[1963PONTIACKID]

Anyone know anything about these? Tried googling but after the JFK one at last years BJ auction theres a ton of stuff to sort thru. I just bought one, going to pick it up later this week. 38000 original miles, 389, zero rust, mint body except the drivers quarter where it was hit at some point.
Im sure they are fairly rare, even more so up here in canada. I got it for such a ridiculous price I just couldnt pass it up (even factoring in the 18 hr round trip to go get it) Anyone know how many were made? Were they all built by superior? It has all the original lights and sirens and everything so it is quite a survivor car.

[Teej]

Sounds very cool. Can't wait to see pictures... You might try the professional car forums to find out more info...
www.professionalcarsociety.org
www.professionalcar.org

[T.Weber]

A Pontiac Ambulance would ONLY have been made by Superior and yes it's rare, I'm not totally sure about the Superior Ambulances but Superior only made a total of about 50 Hearses in 63 including the short wheel base Consorts. I'm Guessing your 63 Superior Ambulance is less than one of 30 or so. for a rundown
Pontiac = Superior
Buick = Flxible
Oldsmobile = Cotner Bevington
Hopes this helps. For better information you might want to check out The Professional Car Society also Phantom Coaches has a lot of information posted on their website you can also check out. Check out these sites:

http://www.professionalcar.org/

http://www.professionalcarsociety.org/

http://www.phantomcoaches.org/

[Stuart]

According to "75 Years of Pontiac-Oakland" by John Gunnell, in 1963 Superior built 245 Criterions (long 146" wheelbase and raised roofs) and 205 Consorts (regular roof, not much taller than a regular Safari.) Automotive Conversion Corporation also built some Amblewagon ambulances that year that were based on the standard Safari body and chassis. 1961 and earlier there were some professional cars built by other manufacturers.

[77 Canamman]

There's one sitting in a salvage yard near me. Contact Ray Lantz's Garage and Salvage in Maine, NY.

[T.Weber]

Stuart,
Thanks for the info. I didn't realize Superior built so many ambulances, compared to hearses anyway.

[Stuart]

Those numbers don't differentiate between ambulances and hearses (or combination cars for that matter.) I would assume most hearses were based on the larger Criterion chassis, so they constitute part of that 245 number.

[TempestFugit]

Love to see the pics.


Green with envy!

[Engine-Ear]

Yeah, pics wouldn't hurt!

From the (limited) research I have done, there were around 300 Ambulances made by Superior Coachworks in both '62 and '63 (each year).

Conversions by C-B were made (at least on '62s) from Safari wagons.

Yep, gonna need pics.

Congrats on your find.

[tharkun8]

I think they are pretty cool as well. Theres one for sale in WY right now.
It isn't mine of course and there isnt much information in the ad but with
how rare these are I thought Id post the ad in the BIG CARS FOR SALE section.

I thought someone might be interested in it. IIRC I think he was asking 5k.

[Keith Vrabec]

JOyce wants an ambulance...BUt I'd have to sell something first...

[Engine-Ear]

Originally Posted by tharkun8

I think they are pretty cool as well. Theres one for sale in WY right now.
It isn't mine of course and there isnt much information in the ad but with
how rare these are I thought Id post the ad in the BIG CARS FOR SALE section.

I thought someone might be interested in it. IIRC I think he was asking 5k.

Here it is...note the domed roof. Looks like this car began as a regular-production Safari ad then had its original steel roof removed and raised by Superior. Note the regular production length doors, too.

By contrast, the full conversion Ambulance (also by Superior). Doors are almost as long as 2dr ht doors and were stamped out BY SUPERIOR in Mississippi (not at GM!). My '62 Ambo has the same roof as seen in the atached AMBO3 image, FWIW.

[Keith Vrabec]

Oh gotta have the domed roof and bullet lights on it with a bubble gum machine top light...Red. (Trade for my 76 TA??? MMMMM.....dont know if I could do that...)

[tharkun8]

Originally Posted by Engine-Ear

Here it is...note the domed roof. Looks like this car began as a regular-production Safari ad then had its original steel roof removed and raised by Superior. Note the regular production length doors, too.

By contrast, the full conversion Ambulance (also by Superior). Doors are almost as long as 2dr ht doors and were stamped out BY SUPERIOR in Mississippi (not at GM!). My '62 Ambo has the same roof as seen in the atached AMBO3 image, FWIW.

from looking at the pics of the ambulances that you posted then this WY car would probably
more likely have been a hearse then instead of an ambulance wouldnt it ? It has the reg production
doors and the roof is raised but doesnt have the big raise in the roofline where the lights are mounted.

Makes me wish the seller had included more pics.. esp of the interior and the rear door.

neat cars though .. if I had the coin to have a true 'collection' one of these would def have to be included.


John

[1963PONTIACKID]

wow thanks for all the info guys. Just got back from getting it, a pretty brutal 18 hour round trip alone (after a day at work). About ready to pass out. It was dark when I got home so no pics yet. But I just couldnt resist playing around with it. . .hooked up a battery charger and started pushing buttons. All the lights on the roof and siren work (not to mention they are in mint shape chrome wise) Dug around and not only does it have the original gourney but there is the 2nd foldable stretcher in the one storage area. Also has the original, dated 1963 fire extinguisher. Radio delete plate, power steering works cherry, Brand new from factory 1963 spare tire, jack looks like its never been used. After that I figured what the hell, checked the fluids put some gas down the carb and she fired right up! Runs amazingly smooth considering it has basically sat for 10+years. No smoke or anything. Tranny feels solid, brakes are gone needs a master cylinder. All around an amazing buy for. . . .wait for it. . . .$1000. Body is cherry exept for thw quarters (one was hit, other as rust) but thats where the time spent apprecticing at the body shop comes in handy. Pics tomorrow, I promise. I did take a video of the siren and lights tonight, I'll post it sometime too. All in all I think I scored pretty good!

[Teej]

Wow! I'd say you scored GREAT!!! That's going to be a tough one to beat... We'll all be looking forward to the pictures.

[Steve Barcak]

There is another here in Az in a parts yard too. If you need anything, contact me for info.

[1963PONTIACKID]

Her's some pics. As bad as the crunched corner looks, I have all the broken fiberglass pieces as a pattern so I will be able to get her fixed up. Really if it didn't have the damage I probably wouldnt have been able to afford the car haha. Plans for the car: As much as I'd love to do a custom job, I think it would be a disgrace to the car (and pontiac) to cut it up as there aren't many of these left. Plans are for a complete original resto, theres zero floor rust, its just an all around sweet car. I'm pretty excited haha.

[68lemansman]

That ambulance is pretty cool looking car. Im surprised them emergency light lenses are intact. Pretty bad hit in the rear but if you can fix it and save it then id say you did good! Id love to have one and leave it as an ambulance.

[Engine-Ear]

Originally Posted by 1963PONTIACKID

As much as I'd love to do a custom job, I think it would be a disgrace to the car (and pontiac) to cut it up as there aren't many of these left. Plans are for a complete original resto, theres zero floor rust, its just an all around sweet car

Highly appropriate plan, IMO. (I'd be doing the same thing but since the original engine is long gone in mine, I am probably going build a mule 455 for it while keeping it 3-on-the-tree).

If you can, please post pics of the spare tire (tread and sidewall details, brand and size info and the measured tread width) as well as the wheel (the rim 'face'). The wheels should be 15" diameter.