American LaFrance’s 700 Series was one of the company’s most popular post-war models, and even for younger enthusiasts is one of those iconic vehicles that immediately comes to mind when “fire truck” is mentioned. More than 3,000 were produced between 1947 and 1958, in a dazzling variety of configurations to suit most any need. The model is widely credited with making the modern “cab-forward” configuration the standard in fire truck service, something that has been true ever since.

The 700 Series offered here was delivered in early March of 1956 to the fire department in Coldwater, Michigan, equipped with a ladder rack with a 35-foot extension ladder, dual hose reels, and a 750-gpm pump, supported by a 500-gallon booster tank—making it well-suited to just about any firefighting scenario that it could encounter in service. The control panel for the pump was located on the right side of the vehicle, where it could be easily accessed by the chauffeur as he dismounted at the scene of a fire.

This apparatus’s tale is one typical of the American fire truck experience, in which these hugely costly vehicles were often updated, rather than replaced entirely, to keep them in dependable service. In this instance, the 700 Series was eventually repowered, with its original V-12 and manual transmission replaced by a Detroit Diesel six-cylinder and automatic transmission. In this form it continued to serve in Coldwater for many years.

The truck was eventually restored for the American LaFrance Corporate Collection, with a correct livery including high-quality paintwork, 23k gold leaf decoration, and correct accessories and equipment throughout. It has had a few “tweaks,” including new dashboard instruments, which may have been updated at the same time as the new drivetrain’s installation. Overall it is in very good overall condition, and as the newest piece in the Corporate Collection a vehicle that will undoubtedly win many fans who actually remember such beasts on their local roads during their childhood.