One common denominator that those who enjoy restoring cars sometimes share is that many are after the same makes and models of classics to take on as projects. However, a few seek the unusual, desiring to bring vehicles back to life that are often overlooked by the masses. This 1960 Cadillac ambulance would undoubtedly fall into the latter category, and while it will take a massive amount of work to get back on the road, the rewards here just might be worth the effort. This one needs help in all areas, but if you’ve got the time and talents, it’s located in Santa Rosa, California, and can be spotted here on eBay. Clicking the $15,000 buy-it-now button will ensure immediate ownership, but the seller has also wisely included a make-offer option.
Superior Coach Company is one of the better-known entities that converted luxury cars into ambulances, hearses, and even limousines, and the seller reports that they turned this Cadillac into an ambulance. It’s said to still retain many of the ambulance-specific parts throughout, but I wouldn’t be surprised if the buyer has something else in mind. This high-top seems like a fine candidate for restoration as a hearse, and rather than a gurney, I’m envisioning the rear area eventually set up to house a casket instead on Halloween.
Though the Cadillac appears mostly complete on the outside, the seller is upfront about the extensive corrosion. While some would think that decades-in-the-making patina might be worth preserving, the severity of rust on some panels has probably compromised their integrity, so making the necessary repairs and respraying the exterior in a fun color is probably the way to go here.
The next owner will also face restoring the interior, with the added bad news that rodents have been living inside. The seller says it smells bad in there too, and the only attention given to this area so far is that it’s been vacuumed. With the amount of work needed inside, it’s likely best to tear out most of the components and start from scratch, building it however you choose.
It’s no surprise that this one isn’t running, and it’s not equipped with the original engine, either. The motor and transmission are said to have come from a 1960 donor car, and while the V8 is stated to have run three years ago when the combo was installed, that’s no longer the case. The seller put it well by saying this one is a massive project in every sense of the word, but the cool-factor is high here, and I hope somebody with deep pockets sees fit to save this poor Caddy. Is this 1960 Cadillac Superior Ambulance one you’d consider taking this one as a project?
O Brother. Y Bother. Hope it still has the anchor chain attached.
Buy yourself some trouble.
That tin worm had extra teeth…ouch!
Don’t know the market for old era ambulances but don’t think it’s gonna bring $15k.
Maybe $150 and a cheap coat of paint (wrap?) on the exterior and this would be an interesting static advertisement for….something somewhere..maybe..
How would you wrap it? There’s not much body left for the wrap to stick on to.
Don’t tell that to the Professional Car Society. A member there would probably ask more.
Like the one parked in Moundhouse NV in front of the tattoo parlor with a skeleton at the wheel! (The zoning in that area is auto wreckers and prostitution establishments.)
You could also use it to make a Ghostbusters tribute, but really, you need to lose a zero off the price to make any option feasible.
$15k for a non-running rust farm? No thanks. The car itself needs a hearse straight to the crusher.
Who ya gonna call? Ghostbusters (or better yet, rustbusters.)
Should be enough rust weight to still bring a decent scrap metal return. I don’t think people know the cost of repairing rust today when they price their vehicles, and some people when they buy them.
The neighbors would love me if I brought this home.
At least the HOA would!
Where is Ken and Angel? This is right up their alley!
Wayne, Wayne, Wayne!
Even i have my limits. LOL. But seriously, you know nothing in my book is so bad it’s unsavable. I just have a love of cars. This is a candidate for restomod. Drop a new engine and trans, maybe a new rear (like me) some radials and take your time with the interior and body. Yes, I do prefer originality but sometimes, just sometimes……
And Moundhouse just looks like a swingin’ place. About the only thing interesting is the pic-a-part. We had three of those in Vegas.
Not sure what Ken thinks about this, but I actually kind of like it.
