o scale 1940s/1950s american ambulance

I found a late 30's ambulance at a shop pretty cheap. It was part of a series that was orginally marketed as collectables, but apparently didn't sell well. I don't remember the manufacturer and it's put away right now. Anyway, one was made, and it was well done.

Another source of late 50's ambulances would be old Corgi and Dinky. I have seen both Cadillac and Pontiac ambulances on ebay. Excellent ones are pricey but you can find a beater pretty cheap and restore it. Repro tires and parts are available as well.

John

My "second hobby" is 1:43, and I have a reference book listing every American marque model ever made. Based on this, the answer is "no" (not less than $89.). Look at it this way...you only need one, so spend the bucks.

quote:

Originally posted by Joe Hohmann:
Based on this, the answer is "no" (not less than $89.). Look at it this way...you only need one, so spend the bucks.

There's a show in a few months in my city and if I can't find something like John23 did, then your suggestion may be the default one...i.e. just go for it.

Jerrman

I found a beautiful 1936 LaSalle Hearse on Ebay. The cost, with postage was about $70. It is part of the James Bond Dr. No collection and not readily available over here. Why? Good question! It is beautifully rendered. It will be used with a Victorian Funeral Home I am building for a client.

Die cast collectables are expensive, but if that is all you can get, the question is - do you really want/need it? If so, then buy it. O scalers spend big bucks on locomotives and rolling stock yet many still use dime store autos along side them. I can't figure that out. Do you want a real detailed miniature or junk? We all have to make up our own minds on that one.
Tom

As recomended to me in my post regarding this same topic but looking for a station wagon do an internet search for a company called Sabra. They are made in Israel. Can also be spendy unless you can find one in played with condition. I lucked out and got one off eBay fairly cheap. There is one on there now but it is on the high side.

quote:

Originally posted by tom yorke:
I found a beautiful 1936 LaSalle Hearse on Ebay. The cost, with postage was about $70. It is part of the James Bond Dr. No collection and not readily available over here. Why? Good question! It is beautifully rendered. It will be used with a Victorian Funeral Home I am building for a client.
Tom

I agree. I bought mine from a dealer at York last Spring (Orange Hall).
Also bought a black Cadillac limo. (same approx. year) to go with it.

For the few of us that are interested in "quality" diecast and handbuilts, a forum I belong to is: www.diecast.org Hit "Forum 43" on the left of the homepage. Only 2 or 3 of us are into trains. As you can see, EVERYONE must use their real name.

Jerrman what you do is make your own ambulance. You can start with a Road Champs 53 Chevy panel truck, RC 55 Pontiac wagon or a Yat Ming/Road Signature 57 Chevy wagon. Paint them white add signage, the panel truck can be found in white. You will need a RC 57 Ford or 55 Chevy police car for a donor car for lights and siren. These are put together with screws. If you use a Sabra beater you have to drill out rivets to get the base off to do a better repaint, a donor car is also needed for parts and its best to change out the wheels. Total cost should be under $30.00.
On ebay you can sometimes find a used Brooklin 1940 Ford panel truck or 1953 Pontiac panel truck for $50.00 or less. Those require a make-over also.
BTW if anyone is interested I have the 1937 Studebaker hearse F/S.
Bob

Thanks, Bob for the very creative solutions. Definitely worth considering.

Jerrman

Remember that in the '40s and '50s most ambulances operated in the "scoop and go" mode. There were no EMTs and Paramedics as we know them today. City hospitals might have an intern or resident riding the ambulance, but training for the drivers and stretcher bearers was very rudimentary. In most urban and rural areas the local funeral director often provided and staffed the ambulance. What this means for the modeler is that just about anything that could carry a six-foot stretcher could be and was used for an ambulance. Funeral directors used hearses with bolt-on lights and sirens. Similar vehicles were used by some hospitals and fire departments (painted red or white instead of funeral black). Panel trucks and station wagons are both excellent candidates for conversion into ambulances during this period.

quote:

Originally posted by dkdkrd:
Not sure it's been mentioned, but Dimestore Dreams did a retro plastic ambulance model...hard to find now.

I have that one stashed around here somewhere.

If anyone is interested I have a Studebaker hearse listed on the forums buy/sell.
Bob

Though representing an ambulance at the later part of your era, the Ghostbuster's Ecto-1 produced by Hot Wheels (1/43) would be neat if it could be altered by removing some of the stuff and adding a red flashing warning light. They are available at a bit lower price. And with a possible new Ghostbusters movie coming out, it looks like a new model of Ecto-1 will be available for pre-order.


http://www.toywiz.com/cultclas...GWha0CFYWo4AodlQysCQ

Rick

Check eBay: http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html...t=See-All-Categories

Rick, I've considered converting the Ghostbusters version. Still not a bad suggestion. That link you provided is a very good price.

