New From NorCal with '71 GMC Ambo

[RoadDawg]

Hi folks, a long-time fan of the '67-'72 Chevy and GMC trucks checking in from Northern California. I've been lurking here for a few years just waiting for the time when I would finally own one of these gems and that time came this week. I'm also a former firefighter and a big vintage emergency vehicle enthusiast so I was naturally drawn to something with a service mission and history and found it with this 1971 GMC ambulance built by Stoner that had been languishing in rural Siskiyou County for the past 15 years.

This truck came up on eBay over a year ago and while I considered it then I never did take any action on it until late July when on a whim, I contacted the seller through eBay to find out if it ever sold. The seller got back to me with the news that it indeed sold and was paid for but the Canadian buyer never got transportation arranged so it was still sitting on his property. He agreed to give me the buyers contact info and after some discussion the buyer decided to sell it to me.

By last week I was finally able to arrange my own transport so yesterday a friend with a nice tow rig and I undertook the 800 mile journey to retrieve my dream ambulance.









See more photos here:

http://public.fotki.com/Classicchp/1971-gmc-ambulance/

What I like about this rig is that is was always fire department owned while in-service, first by Okanogan County FPD in Washington from new-1979 then Etna FD in California from 1979-2000 and is built on the less common GMC AND 3/4 ton Suburban. It is nicely equipped on the Super Custom model and includes lots of heavy-duty component options plus factory A/C and the 402 cid big block under the hood. The owner started to undertake a conversion to a race car hauler but stopped midway and the vehicle just sat untitled or registered for years. Thankfully he kept some of the ambulance parts but guess I will be scrounging for or recreating those missing items plus bringing the rest of the Suburban up to snuff as well. I have some restoration experience having previously brought a CHP Mustang patrol car back from the dead and can't wait to dig into this, my first truck project.

If you'd like to check out my CHP Mustang project photos click here:

http://public.fotki.com/Classicchp/chp3035/

Just started to inspect everything on the Suburban today but from what I've seen so far I'm very happy with the purchase...honestly feel like a kid on Christmas morning! Will definitely be picking some brains (esp. anyone else with a Stoner or other ambo) and posting updates here as I proceed with this long awaited project.

- Mike