Ward LaFrance Ultravision

[GA_Dave]

SrFireOfficial, on 27 August 2010 - 07:58 PM, said:



Is there a difference between the Ultravision Cab and the Ambassador series cab?





If I understood it right...

Ultravision = true WLF concept and design

Ambassador = once Maxim got involved with WLF. The whole line got re-named... STATESMAN was the name of the Ulravision on a CFR (ARFF) type rig. The names were all GOVERMENTAL - OFFICIAL titles.

Well, not exactly. The Ultravision was the name of the cab itself, but it also carried a numerical designation of 80. The model 80 designation was preceeded by a letter (P-pumper, A-aerial, S-Hi-Ranger Snorkel, etc). Over the years, there were other chassis models that used the Ultravision cab, like the model 85, which had the motor located forward, between the driver and officer seats; or the model 75, which was built on a less expensive GM chassis; or the model 87, built at the Maxim factory, or the 2100 series, which I haven't quite figured out yet. When introduced in 1962, it was named the Mark I chassis. In 1972, WLF renamed their lines, based on chassis type and function. The Presidential Series was for custom chassis rigs and the Constellation Series was for commercial chassis rigs. The Ambassador name was used for custom pumpers, regardless of the chassis model. The exception to that was the P-82 with it's standard TCM cab on the custom WLF chassis. Here is the entire list of Presidential and Constellation names.





PRESIDENTIAL



Ambassador- pumper

Diplomat- aerial

Senator- Hi-Ranger

Delegate- heavy rescue

Governor- foam pumper

Envoy- tanker

Congressman- floodlight truck

Statesman- ARFF

Courier- brush truck



CONSTELLATION



Comet- pumper

Venus- aerial

Apollo- Hi-Ranger

Gemini- heavy rescue

Aurora- foam pumper

Neptune- tanker

Star- floodlight truck

Saturn- ARFF

Mercury- brush truck





Anyway, this all happened BEFORE the company was bought by North Street in 1975. North Street also owned Maxim.