pontiac barnette in flickr

the inlaid floor is a nice custom touch. not vary practical but it looks good.
the same with the folding military field stretcher. but this one does blow the myth that Barnett only built on Pontiac's. really no different in the body in the sedan delivery that year. but most of theres were pontiacs. if there were three made for one order they much have wanted the chevies. most likly the locale dealer was a chevy one.
 
pontiac barnette in flickr
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Actually a Chevrolet as Ed referenced.

Robert, thanks for the post. I been wanting to get good pics of this vehicle. This is a bit of history on this vehicle from one of my Chevrolet clubs:

"........ has a 1951 Ambulance that comes from his home town in upstate New York. He knew that car as a child and while back “home” visiting his parents he inquired about the car from an old friend that owned the car. The friend said you want it, it’s yours. The car was transported to California & had the car made beautiful."
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National & Barnette both converted Pontiac and Chevrolet Sedan Deliveries to hearse, ambulance and service vehicles. People would buy the vehicle then it would be sent to the coachmaker for conversion. Most folks opted for Pontiacs as they had more "flash" to start with (style & chrome / stainless in grille, trim, interior, etc.) The big chrome grille and the hood "waterfall" were impressive at an affordable price. As a result it is much harder to find a Chevrolet example, being more "plain jane", by these coachmakers as a lot fewer were made and, of those, few survived. They were somewhat disposable since they were just chevies (or they were rodded out). My National I saved from the scrapper after an unsuccessful ebay auction.

The flooring was originally linoleum according to the original factory literature. The wood that runs along the top of the side rails is something I've never seen either. I'm skeptical about the 1 of only 3 claim however. That being said, it is still a beautiful ambulance. I, for one am grateful for any pics I can capture of these early Chevrolets.
 
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I worked as a a Paramedic Supervisor for the City of New Bedford Mass prior to the job being eliminated due to a crumbling economy. The city has a 1953 Chevy Barnette ambulance that is in great shape, it is used for parades. It can be viewed at New Bedford EMS.com. Click photo gallery, EMS vehicles past and present. There is one shot of it in a parade.
 
John ED Renstrom said:
if this is it it's a one ton truck. http://www.newbedfordems.com/gallery_view.php?galleryid=6
but never the less still one most of us would like to see. they did a lot of these old panel trucks to but most were finished out in some delivery after there life as a ambulance was over.
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Ed that's the one, I agree it is a little bigger than a car based ambulance, as I said it is in nice shape, very low miles, as it spent most of it's life at the New Bedford Airport as a Civil Defense Ambulance. I will see if I can get some more info and photos.
 
Robert Davidson said:
The wood floor with an in-laid red cross interesting-- would that be period correct? I would think oilcloth or linoleum would be more practical...
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It would have had linoleum originally. Still, very interesting and nicely redone.

I don't think I've ever heard any reference to a Barnette van/truck! :cool:
 
interior pics?

Hi Brendan...would you happen to have any interior pictures? That's the first truck based Barnette I've heard of as well. Very unique.:agree:
 
Bill Leverett said:
Hi Brendan...would you happen to have any interior pictures? That's the first truck based Barnette I've heard of as well. Very unique.:agree:
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Bill I can but it may take me some time, I can try to get over there at the end of the week when I have some time off, the training Capt. helped me find these photos of it I'm sure he will let me take some more photos.
 
Steve Loftin said:
Barnette/Barnett would, and did, build on anything from a Chevrolet to a Cadillac.
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and it's nice to see an example of there handy work to. I would think most of the smaller shops would build you anything you wanted to pay for. and these panel trucks were any were from 1/2 ton to 1 ton, same body style. they made a good ambulance. as the body was all ready long enough and you could get it from the factory with the double doors. about all they had to do was put in windows and the interior. then you had a road ready rig good to go.
 
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