Are there any programs for adults with autism to help get their dream vehicles?

[Heber Richins]

Reason why I'm asking is because I am really wanting to get a operating Vintage 1948 American LaFrance 700 series pumper enclosed cab fire truck. I'm trying to save up to get it, but I'm struggling a little between groceries, food, and gas. I'm looking for one that is restored and in operating condition for $3,250 or less. I'm willing to go up to $6,500 or less however.

I'm wanting this truck to use for parades, events, and to give my neices and nephews and other family rides in the truck. Most of my neices and nephews have outgrown tractor rides.

I could really use some help into making this dream become a reality so if anyone knows of a program or knows what to do please leave a comments or message.

 

[Magnus]

Wow, what a great dream. I'd personally like a tank, but not terribly practical ride in the city .

Sorry I haven't got much practical advice, but go for it. Are you good at restoring? Could you find a wreck and bring it back to serviceability? That would be cheaper but time consuming.

 

[Heber Richins]

Wow, what a great dream. I'd personally like a tank, but not terribly practical ride in the city .

Sorry I haven't got much practical advice, but go for it. Are you good at restoring? Could you find a wreck and bring it back to serviceability? That would be cheaper but time consuming.

Oh yeah I've done restoration projects, my first one was my late grandfather's old gas pump from a farm he and his brothers ran. As far as I know it's the Las surviving pump from the farm.

I'm finishing up another restoration project, it was my late grandmother's stylair stool.

I'm also restoration two other gas pumps in getting the to run, having great success wirh one and the other giving me a hard time and doesn't want to work.

Iverson never restored a vehicle before though.

 

[Judge]

Whew, I'd think that's a pretty active restoration market...those La France fire engines. No matter what year.

 

[Gerald Wilgus]

I used to enjoy getting to Greenfield Village when they had a weekend of vintage fire engines.

 

[Metalhead]

My dream vehicle is a limo with a handsome and endlessly charming chauffer.

 

[Gerontius]

You're pretty skilful, Heber; possibly you could restore one in bad shape if you had friends helping. Maybe it could belong to a bunch of people instead of just one, and that might mean everyone has it fixed up sooner


I think I know where one of these is sitting but I don't know if it's the correct year.

They are interesting old trucks.

 

[Magnus]

Actually, this is just an excuse to retail a petrolhead anecdote: a friend-of-a-friend owned a vintage pale green Cadillac. Driving it on British roads was, er, interesting.

For insurance purposes he had to have it garaged at a specialist rare cars facility, which was a hangar on an airfield. So he would go out there to check on his car. As many of the vehicles had to be driven around a bit to keep them in good condition, the staff would let him drive lambos, e-types, etc, on the airfield: saved them a boring job! He'd say things like, "Drove Eric Clapton's Ferrari at the weekend." Jealousy much! .

 

[Yeshuasdaughter]

I second the idea of restoration. Get a beat up, broke down rustbucket. It'll probably be listed on Craigslist as "A Mechanic's Dream". Offer to tow it out of someone's driveway, or out of their backyard, and you might get it for free. Of course, you may open the hood and find crabgrass growing out of the distributor cap. It might take a couple years of loving service, but you could rebuild, repaint, everything, and then bring it to car meets and rod runs.

 

[VictorR]

To answer the question, no, not directly.

The only programs I've seen where someone gets a vehicle for free or a low cost were for situations where someone with a low income needed a vehicle (in general, e.g. an older sedan) to get to and from work and/or appointments.

That being said, it looks like in your price range you're quite likely looking at a repair job, which as others have noted, seems like something that you might enjoy and find pride in doing

https://www.classic.com/m/american-lafrance/
As for costs, some things to consider may include:

* getting a grant from a government, BIA, or art group, especially if you're open to committing to display it or make it available for community events like parades and festivals
* fundraisers with tiered rewards (e.g. contribute $50 and get a ride, contribute $100 and get to drive it, etc.)
* generic fundraiser (e.g. gofundme)

 

[Gerontius]

https://pnwspaamfaa.org/apparatuses/1948-american-lafrance-700-2x-1960-american-lafrance-900/
Here are a few stories about folks fixing up some of the same ones.
They seem to have been an unusually forward-thinking design for the era.
It looks like there are an awful lot of antique fire engines out there which haven't been restored yet. Heber, it might be a job and a half to get one running, but if I were you I'd do this with friends.

If you're looking just for a niece-and-nephew hauler (and I'm still not sure how anyone outgrows messing around with old tractors) maybe a Model TT or AA Ford flatbed would be cheaper. A lot of Model TT trucks go for low prices because a worm drive rear axle limits them effectively to 25mph.

 

[Gerontius]

Wait, there's more to this.
I got to looking up the oddly named SPAAMFAA and it is basically an international club for antique fire engine buffs (not all of whom even own a fire engine.) This would certainly get you some time hanging out with people, making friends, maybe getting to lend a hand restoring fire apparatus.

https://spaamfaa.org/about-faqs/

 

[Shevek]

I built mine from scratch. I'd do it again, but there's probably no way to license it for the road.