Angel! Glad to see you here. 35-40 years ago I was at a junk yard under a car removing who knows what anymore. It was early spring at about 70 degrees. Just a beautiful day. When all of a sudden I hear squeak-SQUEAK-squeak like an old bed getting used for fun! I glanced over and sure enough the windows to the brothel next door were open. I laughed quite awhile before I could get back to what I was doing. As for Moundhouse being a swinging place, during the day time ot is rather drab and only “literally ” a wide spot in the road. But, at night off on the side roads, it gets lit up in all kinds of colors. One of my commercial sales coworkers had one of the brothels as his client. Once a year we would help drive over several vehicles that the gals wanted to look at and test drive. Plus the owner there was the uncle of a good friend that I did business with (vehicle business) on a regular basis. Franks’s gals were all very nice and open about their business. So, have I ever been in a brothel? Yes.for business? Yes, but not “their ” kind of of business!
Nevada is a very different place to live. The wide open highways of sparsley patrolled bliss. To the wide open do almost anything you want to do legally (Within reason) high desert and large lakes. (Lake Tahoe, Meade, Pyramid, Lahontan, etc.) And the NO RUSTY CARS AND TRUCKS! To me it’s as close as it can be to perfect!
Been there, done that!! Surprisingly most of my neighbors thought my ’68 Hearse was pretty cool. In fact my next door neighbor actually let me tow it to his Dental Office so the local kids couldn’t get to it anymore while I worked on it. Yes, it was parked toward the back – but that was more to leave room for patients to park as well as give me room to work on it. It was still quite noticeable back there.
I think there was a song written for this “car”/price, BEAUTIFUL DREAMER.
It’s not all bad, you get the screwdriver they’ve got jammed in the vacuum line lying on the intake!
No you don’t. That probably doesn’t come with it since it is tools. LOL
John
No you don’t. That doesn’t come with it. LOL
JOHN
I think a DNR is in order on this one!
I think maybe DOA MAY ALSO BE RIGHT.
This is an excellent example of how the vintage car market has changed for the worse. A vehicle that would have been considered useless junk at one time is being offered for $15K. Ten years ago, the seller would have been paying to have this removed from his property. Now it’s a “project”. A real shame, because this is otherwise a cool vehicle. Now the only realistic goal for this thing is getting it to the crusher.
It’s mostly all just “junkyard porn”, turned into entertainment here on Barn Finds.
The cost of listing this stuff is relatively cheap, or even free on Facebook, and you get a nationwide, or even a worldwide audience. You might catch a buyer. So post it with a big number and see what happens.
This vehicle has more viable and rare parts than most. There might be that one guy who really needs some of them for their running example or project. It all depends if the seller will hold out for this big price, as a kind of ransom. That’d be a jerk move, for sure.
I would speculate that for most of these picked-over hulks that show up here on a daily basis, few people respond, few make an offer, and the useless pile of junk that is advertised is destined to rot where it is until it must be moved from the property due to the sale of the property.
I’d pay 15k$ to not have it in my shop.
Why would anyone spend time and money putting an engine in something like this?
Those old ambulances are definitely cool for restoration but they leave me with a creepy vibe. These are what James Dean rode in, Evel Knievel, makes me wonder how many people took a last breath in there. They are cool restored though. A guy around here has one, restored to perfection, even period correct gurney and medical equipment. It’s in parades and car shows
real shame. needs a lot of money and from the pics it may be too far gone. i doubt they will pull 15k out of this mess.
Should buff out !
It being in California explains why its at least $10,000 overpriced . I would get it running and driving , cruis it for hat August nights with a for sale make offer sign then shoot it with some black primer and put it in the front yard for this years Halloween decorations then figure out about a minor restoration over the winter unless someone actually did make a decent offer.
Can’t you see the possibility?
Future Ridler award candidate. Need a “BIG” wallet for this bad boy.
I like the eight bullet nose tail light lenses from the 59 Cadillac that were used on top of that 60 Ambo.
