Ambulance

[jeff41162]

Hi from Indianapolis, Have a 1971 Chevrolet Suburban Ambulance 4x4 with 14,000 original miles. May keep as it is now or modify in some areas. Any others with an ambulance? Pictures? Will try to post pictures of this one in a couple of days. New member this week. Jeff

[big blue 72]

Jeff, Welcome from the Cincy ,Ohio area!
You have just joined the BEST place for info on our trucks.
Look in this forum for other pictures of ambulance(s), ambuli (?).
Will take you a while but keep reading and you will find it.

[vectorit]

Welcome!

You have to post pictures of that 4x4 ambulance! This forum is the best place to be for anything on the Chevy/GMC trucks, but we are addicted to pictures of other peoples trucks.

[allengator]

welcome

GOTTA SEE PICS!

[jeff41162]

Thanks for the welcome response. My 21 year old college kid will be home 12-18-10 and can show me how to post pictures of the 1971 Chevrolet Suburban Ambulance 4x4 with 14,000 miles. Others vehicles are few Checkers like the Taxi cab and some boring new cars. Jeff

[eagleuh1]

I saw one up in Prescot Arizona a couple months ago when I was out for a motorcycle ride. No camera though. Looked to be in good shape.

[jeff41162]

Still trying to figure out this computer stuff in order to post pictures on 12-18-10 but meanwhile another member advised to search under ambulance. Surprisingly I found my orange and white truck on this site. You guys are on the ball. It was posted by Big Block(?) on 10-5-10(?) from a failed Ebay sale attempt. Now looking to keep and enjoy. Has different wheels and back seat now. Next maybe a removable top/convertible? Jeff

[jeff41162]

My kid added a few pictures of the ambulance to the first post. Hope you all can see them . Enjoy!

[vectorit]

VERY NICE!

I'd be taking as many pictures as I could of that rig, just to document everything about an unmolested truck of that year.

The rear floor covering made me chuckle, since that was the same floor covering in the kitchen of the house I grew up in.

[eagleuh1]

Nice, looks to be in really good shape.

[scotto0609]

Originally Posted by vectorit

VERY NICE!


The rear floor covering made me chuckle, since that was the same floor covering in the kitchen of the house I grew up in.

X2

[Big Block]

I love 4x4 suburbans. Yours looks great. I sold a pair of suburbans a couple year ago, one 4x4, and one 2wd. I sure miss all that interior room. I hope to own one in the future. I found this nice original 1972 on Evil bay If I had the cash I would already be on a plane and beating his door down to get it. http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1972-...item2c596d181e

[rocknss]

Welcome to the board.
Great looking Ambulance!

[jeff41162]

Thanks to all for the welcome messages. Looking at steering wheel options because someone traded their bad blue one painted black, years ago apparently for what must have been a nice black original on the ambulance. Probably one of you guys! No names needed! Anybody with experience installing LMC wood wheel #38-1160 or black leather three spoke #38-1193? In particular I need more stomach room due to excess muscle (fat) mass. Dish too deep? Better options for wheels, not weight loss? Jeff

[Dieselwrencher]

Jeff, very nice suburban, and welcome to the truck board!

[vectorit]

Originally Posted by jeff41162

Thanks to all for the welcome messages. Looking at steering wheel options because someone traded their bad blue one painted black, years ago apparently for what must have been a nice black original on the ambulance. Probably one of you guys! No names needed! Anybody with experience installing LMC wood wheel #38-1160 or black leather three spoke #38-1193? In particular I need more stomach room due to excess muscle (fat) mass. Dish too deep? Better options for wheels, not weight loss? Jeff

Ask around about shortening the steering column.
There have been others that have done it, so that they can get more room behind the wheel.
Not sure how they did, but from the trucks I've seen it comes out looking good.

[jeff41162]

Good thought on a shortened column, I will look into it. Thanks jeff

[olblue60@aol.com]

There was a member "Putter" that did a thread on shorting the column. It looked real easy , as you had a slip that could be compressed. Welcome to the board!!

[mr48chev]

Nice looking ambulance. And welcome to the board.

[7T2]

The Centurion-Challenger ambulance is well regarded in the classic ambulance community. I know it didn't sell on ebay before, but I would keep trying. You would be better off selling it for a decent price and taking the money to buy a non-ambulance suburban. You could probably make enough extra money to finance the kind of things you are talking about doing to this one. I don't know if you still have the original interior cabinets, but that would be a plus. There are many items on this ambulance that are worthless to someone building a custom truck, but are impossible to find for an ambulance enthusiast, including the custom made storage bumpers, top and lighting.

On another board I frequent this truck was discussed when it was up for sale and several people thought it was well worth close to the asking price, even though it didn't sell. Of course, the more stock parts you have, the more it's going to be worth to someone wanting an ambulance.

[jeff41162]

Your comments are appreciated. Yes, I did retain all the original ambulance equipment. Any modifications will be done keeping originality in mind and will be reversible without damage. My first thought when the Suburban was purchased was to make the ambulance top unbolt and then install a canvas snap on top in place. Sort of like the old vans with a huge full length sun roof. The Suburban actually sold for $18,000.00 on Ebay this month but the buyer failed to pay, which I understand is a common problem. Since original vehicles are difficult to find, I may just keep waxing it and enjoy as is. Happy Holidays, Jeff

[7T2]

You sound like you have similar tastes to mine. When I got my GMC I didn't know anything about ambulances, and being a hot-rodder I just thought it would be a cool, unusual vehicle to hit the Goodguys shows with. While I was doing my research I got hooked up with a couple "professional car" organizations (hearses and ambulances), and after talking to them I began to see how rare the GMC was, so I went the route of "non-invasive" mods, to be able to return the vehicle to at least as stock as it was when I got it if I wanted to.

As far as money goes, Suburban based ambulances are JUST now gaining popularity in the ambulance community, which has been focused mainly on car-based vehicles in the past. As a result, well-preserved example are generating their share of interest. It's hard to say how much money someone will pay for one, but the interest is there, and the car-based ambulances are getting harder and harder to find, so people are turning their attention to the early truck-bodied ambulances and vans.

[jeff41162]

My family is slowly forcing me to put down the saw and wrenches after receiving your insightful messages. All kidding aside, I agree 100% with your non-invasive and reversible approach to any modifications or upgrades. Temptation is what lead me to try to sell the ambulance first so there would not be that chance to tamper with an original survivor. However, it is quite enjoyable and fun in the current condition. I did just purchased a second row seat but like the third row it is just taped in place for consideration. For now just thinking out loud. How can I see some pictures of your ambulance that may already be posted somewhere on this site? Jeff

[7T2]

It's not pretty, but right now this is the only place I have pictures online that is easy to get to:

http://www.tmcarphoto.com/GMC/

You have to click on each one individually.

This is the most current pic I have online:

[71meangreenc10]

I wouldnt mind riding in either of those to the ER

Smitty