Not Sold | 1918 American LaFrance Open Speedster

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Not Sold (Est: £42,000 - £48,000)

1918 American LaFrance Open Speedster

United Kingdom • 1 Jun 2013 • Lot 393

Vehicle Details

AI Listing Summary

This is a modified 1911 American LaFrance Roadster, originally imported to the UK in the 1980s and converted into a speedster. It features a large 14.5-liter six-cylinder engine, underwent extensive restoration, and has been actively used in tours and rallies, making it a unique and historically interesting vehicle.

Condition

7

The vehicle was converted into a speedster configuration, completely overhauled and painted. It was also run-in to the point where it can now be used with confidence as required.

/ 10

Transmission:

Manual

Chassis No:

1841

Odometer:

[Odometer Reading]

Reg Number:

SV 5636

RHD/LHD:

RHD

In 1871, Truckson LaFrance, whose family trade was iron working, started building rotary steam engines and in 1903, built approximately 25 chain drive cars with tube coil radiators mounted below the front of the frame, 'rear-entrance tonneau' seating, all righthand drive.

The price was set at $5,000 and all the vehicles were sold exclusively by Sidney Bowman of New York City.

1906 saw the experiment of shaft drive cars although this was not pursued.

In 1909, Simplex chain-drive rolling chassis were purchased and shipped to the new LaFrance factory in Elmira, New York where new bodies were fitted and badged as LaFrance.

In 1910 Simplex contracted LaFrance to design for them a 50hp, four cylinder engine and later the following year, an American LaFrance four cylinder, 50hp Roadster was entered in the one mile dirt track race at the Syracuse New York State Fair.

This resulted in Type 75-12-10 & 38 model vehicles being manufactured with approximately 5,000 built until around 1925.

Th...