Superior wide body Ambulance

[Attila Bethlenfalvy]

Already emailed Ron so I figure that I'm safe putting these pics up. Ha. Came across this about 90 minutes south of Austin a few days ago:

http://img98.imageshack.us/img98/3861/widey.jpg
http://img249.imageshack.us/img249/558/wide2.jpg
http://img691.imageshack.us/img691/2540/wide3.jpg
http://img687.imageshack.us/img687/3888/wide5.jpg

Anyone ever track down Dave McCamey's down that was junked..? This one is a pretty decent survivor. Look better without a cracked windshield.

[Richard Vyse]

Is that the one that has been on eBay on and off for the last several months? Strange vehicles!

[Russell Dalziel]

Is that the one that has been on eBay on and off for the last several months? Strange vehicles!

Fun to drive & nice to work out of


Russ

[Steve Lichtman]

What's it's status, is it for sale?

[Attila Bethlenfalvy]

http://img180.imageshack.us/img180/8194/wide9.jpg
http://img262.imageshack.us/img262/6997/wide15.jpg
http://img237.imageshack.us/img237/9974/wide28.jpg
http://img718.imageshack.us/img718/3919/wide27.jpg

[Attila Bethlenfalvy]

http://img143.imageshack.us/img143/9417/wide16.jpg
http://img37.imageshack.us/img37/5039/wide18.jpg
http://img20.imageshack.us/img20/8484/wide19.jpg
http://img641.imageshack.us/img641/2681/wide20.jpg

[Kevin M. Parkinson]

Richard, I think the one you are asking about on eBay was a Dodge.

[Richard Vyse]

Is that the one that has been on eBay on and off for the last several months? Strange vehicles!

It's not, the eBay one was a Dodge. You're right Kevin, my bad!!!!

[Mike Stevens]

Are these wide body vans prone to crack windshields? It seems that the few I have seen all had a bad windshield. I don't imagine these are cheap if even availible.
One thing about the big back end...you could haul a Crosley procar in there.
Mike

[Todd Merrifield]

The problem probably isn't as much that they are more prone to cracking, as it is there's nothing to replace them with if they do. Maybe a combination of the two?

[Attila Bethlenfalvy]

A little more information can go public now~

Heard the price is $4k. Ambulance has current plates and a recent inspection/registration. It idled rough and could use tuned. The guy that told me about it is friends with owner and thinks $3k will buy. I spoke with the owner yesterday, who told me a few things:

Asking price is $3800. He's receptive to a fair offer. I didn't push because I'm not interested in buying myself.

$500 deposit via PayPal by Sunday afternoon if someone in the PCS wants it. He'll allow a little time for the balance of a negotiated price. If no interest, look for the ambulance on eBay come Sunday evening. May not be a lot of time to decide but at least members have a crack before an auction~

I do have over 30 higher resolution images. PM for them (with an email address) or for the owner's phone number. Location is Pleasanton, TX: 35 miles south of San Antonio; 110 miles south of Austin. :smileTEXAS:

[Attila Bethlenfalvy]

Called the owner today to see how his auction went and if a PCS member ended up on top. Yikes! That innocent question didn't go over so well... Guess a scammer won the auction then flaked. The Superior is back up now - and he actually took the time to do things differently. New battery, old vinyl removed, carb adjusted, purrs beautifully now. The lighted front sign was even painted over and that has been fixed. All the electrics work - all the lights, everything. He even found the last city maintenance record in like '95 that validates the low mileage (27k? forgot already).

