ambulance rescue(s)

[Darryl Thompson]

The 1975 Superior Pontiac has come along nicely. Plenty of oil, brake work and scrubbing made for a few long days but it was worth it. Now she is great running project car that needs a loving home.

If she sit's here too long the Caddy's will surely haze her! lol

.

 

[Kurt Arends]

Someone really needs to take one of these '71 through '75 Superior Pontiacs and graft Granville/Bonneville quarter panels onto it. They would have been so much better looking if built that way originally.

 

[Ron Devies]

Awesome save Darryl, what is the interior like?

 

[Bruce Biancalana]

Darryl, what's happening with the 1973 Wellsboro S&S ?

 

[Attila Bethlenfalvy]

Darryl, what's happening with the 1973 Wellsboro S&S ?

3 rigs in this post are completely off limits for various reasons. Ever see M. Night Shyamalan's The Village? Consider these like the mysterious creatures they did not speak of. Nothing good will stem from it. Money does not matter. They are not for sale. Best course is to respect owner's wishes.

Only posting pics as a courtesy to share what he's keeping.

^^^^^^^^^^

 

[Attila Bethlenfalvy]

Trip 3 spent in yard today. Shawn Koenig joined us. Jacob Fornier also met up. Both '67 Superior Rescuers were dragged into open revealing how rough they really are. Darryl decided to pass on them turning attention to '65 MM. Sadly after excavating, it proved not restorable as well. Owner decided come this time next week these 3 rigs will be crushed. The 4 of us started stripping usable parts between cloudbursts...

Jacob is en route home with first ambulance.

Darryl & I must return tomorrow to load after running out of daylight. Shawn's Philly hearse show in morning comes first. Pics on this end after returning, however Jacob & Shawn may have some to share sooner.

 

[Jacob M. Fournier]

Made it home with the orange '76 S&S. 430 miles each way made for a long day. Great to meet up with Attila, Darryl and Shawn. Wish I could have made it to Shawn's show today, but I was anxious to get home. Had to brave some flooding across I-287 on the way down. Also, a shot of the '67 Superior, out in the open.

 

[Attila Bethlenfalvy]

Back and rested. Images pretty much in order to provide a feel of activities.

We all walked by Jacob's other '76 ambulance first. It had been moved closer to front since last visit. Note downsized '78 Superior has also been moved and is perpendicular behind.

This rig has a bad transmission. It was wedged in enough previously that I wrote it off as a parts coach. That assessment may have proven premature after viewing interior however. Front seat image file somehow corrupted. It has a blue bench seat bottom mated to individual seat backs attached in the middle by a single large fold down armrest. Not quite a walk through but an opening big enough to squeeze through in a pinch. Certainly would've made conversation with driver easier.

Really like the blue wood grain and upholstery.

Pretty snazzy huh? Note S&S proprietary cot bar still present.

Upon reaching '67s deeper within, a bunch of heavy sighs were heard. Bottoms of both rigs were just gone almost in their entirety. Sad.

So Darryl decided to put effort into digging '65 MM out. He and I had previously climbed over/through/back to it only to see passenger rear 3/4 and rear loading door. Could tell windshield, front grille, bumper, and wheel were missing looking through briar. Only 2 cars required moving first to pull it out.

Not looking good. At all. Door missing too? Ooph.

Add missing rear end to growing list. Remaining optimistic proved fruitless. Completely toasted.

 

[Attila Bethlenfalvy]

Several vehicles had already been moved in preparation for pulling other '76 SS out. This one fought tooth and nail. Couldn't get passenger rear wheel freed up. Fiberglass quarter to taillight filler was destroyed shaking rig loose from where that corner had sunk into ground unfortunately. Note '75 S&S Wellsboro in background.

About this time Darryl located a large sledge and started swinging for the fences on that stuck rear wheel. A dozen shots later she broke loose. Added more air and she began rolling much easier. Think Jacob was relieved Darryl was swinging away as he was concerned about hitting a stud.

As Jacob's equipment trailer has a steep ramp angle, articulated loader was used. We took caution to get low and spot forks, ensuring both frame rails were on. Interesting that drivers side has no glass while passenger side is all glass.

Only shot I nabbed on trailer is about same time Jacob took one in restaurant parking lot. We were famished.

Superior 54 had been moved to crush pile. I was told it was not imminent, that it will still be here on our next visit. That's good...because rear loading door was stuck and we didn't have time to mess with it any.

Some of the more interesting items I found walking by other packed vehicles fixated on looking inside them. Owner placed a high price unfortunately, explaining that the SUPERIOR PONTIAC nameplates were salesman samples that were used exclusively on test drives. He'd never seen another pair. Really neat. I made the long trek round trip and put them exactly back where found.

PM if you want 'em. I'll only say publicly that they are not cheap. No dickering takes place here either.

