Portsmouth Fire Department Ambulances

[Brendan Martin]

These are photos of some of the Ambulances used by the Fire Department that I work for, long before I started there. The Portsmouth Fire Department is a Full Time Fire Department made up of 36 men. We are Firefighter/EMT, or Paramedics. The ambulances were purchased by the Portsmouth Volunteer Fire Department, and staffed by town employees. As firefighters most of us were and still are members of the Volunteer Fire Department, which still purchases the ambulances and supplies within them. This allows us to have some input regarding our EMS equipment. Here in Rhode Island we call our ambulances Rescues. One of the photos is not a procar. The department always ran a procar based ambulance for medical emergencies, and used truck based ambulances for car wrecks. In 1980 the last Cadillac was traded for Ford Modular bodies and this policy stopped. Enjoy the photos.

http://s3.postimage.org/kkDt9.jpg (http://www.postimage.org/image.php?v=PqkkDt9)
http://s3.postimage.org/kkFYi.jpg (http://www.postimage.org/image.php?v=PqkkFYi)
http://s3.postimage.org/kkKXA.jpg (http://www.postimage.org/image.php?v=PqkkKXA)
http://s3.postimage.org/kkNrJ.jpg (http://www.postimage.org/image.php?v=PqkkNrJ)

[Bill Marcy]

Who was the coachbuilder on the '65 Chevy! I love that oddball stuff.

[Brendan Martin]

Who was the coachbuilder on the '65 Chevy! I love that oddball stuff.

I'm not sure Bill, I was hoping someone here would know.

[Cary Livingston]

Bill.....looks to be a National....cool pix!

[Steve Loftin]

Can/will you post these in a larger size so we can see them better?

[Paul Steinberg]

Can/will you post these in a larger size so we can see them better?

I have posted larger pictures and have emailed the originals to you..

[Rick Franklin]

The Chevy looks to be a 1966 model. Im not knowledgeable on the builders but I would guess National.

[Bill Marcy]

Bill.....looks to be a National....cool pix!

Thanks Cary, that was my suspicion too, but I am not an expert like some of you guys are.

[Cary Livingston]

Itsa 66 model Impala with a 327.... cool car:cool: (Paul are the originals larger than whats posted here? 600x512ish)

[Paul Steinberg]

Itsa 66 model Impala with a 327.... cool car:cool: (Paul are the originals larger than whats posted here? 600x512ish)

Sorry to say that you are wrong on the year... It is a 1965. It does have the crossed flags with the 327 engine size over the top of it.
I do have larger pictures on my computer.

[Cary Livingston]

Sorry to say that you are wrong on the year... It is a 1965. It does have the crossed flags with the 327 engine size over the top of it.
I do have larger pictures on my computer.



Your right Paul its a 65....fingers slipped and I didnt proofread my post last night before bed. Could you email me the larger scans for the 65 please?
Thanks

Heres a 66 with a 396...and its a Pinner! Dr White collection
http://i45.tinypic.com/bdrx1t.jpg

[Steve Lichtman]

And here's what a '66 National Chevy high-top looks like, from Marlboro, MD. It has a tall windshield.

[Bill Marcy]

Thanks for showing the '66 Steve, it shows the difference between the '65 and '66 in the nose. It sure is a nice looking rig too!

[Chris Mooney]

These are photos of some of the Ambulances used by the Fire Department that I work for, long before I started there. The Portsmouth Fire Department is a Full Time Fire Department made up of 36 men. We are Firefighter/EMT, or Paramedics. The ambulances were purchased by the Portsmouth Volunteer Fire Department, and staffed by town employees. As firefighters most of us were and still are members of the Volunteer Fire Department, which still purchases the ambulances and supplies within them. This allows us to have some input regarding our EMS equipment. Here in Rhode Island we call our ambulances Rescues. One of the photos is not a procar. The department always ran a procar based ambulance for medical emergencies, and used truck based ambulances for car wrecks. In 1980 the last Cadillac was traded for Ford Modular bodies and this policy stopped. Enjoy the photos.

http://s3.postimage.org/kkDt9.jpg (http://www.postimage.org/image.php?v=PqkkDt9)
http://s3.postimage.org/kkFYi.jpg (http://www.postimage.org/image.php?v=PqkkFYi)
http://s3.postimage.org/kkKXA.jpg (http://www.postimage.org/image.php?v=PqkkKXA)
http://s3.postimage.org/kkNrJ.jpg (http://www.postimage.org/image.php?v=PqkkNrJ)

You Know Brendan you dept sounds just like Kingston were I work 30 career Firefighter/medics but some volunteers and they also buy the ambulances and pay the town for us to staff them... Great Photos and a nice start for some future model projects....

[Richard Vyse]

Let's see here, "Was there a car out there that was not made into a Pro-Car of sorts?" Seems not! Love these old pictures.

[Steve Lichtman]

Let's see here, "Was there a car out there that was not made into a Pro-Car of sorts?" Seems not! Love these old pictures.I've yet to see a Nash Metropolitan ambulance or hearse.... :cool:

[Richard Vyse]

I've yet to see a Nash Metropolitan ambulance or hearse.... :cool:

Best I could come up with is a 1930's Nash ambulance.

http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i277/RichardV_2006/193x_Nash_Ambo.jpg

[Mike McDonald]

The Ambulance Driver looks more like a Yacht Captain?

[Brendan Martin]

You Know Brendan you dept sounds just like Kingston were I work 30 career Firefighter/medics but some volunteers and they also buy the ambulances and pay the town for us to staff them... Great Photos and a nice start for some future model projects....

This is true Chris, our town however no longer lets the Volunteers work as active Firefighter/Medics. Not sure why or when, I have worked there for 14 years and it has always been that way. This leaves us horribly understaffed and unprepared for major/multiple incidents. More pics are on the way.

[Brendan Martin]

Let's see here, "Was there a car out there that was not made into a Pro-Car of sorts?" Seems not! Love these old pictures.

Speaking of old pics, our neighbor town, had a Criterion, the photo will be posted soon.

[John Royark JR]

I've yet to see a Nash Metropolitan ambulance or hearse.... :cool:

I have a rat rod buddy that has been thinking about making a hearse out of his! I am going to supply table hardware and landau bars for the project.

[Steve Lichtman]

Best I could come up with is a 1930's Nash ambulance....from Maryland, thank you! :thankyou2:

Ooh, new smileys!

[Chris Mooney]

This is true Chris, our town however no longer lets the Volunteers work as active Firefighter/Medics. Not sure why or when, I have worked there for 14 years and it has always been that way. This leaves us horribly understaffed and unprepared for major/multiple incidents. More pics are on the way.

Same here we have Volunteer EMTs but only the Career Firefighter/medics have medical command and can provide ALS care. its funny to me also...

[Paul Steinberg]

It isn't funny, it is very sad. My best guess is it is a matter of the Union Contract restrictions.

[Chris Mooney]

It isn't funny, it is very sad. My best guess is it is a matter of the Union Contract restrictions.


That may be true I never asked.... I was just tickeled pink to get the job.... LOL :)

[Brendan Martin]

That may be true I never asked.... I was just tickeled pink to get the job.... LOL :)

Me too! I consider myself lucky to do what I love.

[Brendan Martin]

Here are some photos of our very first ambulance and a rescue truck.