Obviously the VW Transporter was very commonly used as an ambulance in Germany, Austria and other European countries. We lived right across the street from the hospital in Innsbruck—which was very convenient for my father—and I have vivid memories of VW ambulances with their blue lights flashing and distinctive horns. But I did not know that VW offered the ambulance in the US. This brochure is in American English, and there’s a sticker for the dealer located in Stockton, CA on the last page.
Undoubtedly it was significantly cheaper than the coach-built American ambulances, had as much or more room, and was significantly more economical too. But perhaps not quite as fast.
Thats indeed surprising. I was curious if there were pictures of a real us ambulance version. Here’s what I found after a quick search. Probably from Pennsylvania but I can’t verify if its original or just for show
Does this one count?
Pic didn’t load first time…
There again, what realistic speeds does an ambulance reach in a normal run? Unless on an Interstate, I rarely seem them doing over 45.
I could see transport use these, since they seldom need to run with light & sirens.
Sitting in the “bitch” seat (the rear facing seat in the back) while training for EMT on one of the paramedic trucks (Ford E-series with the box) I know they seam fast even when driving normally. What doesn’t squeak in the interior rattles. The fastest we ever ran, according to the driver later, was about 90 mph on what would normally be a heavily congested stretch of highway.
For me it was a childhood dream to ride shotgun in an ambulance code 3 .
A couple years ago one of my Foster boys tried to commit suicide and I had to cal 911 and wound up riding shotgun up Crenshaw Blvd. code 3, we topped out at 50 MPH, the boy survived and is doing O.K. .
-Nate
My Godfather had an early V-dub van. He would lend it to me when whatever old car I was trying to tease into life failed me.
A healthy kid on a 10 speed bicycle and I could have a stoplight to stoplight drag race, in front of the police, and only two of us would know it was happening.
Speed is greatly over-rated, as this short film from the Channel Islands, off the south coast of England, shows.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z416pLrEh6M
The tractor following the ambulance is the island’s doctor.
Ambulances have advanced a very long way. All the VW ambulance could do, or for that matter, the ones based on GM Carryalls and Cadillac/Pontiac commercial chassis, was to transport patients. Ambulances are now a mobile extension of the emergency room and their cost, size and powerplants are geared to that function.
I do agree!
Well written.
Many large factories had their own ambulances on-site. They knew that having one available right away instead of waiting precious minutes for one to arrive, often meant the difference in life or death.
Because these private ambulances typically spent most of the time waiting, unused, the factory management/owner often chose a more economical ambulance than a new Cadillac or Packard version.
I remember visiting the WestVaCo Paper Company’s plant in Western Maryland after they closed [about 1970], discovering the company not only had their own ambulance, but a full fire department as well. When the plant closed down, they simply left everything in place, including a 1948 Henney-Packard ambulance and 2 American-LaFrance fire engines!
Many large factories had their own ambulances on-site. They knew that having one available right away instead of waiting precious minutes for one to arrive, often meant the difference in life or death.
Because these private ambulances typically spent most of the time waiting, unused, the factory management/owner often chose a more economical ambulance than a new Cadillac or Packard version.
I remember visiting the WestVaCo Paper Company’s plant in Western Maryland after they closed [about 1970], discovering the company not only had their own ambulance, but a full fire department as well. When the plant closed down, they simply left everything in place, including a 1948 Henney-Packard ambulance and 2 American-LaFrance fire engines!
I wonder if the Corvan/Greenbrier was ever used in ambulance service. Seems like it would be an even better fit than the VW.
Too bad VW didn’t fit a type 3 engine in place of the upright fan engine. I think 6″ or more could have been shaved from the height of the engine cover.
Didn’t they do that by the 1970’s? It’s been 30 years, but I seem to remember my dad’s 76 didn’t have the doghouse…
@Coobal ;
In 1972 VW began fitting Typ IV engines to the Typ II Vans in the U.S.A. .
It was indeed a good move although there was fierce resistance and for some years they still fitted the up right 1600C engine to vans sold in Europe .
The Typ IV engine had alternators you couldn’t even see but were dead simple to change out (5 minutes) and the push rod tubes, a common leak point after a few years, could easily be changed with the engine in situ greatly reducing the oil dripping problems .
The Typ IV engine was stronger and the bottom end lasted far longer but the days of putting three new top ends on the same old bottom end to make it cheaper to run longer, were done ~ no one cared thanx mostly to the Japanese wave .
-Nate
Totally new to me! eBay has some toy/models, and I turned up news of a few New York State towns getting them, courtesy of this enterprising dealer in Kingston:
With an ambulance, ya got a chance
With a hearse, it’s gonna be worse.
Good one!
😉
There was a fleet of 6 or 8 run by the Southland Hospital board in NZ the last known survivor was bought from a deceased estate collection in Hawkes bay and now resides in the Richardson collection at Transport world in Invercargill, and no you would not want to be an emergency case a long way from a hospital they didnt hot them up at all so that one still Kombi slow I talked with the previous owner about it
Well, I think I am one of few people who were able to enjoy the powerful engine and driveability of such an ambulance on duty. Having been employed by a German mining company I remember back in 1980 these VWs were still kept operational as on-site quick response units. Pretty good plan to have one at hand at once when needed!
But, alas, driving was a different thing. Revving up these VW engines to their limits when cold was kinda murder – you really heard the engine screaming “No, No, No!” And you needed every horse’s power to get the shack moving! I remember one training situation that ended at a steep grade where all of the team including the “patient” had to shift the VW up the hill! Today these cars fetch big $$$ but I’d rather recommend a later version with somewhat more engine power.
All I remember from my splitty days were that the ambulance fans from these were sought after mods for any bus. Plenty of discussion about these on thesamba for anyone wanting to learn more.
I would hate to be having a heart attack in the back of that thing when #3 cylinder exhaust valve decides to lose its head and punch a hole thru the piston!
Nice .
I nearly bought a ’58 VW Typ II ambulance once, the rust was a bit more than I could handle though .
It was from some factory’s internal fleet in America .
-Nate