, 2015 at 6:23pm

      I cannot look at an old firetruck and NOT think the same thing. It’s perfect.

      Like 1
  3. packrat
    Nov 18, 2015 at 5:50pm

    Someone else look at the dashboard from the craigslist ad (https://archive.is/iGXjY) picture and tell my why it has two “odometers”. I can guess the far right dial that only goes up to 30 or so has something to do with a smaller engine running the pump, but what’s the “odometer” looking set of numbers underneath? Elapsed hour meter?

    Like 2
    • jim s
      Nov 19, 2015 at 11:37am

      yes, i too think it is a tach with hour meter.

      Like 1
  4. Mark S
    Nov 18, 2015 at 10:00pm

    Not sure what else you’d do with it if you didn’t repurpose it into something like a car hauler.

    Like 1
  5. Rob
    Nov 19, 2015 at 6:19am

    Second “odometer” is likely a tachometer with hour meter.

    Like 1
  6. Pookie Jamie
    Nov 19, 2015 at 6:27am

    Clean it out… Use it to fill swimming pools. Excellent business opportunity.

    Like 1
  7. Doyler
    Nov 19, 2015 at 11:40am

    For the numerous people saying it would make a great car hauler, I present:

    http://retrorides.proboards.com/thread/84662

    Like 1
  8. Darrell
    Mar 14, 2018 at 2:15pm

    I would like to locate one of these old American La France Fire Trucks, (or any other possibly) as close to Sioux City, IA as possible but would consider going the distance required.

    Like 1
  9. ryan gradoville
    Apr 13, 2021 at 12:24pm

    cool is it still available

    Like 0

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