Don, that eBay search is exactly where I started and I've kept tabs on it (as well as anything on 1:48 or 1:50 scale. Then I thought I'd ask to see if anyone had any other thoughts.

Thanks.
Jerrman

The Studebaker hearst offered by BK above, is a very nice model which could be repainted. BK is a good guy to work with very fair in pricing, too. Dave G.

quote:

Originally posted by dgauss:
The Studebaker hearst offered by BK above, is a very nice model which could be repainted. BK is a good guy to work with very fair in pricing, too. Dave G.

Thank you Dave. A couple are still available.If anyone is interested check page 3 or 4 on the forum buy/sell.
Merry Christmas,
Bob

corgi ambulance

cheaper Corgi

Thanks, Alan. I spotted those but they're based on a 1962 chassis. Close but no cigar. I''m looking for something in the 50s. Thanks for the idea, though.

Jerrman

Jerr

too bad as the back opens up with a body on a stretcher!!

quote:

Originally posted by AlanRail:
Jerr

too bad as the back opens up with a body on a stretcher!!

Whoa! Now, that's almost worth cheating on the year.

Jerrman

Jerr

I am wrong the Corgi top lights blink; it's the Dinky Toy version that has two drivers and two stretcher bearers. The Dinky toy is a Pontiac that is slightly longer than the corgi

quote:

Originally posted by AlanRail:
Jerr

I am wrong the Corgi top lights blink; it's the Dinky Toy version that has two drivers and two stretcher bearers. The Dinky toy is a Pontiac that is slightly longer than the corgi

Thanks, Alan. Now my friend, Buzz, who's obviously been keeping up with this thread from another state, says he's had enough and I should stop obsessing about this ambulance thing. So I will do that...unless someone else comes up with another great suggestion like yours :-)

Jerrman

dinky

Nash Rambler dinky

much larger caddie dinky

Alan, you are on a roll and that sound I hear is Buzz pulling his hair out. Thanks.

Jerrman

That Pontiac ambulance looks like a 59 or 60. But being Exc condition with a box, it's a bit pricey!

John

quote:

Originally posted by John23:
That Pontiac ambulance looks like a 59 or 60. But being Exc condition with a box, it's a bit pricey!

John

It's a 1966, and the scale is 1:47. This from the model car reference book "American Wheels".

$10 version Dinky #277 This one HAS a flashing light.

The Dinky Pontiac #267 (& #277) is bigger than the Corgi Caddie; but the Dinky Caddie #288 (has flashing light) is much bigger than 1:47 I'd say 1:38

quote:

Originally posted by Joe Hohmann:

quote:

Originally posted by John23:
That Pontiac ambulance looks like a 59 or 60. But being Exc condition with a box, it's a bit pricey!

John

It's a 1966, and the scale is 1:47. This from the model car reference book "American Wheels".

Definately NOT a 1966, they are either wrong or referring to when the Dinky model was built. I looked at a GM website showing all their cars of the 60's, and the Dinky most resembles the 1961 big Pontiac.

Anyway, 1:47 scale is pretty close to O scale (1:48).

John

quote:

Originally posted by John23:

Definately NOT a 1966, they are either wrong or referring to when the Dinky model was built. I looked at a GM website showing all their cars of the 60's, and the Dinky most resembles the 1961 big Pontiac.

Anyway, 1:47 scale is pretty close to O scale (1:48).

John

You are correct...my book is wrong (they only refer to the car year).

I saw on some website that the Dinky release and the model of the car is 1962, same as the Matchbox. If you look at the prototype, it does seems to be a '62.

Jerrman

quote:

Originally posted by Jerrman:
Anyone know of a reasonably priced 1940s/1950s diecast ambulance of an american model?
Jerrman

Jerrman, Email me at rustyrailoscale@windstream.net. I know where there is an ambulance that may be just what you're looking for. Cheap!
Thomas

OK, I finally found my ambulance. It is a 1937 GMC and was made by Matchbox and was part of their fire engine line. I found that I had paid $15 for it at a now gone LHS.

Take a look.


Another view by a Lionel Hudson.


Nice piece. Notice the stretchers on the roof rack.

John