 

[Attila Bethlenfalvy]

Between Darryl's growing frustration, an empty trailer, and a wad of cash burning a hole in his pocket like a sailor who had just come into port, something had to give. Not sure if a heart to heart took place or two mountain goats started ramming each other as the rest of us had vacated area in advance. Darryl and property owner emerged physically unscathed with an agreement on '73 Wellsboro though!!!

The downside was having to return following day for it and '47. We already had plans to attend Shawn's hearse show so a second consecutive long day started shaping up. Darryl and I peeled off from show early. By the time we had arrived back here, several 'easier' vehicles had already been moved. The moment had come to bust out the big guns - a new machine for the gravity of the situation.

Any guesses what moved, cleared, and widened a large enough track? Right around 14 cars had been moved to provide this shot out.

Getting closer... Air tires where possible, use lots of hands & spotters, and even more muscle.

Add a couple hooks. Nothing runs like a Deere. Big excavator was slick, even more so because operator knew how to fluidly use it.

Out far enough to get air in passenger rear now. Thankfully rolling - no stuck brakes!

Note rear loading horizontal door seam now exposed, where upper ambulance skin was grafted to lower. Also notice how side body molding is on same plane.

Just like it takes a village to raise a child, it took this many of us to free Wellsboro without damaging anything.

Spotters in place and Wellsboro is en route over a twisting/turning narrow path on long journey at a snail's pace to front of property.

Previous custodian showing highlights while pointing out features. This truly is a special rig even amongst ambulances.

Only other downside was length of time spent on Wellsboro prohibited even starting on unearthing '47, so a single haul home. (At least it wouldn't be a heavy haul!) Frankly I don't think Darryl cared much because of trailer load importance...

I hear Darryl has already started scrubbing Wellsboro down since returning. Hope he puts more pics up soon!

 

[Mike McGeehan]

Amazing pics of an amazing adventure. Thanks for sharing...and keeping us armchair adventurers mesmerized.

 

[Ken Elliott]

Possibly, Wellsboro S&S was an attempt at meeting the interior storage and configuration of the M/M Criterion? What ya think?

 

[Darryl Thompson]

It was a long but fun 2 days. As Atti has posted already an amazing summary of the events, I shall not be too wordy myself.

I will have to say I do owe a MAJOR thanks to Pete Graves for the hospitality he afforded us during my buying trips. Previously mentioned in this thread, there were a few coaches that were "off limits". The "off limits" factor was a very true and real deal when dealing with Mr. Graves as others that have met him in the past can vouch for.

The few days I was in his yard, sweat pouring, neck deep in brush and always the potential for a surprise bee attacks, I made a friend for life. I think through my persistence and being a man of my word I finally was awarded a coach that I will probably die with. The 1973 S&S Medic 1.

The 1973 was an "off limits" coach as we were told the first visit. After a couple more visits and few more coaches bought and removed, we had the talk. The talk consisted of the facts, the coach is rotting away buried in the back, being buried offered no hope of him doing a restoration and the plain fact that I don't like the car but love the car and I would pester him into a stroke. LOL

This young goat whipped the old goat. All for a great reason! THIS COACH WILL LIVE ON!

Day ONE, getting familiar with the old girl. Enjoy.













Almost everything worked, with the exception of a few blown bulbs. The Factory 8 Track even sounded good.

 

[Josh Rutter]

Theres just something about seeing lights glow that you know havent glowed in awhile

 

[James Fischer]

Darryl,

Congratulations on a beautiful coach !!!

Well deserved I might add,for all the toil and work you put forth into the preservation of ALL these ProCars !!:thumbsup:

Cheers !!!!:cheers:

 

[Dave Ware]

8 track lol and you had one around to test with.
That car is awesome

 

[Cary Livingston]

Darryl,
I can fully understand your feelings toward the Wellsboro S&S. Back in the late 80's I fought persistently to buy a 71 S&S Medic Mark 1 that was owned by a defunct ambulance service in Pinellas County Florida. At that time I didnt even know the full history of the car. After being shot down numerous times by the owner of the ambulance service the inevitable happened...the car became part of bankruptcy proceedings. I still persisted and finally after almost 4 years of trying to buy the car I drove it home from Tampa . My quest was over. In my 25+ years of pro car ownership nothing held a candle to this 71 hightop....the rarity....the way it drove......the solid feeling.....and the unyielding quest to own it. It wasnt until maybe 5 years back that I finally got to see what it looked like originally. Knowing I had to lighten my load of cars this was one I was I wanted to have a special home and it got it with Eddie Dauer in his collection in Lauderdale in 92 or so. Enjoy this car....it is going to fascinate and captivate you much as my 71 did.

From the Loftin Archives.

From the Dauer Collection Website
http://www.dauerclassiccars.com/ambulnce.htm

 

[Ron Devies]

Darryl, awesome find. I love the way the compartments light up.

 

[Fred Goerlitz]

Nice save on the Wellsboro Car!

 

[Bill Marcy]

Congratulations Darryl!

How great it is to save this rare and unique, extremely well optioned and beautiful ambulance from certain death. It took a special person to get this one away from Pete Graves. I wish you lots of luck and many happy miles with it!