American LaFrance » Type 500 with International cab

American LaFrance began purchasing complete cab assemblies from International Harvester in 1939 and used it on the company's lower-priced, entry-level custom Type 500/600 fire pumpers through 1946. They were likely purchased in small batches, perhaps 10 or so at a time. The reason American-LaFrance outsourced these cabs was that it was less expensive than making their own, thus keeping their bid prices competitive. This Type 550-RC has its own design of the front end, but the chassis was identical to the Type 500 budget fire apparatus.