Fred Goerlitz
Northeast Chapter / PCS Life Member
Warren Hills, NJ is ex St. John's First Aid Squad in Fords, NJ
Classy Cadillacs
- Thread starter Steve Loftin
- Start date
Warren Hills, NJ is ex St. John's First Aid Squad in Fords, NJ
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All but the 1951 are Massachusetts cars based on the license plates. Anyone familiar with the Revolution should know where Lexington MA is...
The '51 is an LFD rig, as well!
1971 Superior/Cadillac ambulance ads - Part I
As most of you know, the late 1970 strike at GM caused a long delay in the release of all 1971 models, including commercial-chassis Cadillacs. For the first few months of 1971, GM used airbrushed photos of an older car in ads for their Cadillac ambulance chassis.
The first Cadillac ad (attached) shows a '69 that has been airbrushed into a '70 model; note what appears to be a crinkle top. When it came time to introduce the '71s, there were no ambulances to photograph! Because of that, Cadillac used the same car as in the '70 model ads, but with a 1971 front clip expertly grafted on.
As most of you know, the late 1970 strike at GM caused a long delay in the release of all 1971 models, including commercial-chassis Cadillacs. For the first few months of 1971, GM used airbrushed photos of an older car in ads for their Cadillac ambulance chassis.
The first Cadillac ad (attached) shows a '69 that has been airbrushed into a '70 model; note what appears to be a crinkle top. When it came time to introduce the '71s, there were no ambulances to photograph! Because of that, Cadillac used the same car as in the '70 model ads, but with a 1971 front clip expertly grafted on.
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1971 Superior/Cadillac ambulance ads - Part II
Superior (and other procar builders) used artwork for all of their 1971 brochures and early ads because there were no '71 models available to photograph. The first Superior ad attached shows an example of the artwork ("artist's rendition," as it were). The second one finally shows a photo of the first '71 Cadillac ambulance built.
Here also is a factory photo of that first '71 ambulance:
Superior (and other procar builders) used artwork for all of their 1971 brochures and early ads because there were no '71 models available to photograph. The first Superior ad attached shows an example of the artwork ("artist's rendition," as it were). The second one finally shows a photo of the first '71 Cadillac ambulance built.
Here also is a factory photo of that first '71 ambulance:
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Russell Dalziel
President MotorCity Chapter
American Ambulance did Rescue work for the Metro Detroit area during that Time
For those of You That are interested The Motor city Chapter will be Hosting a Speaker after Dinner events during the cold months and We are Going to have representatives from the Ambulance companies talk about Ambulance service in the Good Ole days
Russ
Two things about American back in the day. There ambulances in my opinion had a neat color scheme of a black roof and white body. There saying back then was "Once American, Always American."
Did you fire that first shot.?????????
Here is an ambulance from Flint, MI. It's a 1969 M&M and started out a new rig for the Groves & Co. Funeral Home before heading over to the Zelley Funeral Home/ambulance service. This has been the most elusive ambulance only finding these pictures recently through Brady..
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![Bob+J+&+Rich+G[1] (600 x 423).jpg.jpg](/data/attachments/2/2253-8801fa5a96a66848990e57ba999b0850.jpg)
David Burkham (Decatur, IL)
1955 Miller
1967 S&S
The Miller was originally owned by an industrial concern in New England, then Ken Elliott, then David, then Ken again, and now by a funeral home in Florida.
The origin of the S&S is unkown; Decatur A.S. (owned by the Burkham family since 1959) bought it sometime in the early 1970s. After it was retired from street duty it was put back for safekeeping, eventually restored, and still shows up at a PCS meet or car show once in a while. I was priveleged to attend D.A.S.' 50th anniversary celebration last year:
http://www.herald-review.com/specia...cle_2a7c6503-2674-5ed3-b460-936c6d711c09.html
(SL photos, 1984)
1955 Miller
1967 S&S
The Miller was originally owned by an industrial concern in New England, then Ken Elliott, then David, then Ken again, and now by a funeral home in Florida.
The origin of the S&S is unkown; Decatur A.S. (owned by the Burkham family since 1959) bought it sometime in the early 1970s. After it was retired from street duty it was put back for safekeeping, eventually restored, and still shows up at a PCS meet or car show once in a while. I was priveleged to attend D.A.S.' 50th anniversary celebration last year:
http://www.herald-review.com/specia...cle_2a7c6503-2674-5ed3-b460-936c6d711c09.html
(SL photos, 1984)
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Downers Grove, IL
1972 Superior
Note that the ditch lights ended up with red bulbs at some point...strange! 1972 was a good year for ambulances in the 'burbs; I can think of at least a dozen, not including Chicago's Lifeliners.
(SL collection)
Dewey-Schildknecht F.H. (Mulberry Grove,IL)
1973 Superior
I don't know where this car came from originally, but it ended up on Bob Dietz's lot in Wichita, KS in 1986.
(SL photo, 1984)
These photos show styling differences between the '72 and '73 Superiors. The front tunnel lights were raised on the '73s in order not to be blocked by cab roof spotlights. The D-pillar tiara was last used on the '72 models (I wish they'd kept this...I thought the hightops looked very plain without it).
1972 Superior
Note that the ditch lights ended up with red bulbs at some point...strange! 1972 was a good year for ambulances in the 'burbs; I can think of at least a dozen, not including Chicago's Lifeliners.
(SL collection)
Dewey-Schildknecht F.H. (Mulberry Grove,IL)
1973 Superior
I don't know where this car came from originally, but it ended up on Bob Dietz's lot in Wichita, KS in 1986.
(SL photo, 1984)
These photos show styling differences between the '72 and '73 Superiors. The front tunnel lights were raised on the '73s in order not to be blocked by cab roof spotlights. The D-pillar tiara was last used on the '72 models (I wish they'd kept this...I thought the hightops looked very plain without it).
Attachments
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