Merry Oldsmobiles

Kirk's Emergency Service - Part I

The late Kirk Kuykendall took over the ambulance business in Lawton, Oklahoma when the funeral homes went out, in addition to his taxi and wrecker services. Kirk's operated a variety of procars over the years; mostly Oldsmobiles of all sizes and types, only two of which he bought new. Here are a few of them:

1975 Cotington 54

1973 Cotington 54

1974 Cotington 48
(ex-City of Tahlequah; now owned and has been nicely restored by PCS member Greg Jeter)

1969 Cotington 48
(originally from Kansas, this car is still owned by Kirk's; whistle is a #28)

(SL photos)
 

Attachments

  • Kirk 75_001.jpg
    Kirk 75_001.jpg
    39.3 KB · Views: 1,522
  • Kirk 73_001.jpg
    Kirk 73_001.jpg
    36.2 KB · Views: 1,473
  • Kirk 74_001.jpg
    Kirk 74_001.jpg
    47.1 KB · Views: 1,501
  • Kirk 69_001.jpg
    Kirk 69_001.jpg
    52.3 KB · Views: 1,481
Kirk's Emergency Service - Part II

Kirk's had at least four '72 C/B combinations over the years; three Sevilles, and one Cotington. The one from Yoakum, Texas was purchased from Summers Funeral Car Co. as a running/driving parts car for the other rigs. I have no idea where the others came from.

(SL photos)
 

Attachments

  • Kirk 215_001.jpg
    Kirk 215_001.jpg
    36.5 KB · Views: 1,447
  • Kirk Visibar_001.jpg
    Kirk Visibar_001.jpg
    51 KB · Views: 1,439
  • Kirk Yoakum_001.jpg
    Kirk Yoakum_001.jpg
    46.3 KB · Views: 1,436
  • Kirk LWB_001.jpg
    Kirk LWB_001.jpg
    45.2 KB · Views: 1,428
Beacon A.S. (Raleigh, NC)
1974 Cotington 48

Simons F.H. (Pittsburgh, PA)
1971 Cotington 48

(SL collection)
 

Attachments

  • Beacon AS_001 (Medium).jpg
    Beacon AS_001 (Medium).jpg
    88.3 KB · Views: 1,545
  • Simons FH 71 CB 48_001 (Medium).jpg
    Simons FH 71 CB 48_001 (Medium).jpg
    94.5 KB · Views: 1,559
1941 Miller Oldsmobile combo, currently owned and used by Mitchell Family Funeral Home, Marshalltown, Iowa. (J.Royark collection)

1941 Miller Olds combo.jpg

1941 Miller Olds combo 4.jpg
 
Just when we think we've seen 'em all...!

1972 Cotington combination/Summers
Jim Green F.H. (Pryor, OK)

1971 Seville combination/Summers
Easterling F.H. (Odessa, TX)

Summers Funeral Car Co., a M-M and C/B dealership in the Dallas suburbs, did at least three of these 54" hightop conversions that I know of. The third one was done on a 1964 M-M combination, also using Summers' standard Suburban top and roll cage.

Jim Green bought his car just after the conversion was done in 1976.

The Easterling car was done on a car already in the firm's fleet. It had to have been top-heavy, especially on a short wheelbase with the M-M-style backboard compartment on the roof. I imagine it handled like a water tower! The folding attendant seat was replaced with a Captain's chair (highback bucket seat).

(SL photos)

P.S.: I've also attached photos of two Summers hightop Suburban conversions for comparison.

(SL collection)
 

Attachments

  • JGFH 72 Olds_001.jpg
    JGFH 72 Olds_001.jpg
    34.7 KB · Views: 1,313
  • Easterling FH 71 Olds_001.jpg
    Easterling FH 71 Olds_001.jpg
    30.1 KB · Views: 1,334
  • Summers Suburban hightops_001.jpg
    Summers Suburban hightops_001.jpg
    48.7 KB · Views: 1,322
Most of us are familiar with the twin '72 Cotington 48s owned by David Stalhut and Larri Dirks. There were several of these cars built with Federal #15A Junior beacons on the corners instead of the usual tunnel lights. Here are a few more:

1971 - District Heights, MD
1972 - Powhatan Beach, MD
1971 - Metro A.S. (Hellertown, PA)
1972 - Lower Milford Twp., PA (later sold to Reinsel F.H. in Sharon, PA)

(SL collection)
 

Attachments

  • DistrictHeightsOlds.jpg
    DistrictHeightsOlds.jpg
    63.8 KB · Views: 1,231
  • Powhatan Beach MD 72 CB 48.jpg
    Powhatan Beach MD 72 CB 48.jpg
    72.8 KB · Views: 1,224
  • Metro 71 CB 48_001.jpg
    Metro 71 CB 48_001.jpg
    49.4 KB · Views: 1,225
  • Procar Polaroids_001.jpg
    Procar Polaroids_001.jpg
    17.9 KB · Views: 1,210
Here are two more C/B 48" cars with uncommon corner lighting:

1971 - Memphis, TN
1971 - Pocahontas, IA

There was a law in Iowa for a short time that required five beacons on ambulances, resulting in many over-burdened electrical systems. The draw from the beacons on this car, with a 120-amp alternator, was 105 amps!

