44 cargo Posted December 2, 2012 Share Posted December 2, 2012 I found this in a shed in the mountains after been tipped off by a guy who knew of a military ambulance that was rotting away and the lady owner did not want to sell it because it belonged to her deceased husband and did not want to see it wrecked, I convinced her I was in to restoring these vehicles and she was keen for me to have it. - I thought, I have a shed full of unfinished projects, I am not getting any younger and another project I did not need so after thinking about this, I went ahead and bought it. It came originally from France to Norfolk Island ( of mutiny on the bounty fame ) and then to New Zealand in 1985. The owner died in 1989 and it has been in this shed ever since. here are some pics for you - enjoy, Charlie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RattlesnakeBob Posted December 2, 2012 Share Posted December 2, 2012 what a beauty ! bit of work to be sorted ...I don't like the look of the rust nibbling away at the roof skin! :undecided: but .... ........... well done ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
private mw Posted December 2, 2012 Share Posted December 2, 2012 nice find . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony B Posted December 2, 2012 Share Posted December 2, 2012 Ouch! The moths have been busy. The beauty is, period repairs, and my poor old girl has more than one, were cut metal to fit over gap and drill with self tappers. I'll happily send you photos. The poor thing has worked for a living. What ius the chassis number? It will give you some idea of her age. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gordon_M Posted December 2, 2012 Share Posted December 2, 2012 (edited) I've done that job and it's no fun, see here ... http://www.gwim2.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/td20.htm Best solution is a donor cab section. That particular section is common to all 39-47 Dodge US, Canadian, military, and civilian hard cabs. To do it 'right' you have to open the doors and drill out the gutter spot welds, do the same for the inner wiper panel, and then you can get into that joint and rework it. The roof seam is a triple panel. there is a back bit, a front bit, and the original seam is kind of a 'Z' shaped bit of tin which was spot welded to one side, and then the lot spot welded together. Have to say the originals I've taken apart were very approximate too. The screen pillar sides are very solid (= thick ) but the roof isn't. If you had a donor cab you could split it at the top of the firewall and just fit the lot, which would save having to relocate the screen accurately. Edited December 2, 2012 by Gordon_M Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
N.O.S. Posted December 2, 2012 Share Posted December 2, 2012 Ouch! The moths have been busy. The beauty is, period repairs, and my poor old girl has more than one, were cut metal to fit over gap and drill with self tappers...... I now have one with some nicely fitted patches. First thoughts 'oh heck BIG job to remove patches' ......second thought 'think I'll just make up a story about it being hit by a B-17 and repaired by the airframe mechanics'. :-D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony B Posted December 2, 2012 Share Posted December 2, 2012 I now have one with some nicely fitted patches. First thoughts 'oh heck BIG job to remove patches' ......second thought 'think I'll just make up a story about it being hit by a B-17 and repaired by the airframe mechanics'. :-D To me there part of her history. She was rebuilt in 1952, and some of those repairs have been on longer than I've been alive. Yes, I could replace repair and refit, at great cost and time. Then all you'd have a clone. The repair pattern makes her unique! Ambulances to me are special. These were not Rich men's toys. They were built to keep men alive! They belong to those who served, those who they saved , and most importantly, those who did not. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
44 cargo Posted December 3, 2012 Author Share Posted December 3, 2012 To me there part of her history. She was rebuilt in 1952, and some of those repairs have been on longer than I've been alive. Yes, I could replace repair and refit, at great cost and time. Then all you'd have a clone. The repair pattern makes her unique! Ambulances to me are special. These were not Rich men's toys. They were built to keep men alive! They belong to those who served, those who they saved , and most importantly, those who did not. Thanks guys for your input, there is a lot of work to do but it is far from being a hopeless case, there are a lot of redeeming features there is absolutly no rust at all in the chassis, the engine has good compression and it seems to be complete with stretchers and all the bins and brackets in the back. My priorities at the moment are to finish an MWD I have however I want to get the ambulance going so I can give it a run periodically so it won't deteriorate any further and keep it out of the weather. This would be great to have at shows because I can use it as a camper and sleep in the back that is If I can get rid of the smell of rat urine. cheers Charlie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GoranWC51 Posted December 3, 2012 Share Posted December 3, 2012 Hi Charlie, I know of a front part from a 1943 Dodge WC54 ambulance belonging to a friend of mine in Holland. He bought a cut down WC54 from France and I helped him find a new body for it. The cab on his old one, cut off just by the spare tire carrier, is for sale. It's hard to see, but it is hidden behind my Willys MBT and a pile of parts off my WC51: Contact me off forum at goran_noren[at]yahoo[dot]com Good luck, Goran N Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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