The generator does not seem to be a larger Generator that they always put in ambulances. Standard Cadillac generator was a 45 amp (with pwr. windows and A/C. Ambulances back then usually had 100 amp and also on the left gauge pod where the cruise control would go normally, there’s usually an ammeter up there, which I don’t see either nor do I see any control panel on top of the dash, little bit unusual
Look again, that is a way longer generator than stock. In high-school (while I worked in the machine shop in our local NAPA store) I once rebuilt the Delco generator (and starter) as they had both been at the bottom of the Illinois river for a few months) for my Dad’s scuba clubs 427 Gray Marine 6 cylinder diesel 52′ boat. It was the standard diameter 12volt (even though it was 24 volt) generator. But was twice as long as a standard (for the time frame) 12 volt car generator. After looking at this picture, this one appears to be somewhere in the middle lengthwise. Check the distance from the “Delco” I.D. plate to the connector at the rear of the generator.
The ghost of the Ghostbusters.
wow
What the point pop cans
love to smooth the roof (make look station waggy) and restore. Put the company logo on the side & tail. Have the exterior cleaned up, look nice – but dont need much inside as (again, take out all the medical interior) it’ll be a daily and the back used for haulin ‘work things’.
Why would the ever use a Cadillac for an ambulance? Must be something I don’t know
John
Because they offered a commercial chassis that was extra heavy duty. AND usually cheaper because of less required to beef up. Plus the standard engine was strong/torquey enough to do the job. I had a newer model hearse (2014??) In the shop that needed a rear wheel bearing. (Independent rear suspension) Our local Caddy dealer was no help. So had to remove it to get the numbers off the bearing and go to the local bearing specialty shop to order. The whole process took 3-4 days to complete. Definitely had serious rear wheel bearings! We found the wheel bearing issue when the hearse came in because of rear tire wear. It appeared to have clipped a curb REALLY HARD and also required rear control arm mount modification to get the rear suspension back into spec.
Why would they have a Cadillac as an ambulance? Must be something I don’t know.
John
California dreaming at that price
Not believing this particular daydream.
I remember these ambulances, they were very common. We have come a long way since then. Look at the ambulances that we have now. Progress.
Yes, we now have mobile emergency rooms. Usually on Ford diesel chassis.
“There’s something strange, and it don’t don’t look good…Ah, what’s its called, Wallet Buster!” LOL!!
15k? Is someone off their meds? 250.00 at best. I guess you could make it into a Ghostbuster cone, but Ecto1 was a 1959. But close.
🎵 I like dreamin, ’cause dreamin
can make it mine🎵. Oh hi Wayne
hi honey 😚. Just told the story
about getting effed up at a Eureka Company picnic over at the ’52 Ford Crestliner ragtop post. Howard was telling stories
about company picnics so I told
the folks up there about the last
one of those I went to with my parents before I started touring in
1970. Long story short, my Grandpa got me totally hammered that day. Eight, maybe nine beers, but it didn’t stop me from getting up on stage
to do a set with Wayne Barnhill &
his Amazing Rhythm Aces. I sang a whole set with them. I sang a song called “Come On Home And Sing The Blues To Daddy”. He liked it so much that I
wrote the words down for him. He wound up with a two state smash with that tune in ’72. Meanwhile, back at the ambulance, I saw this one Saturday morning, but didn’t comment on it as I had to be at my store to work that morning.
And yes dear, you’re on the right
track building it as a restomod. I’d go with a tweaked 472 or 500
Cadillac V-8 mated to a T 400
auto tranny. The rear end should
be able to take all torque that elephant under the hood can dish
out. But before you do all that,
Check the frame to see that it’s
not toast. If it’s in good shape, let
the fun begin! If you can’t find floor pans for this beast, any good welding shop can whip some up for you posthaste. Same thing with the interior. Sure
it’s trashed, but do you really need a concourse quality interior?
Not if you’re gonna be the one driving it. And while you’re there,
get the whole car rewired for safety’s sake. That way, The Cadillac Kid can hang a couple of
chandeliers in there if he wants to
and you won’t have to worry about blowing a fuse. Cadaver
Transport? Sure, why not! You
might wanna get a box van to get
started as bringing this thing back from the dead is gonna take
you quite awhile. And Wayne, that brothel story about the squeaky bed springs was a real
hoot! Laughed so hard I almost
wet myself and got our Chihuahua barking at the same time! And I like Chrisful’s idea
for a really cool station wagon.
