1936 American LaFrance Senior 400 'Metropolitan'

The ALF Senior 400 styling was heavily influenced by the optimistic Art Deco school of the 1930s. It was a bold design for a market that was in the depths of an economic depression. From a distance, it's exquisite styling could easily mask its massive proportions. Its target market was squarely large cities.

Aside from its rakish stance, it was uniquely assembled with the pump behind the engine, but before the passengers. Most 400s were equipped with 1250 gpm, or 1500 gpm pumps - serious volume for the time. The gasoline engine (designated "312-A") is a massive 754 c.i.d. V12 that produced 240 h.p. - practically unheard of in a truck. Despite the investment in engineering, styling, and audacity, only 143 examples were built between 1935 and 1940. (140 delivered in the U.S., and 3 in Canada)

This truck was one of two delivered to Rochester, NY, in August of 1936. It has a 1500 gpm centrifugal pump.

Bill Rausch of Goodrich, MI, spent many years sourcing parts and doing a large part of the restoration. It was purchased by Wes Thompson of Blenheim, ON who had RM Auto Restoration  complete the restoration in summer of 2022.