Ambulance/Hearse

[Frank Elder]

Short read, neat pictures.

http://www.emsclassics.com/columndetails.php?Number=15

[Plymouthy Adams]

basically the only modification to the dodge it appears is the quick relase front right seat, addition of a jump seat and the major body change was the enimination of the B-post..I am sure this was a one side only modification..I would wonder what if any lower floor/rocker changes were made..I would almost suspect that the frame rail on that side got both body/frame mounts for the 2 door and the 4 door version..as this mount is just a bolt in based on what model body sits on the frame. At least this is something I would consider doing if I were to think of removing a B-post

[Young Ed]

The pictures I've seen show the B pillar as being removable but still used.

[greg g]

If you are interested in these professional cars, you might also want to inquire into ambulettes. These were vehicles used to transport patients between facilities or from institutions to other medical services provider locations. These may have been set up to accomodate geurneys, or wheel chairs and ambulatory patients. They were trasport only and were not intended or equiped to provide first responder type services.

[Jim Benjaminson]

Chrysler offered these ambulance conversions from the factory, starting in at least 1936. Some had the "X" brace between the trunk and passenger compartment open, with the patient inserted head-first from the trunk; later versions had the removeable "B" pillar. My own 40 P10 7-passenger ambulance had bucket seats in front (passenger side removed as well as the right side jump seat). With the right-front door hinge-stop removed so the front door opened against the fender it was easy to slide a cot in from the front - at an angle (driver side jump seat had to be folded forward). Once in the vehicle the cot was straightened parallel to the body, the left jump seat unfolded for the nurse/doctor and "away we go". The rear seat remained in place. Cas with the removeable "B" pillar had two pins that slipped into a brace in the roof while the lower part of the pillar was held in place with a wing nut type affair......you can see close up photos of one of these in my book "Plymouth Commercial Vehicles".....