Merry Oldsmobiles

[Steve Loftin]

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)

 

[Steve Loftin]

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)

 

[Anthony J. Rzucidlo - Deceased - 1953-2019]

Kirks

This company should had a wide arrangment of ambulances. Just when I thought that they were getting better with their emergency warning equipment some of the photos led me to believe that they went backwards. Nice photos just the same.

 

[John ED Renstrom]

that last one is my dream car. low top 72 ambulance.

 

[Steve Loftin]

Beacon A.S. (Raleigh, NC)
1974 Cotington 48

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

(SL collection)

 

[John Royark JR]

1941 Miller Oldsmobile combo, currently owned and used by Mitchell Family Funeral Home, Marshalltown, Iowa. (J.Royark collection)

 

[Steve Loftin]

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)

 

[Steve Loftin]

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)

 

[Steve Loftin]

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)

 

[John ED Renstrom]

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.

 

[Steve Loftin]

Most of us are familiar with the twin '72 Cotington 48s owned by David Stalhut and Larri Dirks.

Many of you have seen Larri's car; here's the other one:

(SL photo)

 

[Tony Karsnia - Deceased - 1971-2020]

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)

 

[Steve Loftin]

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)

 

[Steve Loftin]

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)

 

[Jeremy D. Ledford]

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)

 

[Steve Loftin]

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!

 

[Bill Leverett]

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

 

[Robert Davidson]

Nice Olds in Michigan

http://www.flickr.com/photos/ftfesz71/5158861247/

Vorans funeral home dusted off their 68 CB Olds and it looks great.. lots of pictures of it in this Flickr collection...

 

[Steve Loftin]

Vorans funeral home dusted off their 68 CB Olds and it looks great.. lots of pictures of it in this Flickr collection...

1969...nice, especially with the Solar Ray tunnels!

 

[Russell Dalziel]

Voran's Oldsmobile

http://www.flickr.com/photos/ftfesz71/5158861247/

Vorans funeral home dusted off their 68 CB Olds and it looks great.. lots of pictures of it in this Flickr collection...

The Young Lady who is Pictured with the car is Mr Voran's Daughter
She does several of rhe Shows the Motor City Chapter Attends
Very Nice Car & People


Russ