And yes dear, I do seem to recall
that 1960 was the last year for the Broadmore wagon. Or, if you’re in one of the fraternal groups like the shriners, you could mount a coliape in the back
and use it for parades. That’s what my uncle Harold’s lodge did
in the mid ’60s. And no, I don’t
think Coy and Bubba were there
LOL. Or hey, what about a camper
like Scott Taylor was selling last
year? That was a beaut. And Greek boy, don’t show this to your
Wife if you don’t wanna be living
in it! Now lessee, is the everyone?
I just saw/heard the song on YouTube. Cool song! ” Tell it to the one who’ll understand!”
And to the seller of this fine vehicle, (Much laughter here) buddy I dunno what you’re smokin, but don’t be stingy, pass it around. I want some!!!
Gee Ken, you don’t even stop to take a breath! No wonder you were the hit of the “prairie crooners”!
Hi Wayne! I get like that when I get excited about something, or
pissed off about something. This time, it’s excellent. I wanted to
make mention of everyone’s comments to get some type of consensus going. And once these fat old fingers of mine get
going, there’s no stopping them.
And yeah, I can still hold a note up to 24 beats or sing Bridge Over Troubled Water and still hit
the high notes at 71. I’m surprised that Angel didn’t see that black ’62 Caddy last Saturday, the one with 24K miles
on it. Now that’s one sharp Caddy! This one can be too if the
right person buys it.
Hi Ken! I don’t see a restoration on this one. But it could see a resto-mod since that would be cheaper and easier parts wise. It would be a shame to see any commercial chassis Caddy go to the crusher. So many things you could do with this. The thing that immediately comes to my mind is to transplant an older pickup to this chassis. (Wheelbase modified to suit naturally) I don’t have any good ideas as to what to do using the ambulance body. Maybe Barnfinds can have a contest. Different categories like “cheapest good idea” “most unusual idea” “most utilitarian idea” (exterior access service boxes and ladder rack) “coolest hod rod idea” etc., etc. The prizes could be a years membership. Rules are you have to rebuild and reuse the original engine and use the original chassis (can be shortened, lengthened as required) How about a dual cowl with a chauffeur cabin and passenger cabin.
Ok, that’s enough for me. I need to eat my breakfast and get back to completing my shop.
The only other use for this one would be an equipment hauler for
a band. OMG! Shades of Harry
Hinthorne! That’s what he used
to carry the band stuff and all our
luggage too! I met Harry out in
Denver Colorado in 1975. He was a local performer whose lead singer had just quit him and
he still had about three months of
dates to play before he could come home. And just how’d I get
in on this you ask? Well I’ll tell you. I was having a really great
New Year’s Eve with this very nice
young lady I knew back then and
we were holed up at her place and having a grand old time together. We rang in the New Year just mattress dancing under
the covers and enjoying each other’s company. That morning, I
took a shower 🚿 at her place and was getting ready to go home as I had to get ready to go
back out and start a ’75 tour of
package shows throughout the
Midwest. I forgot to grab my bathrobe so I had to borrow one of hers. We were sitting in her
kitchen drinking coffee when there was a knock at the door.
She opened the door, and lo and
behold, there was my Union Rep.
He looked at me in that big, pink,
fluffy bathrobe, shook his head
And said, “Put your pants on lover
boy, you’re goin to Denver.”. Well,
Harry had a ’60 Cadillac hearse
AND a matching limousine like
your folks had. They towed a utility trailer behind the hearse
and the band rode in the limo.
Didn’t get home until April! I got a
week off and then I hopped an Ozark flight to Omaha and caught
up with guys I was playing with
before I got sent to Denver. And the young lady? We had a bit more fun before she met a guy
that would come home every night. Heard they got married and had kids. And that’s how I met Harry Hinthorne.
LS READY!
This listing sold on Fri, Jul 24 at 10:13 AM. Ad says SOLD, Best offer accepted