Anyway, looks like a different rig to me now. And he's willing to stop the auction for a PCS member so he doesn't have to deal with a deadbeat buyer again. PM for his number. $2500 may get the deal done...

http://img248.imageshack.us/img248/4591/wide38.jpg
http://img171.imageshack.us/img171/4240/wide39.jpg
http://img413.imageshack.us/img413/2978/wide43.jpg

[Attila Bethlenfalvy]

http://img204.imageshack.us/img204/5736/wide40.jpg
http://img34.imageshack.us/img34/9919/wide41.jpg
http://img535.imageshack.us/img535/1130/wide42.jpg

Ron or Steve - one of you needs to step up and drive this rig home now! :D

[Chris M. Kelley]

I think it would look better with the EMS Orange Cross, rather than star of life. But that's just me. I was thinking about having them put on my new Mariner. :) Like an orange QRS complex with a fib line and ending with an orange cross.

[John ED Renstrom]

little soap and water does make all the diference. good price on anyone wanting to have one of these.

[Chris Mooney]

Wish I was closer to TX... that would be a great buy...

[Doug House]

Just to conform, this one IS on Ebay right now. The other Superior wide-body, a Dodge, has been on and off a few times.

This Chev is currently at $300.00 with 3 days to go. The reserve is $2,500.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1975-Chevy-Vintage-Wide-Body-Ambulance-RV-Conversion_W0QQitemZ330423113367QQcmdZViewItemQQpt ZCommercial_Trucks?hash=item4ceec09697

[Paul Steinberg]

Wish I was closer to TX... that would be a great buy...

It isn't that expensive to have it shipped North... :myopinion:

[John ED Renstrom]

all the qoutes i have been getting are just under a grand not that bad if you wanted it.

[Ron Devies]

Wow it is a big difference with a wash job.

[Chris M. Kelley]

Do you think it could be driven 1728+/- miles?

[Ron Devies]

Attila offered to drive it home to me in Ohio, but it's lack of formica in the back kind of turned me off.

[Mike Stevens]

Ron,
Does this mean I should start making room for a certain blue M-M in my garage?
Mike

[Dwayne Brooks]

Found a photo on Flickr that hints an identical ambulance to this one Atti found was in service here in my hometown during the 1970's. Did these come with fender skirts & Superior logos in the grill side filler panels as pictured? Here's the pic I found with the caption "Bucyrus A13r 73" what a neat surprise!!!

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2775/4392619886_1c213a4a2e_b.jpg

[Attila Bethlenfalvy]

Ron is correct Chris. I did offer to drive the van 1400 miles - but I just touched down in Ohio so the deal is off! :p

Sent you a PM. Back in TX in a few days if I can help out with anything.

[Chris M. Kelley]

The "Boss" told me I could either have an ambulance... or ... the boss. It was a hard decision to make. :boo:

[Ron Devies]

Dwayne,
Ours had the fender skirts but instead of the SC logos we had CATS eye lights there. Instead of a roof beacon we had a clear twinsonic. Ours was also windows the whole way around. They were great cars, roomy and fun to drive.

[Steve Tarbert]

Dwayne, the Superior 61 Chevy Wide body van we had in Bucyrus did have the optional fender skirts. They were considered to be a cosmetic "dress up" at the time to make then look less like a truck. Our's also had the Superior logos in the grill beside the headlights. They were used as standard with grill lights optional. The 61 also had lighted roof signs on all four sides. It had the Orange Crosses on both sides and rear with ambulance in mirror image on the hood. Instead of blue scotchlite lettering, black non reflective decal lettering was used for the AMBULANCE. It was designed to meet the original KKK-1822 specs. It also had windows all around which was nice. It came with aircraft curtains on all windows in the patient compartment. All in all, it was very impressive for its era. The ride wasn't all that rough either. I had many runs from the outer edges of the county doing one-man CPR. It was equipped with a "Modura" rail that was a rail mounted above the windows on the drivers side that held the built in suction, a BP cuff, and other equipment. The biggest problem that we had with it was it did not fit in the heated garage we used at the time. A carport was built beside the building and enclosed with fiberglass sheets. We ran a space heater in it in the winter to help keep it usable.

[Ron Devies]

I loved driving that beast, it was not top heavy one bit and the ride was smooth for a van.