Pontiac procar pics

[Abe Bush]

This car was originally owned by my family’s business, Ambulance Service Co. in Denver. Was sold to Ford County in the mid 70’s. Somehow ended up at an assessment park in Colorado Springs. Demon Dawg with the Denver Hearse Association now owns it. I can post current photos but it’s not pretty.

Speaking of Ambulance Service Co. in Denver, whatever happened to that company? Was it bought out by American Medical Response? It's my understanding that Reed Ambulance was sold many years ago also, but has recently been re-opened under another name but owned by the same man who owned and operated Reed Ambulance, Mr. Alan Powers. A few other names in the Denver area that may or may not still be around are Medevac Ambulance Service, and Haley's Ambulance Service.

Back in 1989 when I lived in Denver, Ambulance Service Co. ruled the mile high city, and I believe Reed was a close second. Of course Denver metro was serviced by Denver General, and the private services contracted out to the suburbs and ran overflow calls for Denver General.

I thought it was interesting that Denver General had a fleet of all Hortons, but the private services seemed to favor Cayelcraft ambulances bought from McPeck's.

Abe

 

[Bruce Oliphant]

Mr. Powers opened Action Care I believe. I was an apprentice with Reed Ambulance from 1978-1982 and ran out of the Aurora Community Hospital near I-225 and Mississippi Ave.

 

[Martyn Donaldson]

1957 Superior ads

 

[Martyn Donaldson]

1958 Superior ad

 

[Skip Goulet - Deceased 1945 - 2018]

Vintage capture of a '62 Superior combination. Could this be the missing link/origination of hearse/hurst confusion?

Rather unadorned '64 Superior ambulance. Perhaps the most plain non-military high top yet.

'67 Superior in Fairmount, NE. Photo courtesy George Thomas.

At one time, this '67 Consort was one of the nicest looking rigs I've ever seen. Steve Loftin has some nice pix of it when it was in actual service. The last few years its just sat at the side of the road to advertise the county museum. A number of people have tried to buy the car, including myself, but they don't want to part with it. Such a waste!

 

[Martin Harvey]

The pictures of this '64 were taken by me few years ago. all the missing parts were removed by the owner I dont know why... even the side flashers. The car is not complete and missing a lot of interior parts, but I think he still have somewhere the rest of the exterior parts. Funny thing is that ambulance really transported the dead body of a prime minister...

 

[Mike Burkhart - Deceased 1948 - 2016]

I wonder if those pics were taken at the drag strip at Scribner, NE ? I have raced there in 2000-2005. Looks familiar. Fairmount is only 30 miles from Scribner.........

 

[Abe Bush]

The pictures of this '64 were taken by me few years ago. all the missing parts were removed by the owner I dont know why... even the side flashers. The car is not complete and missing a lot of interior parts, but I think he still have somewhere the rest of the exterior parts. Funny thing is that ambulance really transported the dead body of a prime minister...

I wonder if it will be making an appearance on the auction block at Barrett-Jackson if it transported a deceased prime minister!

I am curious though, since it's an ambulance, if it transported said prime minister pre-hospital or post-hospital!

Abe

 

[Martin Harvey]

This ambulance was bought brand new by Hydro-Quebec to be used with another '64 Superior Cadillac during the construction of the Manic-5 barrage. When Daniel Johnson, Prime Minister, decided to visit the construction in '68 he got a heart attack there. Passed away and the ambulance was used to carry him at Baie-Comeau... well, the nearest hospital that was almost at 200 miles south.. Maybe he died in the car? Anyway I spoke with the driver of the car that day and he did not remembered which was the Caddy or the Pontiac. Checked some news archives of '68 Baie-Comeau newspapers... and we see the pontiac! .. it was identical to Steve Lichtman's Superior back then.

 

[Tony Karsnia - Deceased - 1971-2020]

Here's a 1985 Eureka Pontiac Chieftain landaulet hearse, photographed as-new across the street from N.C.M. Professional Car Sales of Minneapolis (formerly Miller-Meteor Sales of Minneapolis.) This car was delivered to the Buehler Funeral Home in Mandan, North Dakota.

Years later, after being traded in to Premier Coach Sales in Clear Lake, Iowa, on a new 1994 S&S Buick hearse, this coach was owned for a time by PCS member Andy Anderson (father of John Royark's girlfriend, Christie Anderson.)

(Karsnia collection)

 

[John Royark JR]

Here's a 1985 Eureka Pontiac Chieftain landaulet hearse, photographed as-new across the street from N.C.M. Professional Car Sales of Minneapolis (formerly Miller-Meteor Sales of Minneapolis.) This car was delivered to the Buehler Funeral Home in Mandan, North Dakota.

Years later, after being traded in to Premier Coach Sales in Clear Lake, Iowa, on a new 1994 S&S Buick hearse, this coach was owned for a time by PCS member Andy Anderson (father of John Royark's girlfriend, Christie Anderson.)

(Karsnia collection)

The last time I knew this car still sits at Premier in the same spot Andy parked it over 6 years ago when he sold it back to them.

 

[Ken Novak]

The last time I knew this car still sits at Premier in the same spot Andy parked it over 6 years ago when he sold it back to them.

Correct as of last month s, still in inventory.

 

[Steve Loftin]

1952 National/Pontiac - Paducah, TX

The first time I saw this wonderful old building (about 1996), it was being converted to apartments. When I saw it again a few weeks ago the building had been converted to a motel. The name NORRIS was engraved in the concrete (for lack of a better term) where the motel sign is now.

I couldn't get much information or any photos from the current funeral director (originally Norris, then Seigler, then McBee, now Zapata F.H.) or the local historical society. I was told that the firm moved to it's current location after a fire in this building, while under Seigler ownership, in the 1970s.

I'm guessing the place was built around 1925-30. As you can see the portico and garage have been closed in (sorry about the blurry garage shot).

One car that used to occupy this garage was an Ambulette now owned by the City-County Heritage Museum in Paducah. This car is in amazing shape for having sat outside - although under a canopy - for at least 30 years:

(SL photos)

 

[Steve Loftin]

This car is mostly original and almost complete. Missing items include beacon parts, tunnel light lenses, dashboard sign brackets, attendant seat, and original cot:

 

[Steve Loftin]

Note the oxygen bottle bracket mounted under the stretcher:

 

[Steve Loftin]

Note warning light and siren (foot) switches. Driver's seat can be propped up for attandant seat access. Overall, the interior and upholstery is in pretty good shape:

 

[Skip Goulet - Deceased 1945 - 2018]

This car is mostly original and almost complete. Missing items include beacon parts, tunnel light lenses, dashboard sign brackets, attendant seat, and original cot:

The last time I saw this car was c.1980-81, when we bought a '68 Caddy combo from the f.h. in Paducah. At that time the Pontiac belonged to the owner of the private ambulance co. The beacon still had the red dome, but it was cracked, and both front tunnel lights were intact. It also had a small Sireno or Sterling siren behind the grille. Was it still there when you saw it, Steve? We were going to buy the car from the private ambulance owner, and could've gotten it for less than $500, but when the museum people found out that it could be leaving Paducah, they made the guy an offer he couldn't refuse.

 

[Martin Harvey]

Uh, what are these holes used to be? It seems that they are connected to something outside on each side?

 

[Jeremy D. Ledford]

Uh, what are these holes used to be? It seems that they are connected to something outside on each side?

Air vents that were common on Nationals of that era.

 

[Abe Bush]

And now its on the road....it doesn't look much different, but all the mechanical stuff is done to make it safe.

Nice pics Rick, you can tell she's already starting to get some of her pride back! Nice job!

Abe