Classic American Ambulances 1900 Through 1979: Photo Archive [ILLUSTRATED] (Paperback)

~ Walt McCall (Author), Tom McPherson (Author) "Speeding through dark city streets, lights flashing and siren screaming..." (more)
Key Phrases: ambulance production, rear compartment headroom, limousine ambulance, Superior Coach, Crown Royale, Super Rescuer (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

An Extinct American Genre - Here is a vivid photographic history of the evolution and sudden demise of the passenger car-based emergency ambulance. See the development of the motor ambulance from its infancy through the real glory years - the fabulous 1950s, 1960s and 1970s, when raised roofs, two-tone paint jobs, big chromed sirens, and myriad flashing lights were the norm. This is the ONLY book on this largely unresearched area of automotive history to feature large, clear factory photographs of ambulances built by all of the industry's major players. These include interior views showing typical equipment, ambulances in action at accident scenes, and fleet deliveries. Emphasized are ambulances built on U.S. luxury car chassis - the classic Cadillacs, Packards, Buicks and LaSalles - which were once the pride of the American professional car industry, with custom coachwork by such well-known names as Superior, Miller-Meteor, S&S, Henney and Flxible.

Product Details

• Paperback: 128 pages
• Publisher: Iconografix; illustrated edition edition (March 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1882256948
• ISBN-13: 978-1882256945
• Product Dimensions: 10.3 x 8.5 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #2,123,671 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A must for ambulance & funeral car fans, June 2, 2000

By	Hearse Queen "grimrides" (northern california, usa) - See all my reviews

This book is a must have for funeral car & ambulance fans! 120 Black & White approx 8 X 10 sized photos of American built Ambulances & Ambulance combinations in all their glory before in the 1970's, tighter fuel economy standards downsized the US automobile, and Federal Ambulance design regulations became more and more stringent. All of this led to the demise of the passenger car based ambulance.

Coachworks include Superior, Miller, Meteor, Sayers & Scovill, Hess & Eisenhardt, Flxible, Eureka, Henney, National, Barnette, Memphian, Comet, Siebert, and Cotner-Bevington. All built on luxury car chassis such as Cadillac, La Salle, Packard. Also includes pics of ambulances built on Chrysler, Buick, Pontiac, Studebaker, Lincoln, Chevrolet, Ford, and Oldsmobile chassis.

Also contains useful info on some of the cars, but I have to say the emphasis in this book is on the photos. All in all, I love having this book in my collection!

4 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Classic American Ambulances 1900-1979, February 6, 2000

By	Phillip T Skinner (Southern California) - See all my reviews

A subject often over-looked by automotive historians, and often shunned by the general public, American Ambulances (and funeral coaches) are truly rolling works of art that performed their duties well. Walt McCall and Tom McPherson are two of the most educated people in the field of emergency service vehicles with McPherson having penned several previous volumes on this subject. This book is perfect for the novice ambulance fan or the experienced collector, and offers a glimpse with period professional detailed photography of these truly hand-built, often one-of-a-kind vehicles. Many of the photos have never been seen before and besides those built on Cadillac chassis, there are a number of unique body styles shown such makes as Chevrolet, Pontiac, and even some rare Ford products. This is a must-have type of book for your library if you have ever thought of owning any type of ambulance literature.