(SL collection)
 

Attachments

  • 1971 CB MFD_001.jpg
    1971 CB MFD_001.jpg
    49.6 KB · Views: 1,252
  • Pocahontas IA 71 CB 48_001.jpg
    Pocahontas IA 71 CB 48_001.jpg
    36 KB · Views: 1,274
There was a law in Iowa for a short time that required five beacons on ambulances, resulting in many over-burdened electrical systems. The draw from the beacons on this car, with a 120-amp alternator, was 105 amps!

(SL collection)

that may have been the reason for the 4 Jr's they would draw a lot less current.
 
Here is the twin - owned by Larri Dirks - in its current configuration. This and Dave Stalhut's car are former Dallas County Ambulance Service (Perry, IA) units and have consecutive body numbers. (L. Dirks collection)
 

Attachments

  • 100_1391.jpg
    100_1391.jpg
    41.9 KB · Views: 1,168
  • 100_1385.jpg
    100_1385.jpg
    40.1 KB · Views: 1,164
There were several of these cars built with Federal #15A Junior beacons on the corners instead of the usual tunnel lights.

Wheaton, MD
1970 Cotington 48 (one of three; that's an 888 in front of the Q)

(SL collection)
 

Attachments

  • Wheaton RS 69 CB 48_001.jpg
    Wheaton RS 69 CB 48_001.jpg
    32.4 KB · Views: 1,142
Unusual Olds hightops

Bloomington, IL
1956 National

(Dan Martin photo)

Union Fire Co. No. 1 (Oxford, PA)
1957 ?
My guess is National. The rear window ambulance applique is neither National or Comet; however, it could be a special order by the customer. The basic window and drip rail design is similar to both builders. S&M tunnels were common on Nationals of the era (as seen on both of these cars). I love a mystery...!

(SL collection)
 

Attachments

  • Bloomington 56 National Olds.jpg
    Bloomington 56 National Olds.jpg
    60.3 KB · Views: 1,614
  • Oxford PA 57 Olds.jpg
    Oxford PA 57 Olds.jpg
    36.2 KB · Views: 1,096
More trade in photos taken by the late Perry Lanius of Lebanon, TN at Dixie Coach Company.

1. 1959 Comet Oldsmobile combination.
2. 1962 C/B Oldsmobile combination.
3. 1963 C/B Oldsmobile combination with panels.
4. 1963 C/B Oldsmobile combination.

(Ledford Collection)
 

Attachments

  • 1959 Comet Olds Combo.jpg
    1959 Comet Olds Combo.jpg
    97.5 KB · Views: 1,554
  • 1961 C B Olds Combo.jpg
    1961 C B Olds Combo.jpg
    97.4 KB · Views: 1,475
  • 1963 C B Olds Combo w panels.jpg
    1963 C B Olds Combo w panels.jpg
    87.9 KB · Views: 1,512
  • 1963 C B Olds Combo.jpg
    1963 C B Olds Combo.jpg
    98.4 KB · Views: 1,053
1. 1959 Comet Oldsmobile combination.
2. 1962 C/B Oldsmobile combination.
3. 1963 C/B Oldsmobile combination with panels.
4. 1963 C/B Oldsmobile combination.

1961

These are BEAUTIES. If I could go back in time for a few weeks, it would be to about 1965 with a couple of cameras and a barrel of film!
 
What I have from BC

Jim Fissel photos. BL collection.

#1 - 1968 Olds/CB - Princeton, BC
#2 - 1968 Olds/CB - Princeton, BC
#3 - 1967 Olds/CB - Ladysmith, BC
#4 - 1966 Olds/CB - Chemainus, BC
 

Attachments

  • PhotoStation_Wed24Jul2002_01_28_25PM_p001.jpg
    PhotoStation_Wed24Jul2002_01_28_25PM_p001.jpg
    100.3 KB · Views: 1,003
  • PhotoStation_Wed24Jul2002_01_29_18PM_p001.jpg
    PhotoStation_Wed24Jul2002_01_29_18PM_p001.jpg
    94.2 KB · Views: 1,003
  • PhotoStation_Wed24Jul2002_08_17_44PM_p001.jpg
    PhotoStation_Wed24Jul2002_08_17_44PM_p001.jpg
    91.8 KB · Views: 991
  • PhotoStation_Wed24Jul2002_08_59_34PM_p001.jpg
    PhotoStation_Wed24Jul2002_08_59_34PM_p001.jpg
    93.3 KB · Views: 999
Back
Top