Regular Barn Finds readers might recognize this 1958 Pontiac Bonneville ambulance. It could be that we saw it nearly five years ago as a project that had been sitting idle for 20 years at that time. Work has since progressed, so we assume the seller found a buyer who put some time and money into it. Customized by Superior Coach in ‘58, this rare people mover (only 344 were built) is in San Carlos, California, and needs someone to carry the load for this project, which was once commissioned by the Federal government. It’s available here on eBay, where the opening bid of $20,000 awaits a taker.
Considering how few Bonneville ambulances Superior converted in 1958, this must be the same one. The government reference is also made, and many of the photos suggest the same vehicle. But work has progressed, with the rebuilt engine having been reinstalled and nearly ready to be hooked up. Also, both listings reflect a California locale. Per a bit of research done by the seller, the vehicle retains its Federal Stock Number (FSN) tag, though GM, Superior, or the government itself have been unable to locate records that far back.
After it had been idle for two decades, the seller made some headway with this old Poncho. The engine has been machined, the automatic transmission rebuilt, the engine bay refurbished, floor pans replaced, and some upholstery work done (in military drab as it would have been back in the day). The seller stuck with NOS parts because he wanted to be as authentic as possible.
The Pontiac is not yet a runner but has gotten much closer in the past five years. It retains its original ambulance lighting and sirens. But the buyer will need to address new tires, brakes, and electrical components, as they are as old as the hills. It comes with a no-op California registration to prevent past-due DMV fees. The seller would not be selling this vehicle if the restorer he was using was able to continue the work that requires skills the seller does not possess. Perhaps one day soon this Ghostbusters wannabe will return to the roads!
Rare, but more of a curiosity than anything else. This is a long way from being finished. How many potential buyers exist who will be willing to dig far enough into their own pocket to see it completed.
The latest response to the first thread about this car, from March 2026, said it was for currently for sale with a $25,000 asking price. That suggests a lack of interest at this price and in general.
Steve R
A LONG LONG way from being finished.
And “nearly ready to be hooked up”,
NEARLY?
I’d almost enjoy going to a hospital in this.
Years ago, I had a 1972 Cadillac Hearse. I took my 90 year old granny to the doctor’s office with it. She thought it was hysterical, but made me park it in the back of the doctor’s office – “It’s bad for his business…”
We may be kin! Some years ago I had a 1976 Cadillac S&S hearse. Bought it from a local funeral home that was going out of business. Used to take our youngest kid to school in it. She had a blast. Once I took my wife to the emergency room in it when she had a gall bladder attack. Pulling up under the canopy in that thing pretty much cleared the way for near instant admission (at least it appeared that way and that’s my tale and I’m stickin’ to it – did get a lot of strange looks for certain)! Loved that old car. That 500cid got a whole 4mpg with the A/C on. With the A/C off (which hardly ever happens in EC Louisiana) it got an astounding 4mpg. Wish I still had it. My wife does NOT! BTW, I only paid $4K for mine. Got my purchase price back six years later when I sold it with a grand total of about 42K original miles. Biggest expense of ownership was that 4mpg. The car for sale is cool in that, being a Pontiac (whether an ambulance or hearse), it was less common than the Cadillacs which would come from the factory as a commercial chassis and were made for that type of service without much additional chassis/frame modification. The ask is iffy but hope it can find a good home and get back on the road.
This may not be the same one that is in my head from around 1974. This, or one like it, was used in Northern California, Mendocino County, in the Anderson Valley, a small service for the communities in the valley. You may NOT have enjoyed the ride from there over the range of mountains with many curves to the hospital in Ukiah. A friend of mine, Mike, was weekend watchman at the Philo Lumber Company (for mostly redwood). I worked there during the week. Mike had fallen and ended up breaking his back. Carl was a big man, a generation older than us, who drove the Pontiac. He said, “Mike is that you?” “Yeah, Carl, it’s me.” Over the hill they went, slowly, around the many curves. So, the ambulance was old by then, likely bought at an auction where Carl used to buy military surplus trucks.
if there were three (in pristene condition)
a hardtop (2 door hardtop),
a ragtop (convertible),
and this one,
I’d take either of the first two and leave this one sitting where it’s at.
Love those 58 Bonnevilles
Who you gonna call…? Ghostbusters…
Looks more like a hearse. Local funeral parlor has a big picture in their meeting room, of a hearse with a U-Haul attached. Caption says…”Who says you can’t take it with you?”.
There was a guy and that side of the bay with a 60 Buick ambulance for sale forever, possibly same person.
If this was a 59 I would be interested to go with my others, sans the price.
Still 4-Sale after 2-3 years and will continue to be 4-Sale at this asking price. Very unique when restored if major funds are available to complete the restoration.
Kind of cool because it’s a Pontiac instead of a Caddy. It wouldn’t have been cheaper to build as the coach company would have to spend extra $$$ to reinforce the chassis and upgrade the rear diff and suspension. (Was that done? Pontiac didn’t have a commercial chassis division like Cadillac.) And in order for this purchase to make sense, you need a plan for what to do with it when completed. We have discussed these before, completed ideas. Just too cool to let it set. And too expensive to use unless you can write it off to a business expense. So what kind of business could use this? Using a white ambulance as a Good Humor truck would be counter productive. (I think) Many uses during Halloween, and Ken would say a great equipment hauler for a band. ( he’s been there/done that) A parade vehicle only works a few times a year. And your HOA will not approve it sitting out in front, behind, or even along side your house. I want to hear a really novel way to use it as it is. Fairly easy to figure out a custom application like a motorhome, construction vehicle, etc. Because of the heavy-duty and length build. Putting a,service body on the back makes it easier to use (in some instances) because of the lower chassis. Ladder and lumber loading easier for the height. Anyway, anyone else have better ideas?
Ghostbusters rig was a ‘59 Cadillac. This is not a ‘59, or a Cadillac. Other than that, it’s identical.
Upholstery shown in photo is not olive drab.
OK. So I don’t come off as a total Donny Downer- it’s a very rare, and interesting rig. Hopefully, it’s someone’s cup of tea, and gets completed.
That thing would look 👀 awesome on the Dragstrip Pro Mod Top Fuel blown and injected in time for Halloween 🎃 👻 next month lol 😝
Superior based a lot of their ambulances and hearses and combo hearse/ambos on Pontiac chassis. I owned a low mileage 1955 Superior ambulance just out of service at a funeral home in Southern Indiana in 1968. The professional car dealer had taken it in trade on a new unit and removed the red flashers and the bubblegum machine and sold it to me. My college roommate and I drove it to the west coast on a whirlwind trip before joining the Navy later that year. We put 6600 miles on the car in 11 days. Great car. You could not tell the engine was running at idle. You had to watch thee gauges to confirm it.