1920 American Lafrance Speedster

1920 American LaFrance Custom Speedster

1920 American LaFrance Custom Speedster, constructed on the chassis of a fire truck by Arizona builder Rodney Rucker. He drove it in the 2000 and 2001 editions of the transcontinental Great Race, earning the “Never Say Die” award in 2001. Named “The Duke” by Rucker, the car is powered by a T-head inline-six that displaces 854 cu in (14 liters) and features a single updraft carburetor and triple-spark ignition fed by a magneto and a coil. The rear wheels are driven via a remote-mounted three-speed manual gearbox and a chain-drive rear axle. Finished in red, the car also features external-band rear drum brakes, 24” wheels with demountable rims wrapped in 38×7 Goodrich Silvertown Heavy Duty Universal tires, a 35-gallon fuel tank, an electric starter, an alternator, power steering, an electric cooling fan, and a bench seat trimmed in red tufted upholstery. It received a mechanical freshening totaling over $5,400 in November 2022. It includes louvered hood panels, and rides on a 163” wheelbase, measures 200” long and has a height of approximately 68” at the top of the seatback.
The inline-six incorporates three individual monobloc castings housing two cylinders apiece atop a shared crankcase and is said to displace approximately 14 liters. Features include a single updraft carburetor, a 12-volt electrical system, a magneto that feeds two spark plugs per cylinder, a distributor and coil activating a third set of single spark plugs, an electric starter, an alternator, and a power-steering pump. An aluminum radiator and electric cooling fan are mounted behind the disconnected period radiator, and coolant is directed to the cylinders through brass cooling system headers. Service in November 2022 by Penn-Dutch Restoration Services in Glen Rock, Pennsylvania, included overhauls of the magneto, distributor, and water pump as well as correction of a stuck valve, repair of the throttle butterfly, and cleaning and gapping of all 18 spark plugs. Power is transferred to the rear wheels via a driveshaft, a three-speed manual trans-axle assembly, and individual chains linked to each wheel. Speeds of 50 MPH + can easily be achieved.
A truly one of a kind vehicle!
Please call Carlo Connors at 610-505-8612, or email at comoco@comcast.net, or visit www.ConnorsMotorcar.com