Some of the most interesting American automobiles have been born out of necessity, or, perhaps it is better-said, out of enthusiast-minded men on a budget. Such was the mind that, decades ago, first spied an old fire truck on the roadside, and pondered its vast, superbly engineered engine, double chain drive, and ruggedly constructed frame, and saw the potential to strip it down into something built truly for speed. Indeed, few vehicles actually built in the Nickel Era could compete with the potency of an American-LaFrance apparatus, stripped to its bare essentials—and by the 1940s and 1950s, it was one of the most popular ways for young enthusiasts on a budget to have a lot of fun with a lot of power.

According to the consignor, the apparatus with American-LaFrance registered number 1221 was originally delivered to the Omaha, Nebraska Fire Department on 15 July 1916. Its speedster build is in the Mercer Type 35 Raceabout mold, with two-seater bodywork featured in yellow and black, complemented by the same colors used on the suspension and chassis accents, large-diameter spoked wheels accompanied by dual rear-mounted spares, and black leather upholstery. Period-correct accessories are abundant, including the large Gray & Davis nickel headlamps, a single rear Saxon light, and rare American-LaFrance-badged Moto-Meter atop the radiator.

Overall the quality of construction is excellent throughout, with the car maintaining beautifully balanced proportions front to rear, something not always achieved on these big-engined brutes. The engine itself is a T-head six that displaces 9.4 liters, or over 573 cubic inches, delivering power back through double chain drives to the rear axle.

There are few vehicles that offer the sheer fun for dollar of an American-LaFrance speedster, a car which truly defines the “all-engine” moniker and provides a singular motoring thrill unlike almost any other.