My 1976 Ambulance and trip report
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- sean
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My 1976 Ambulance and trip report
Here is my latest acquisition.
Its bad news.
I bought a plastic.
Well, its a plastic, so cant say much other than I feel one should be added to the collection to preserve it for many years later. We will propbably look back in 50 years and say I wish I preserved more. I had been looking for one for a while, but it had to have the very rare petrol R32 V6 engine. This one came up that was in very neat condition and added bonus its 4Motion.
Ok, enough of the plastic. But how it actually fits in here is because I had just agreed to buy it last week and it was in PE.
Then on Thursday this ambulance comes up in the Northen Free state in Memel and I try and figure out how I can get both. So I book a ticket to PE that night and I courier my A frame and 4 tyres on rims to PE. On Friday morning I fetch the T5, then load up A frame and rims and leave PE around 11:45am to head to Harrismith.
I sleep in Harrismith and early Saturday morning I head to the ambulance in Memel.
Some pics from Saturday morning on route to fetch the ambulance. Again, I landed up on a horrendous gravel road that had become a mud bath due to all the heavy rains. I arrived late because of this, but man, what a beautiful pass and scenery it was.
Ok, here's the real deal one. Its a 1976 ambulance, with branding from the civil defense. It belonged to the local municipality for as far as I can see on the papers.
Pics of ambulance and town.
Now after all this loading up, I was 300km away from Parys. Not wanting to disappoint old Retrovan who believed I couldn't make it back before next week Thursday, I decided to take a detour and head that way. What a good idea this was.
On route to Parys through the Free State.
Arrived at Parys on Saturday afternoon after a 1440km drive from PE via Memel.
I left Parys at 4:30am on Sunday and drove solid with only 2 fuel stops and arrived home at around 18:30. Not bad time at all considering I was towing and on my own.
The final stretch through the Karoo.
I will take some more interior pics and more details re the ambulance and share tomorrow.
Its bad news.
I bought a plastic.
Well, its a plastic, so cant say much other than I feel one should be added to the collection to preserve it for many years later. We will propbably look back in 50 years and say I wish I preserved more. I had been looking for one for a while, but it had to have the very rare petrol R32 V6 engine. This one came up that was in very neat condition and added bonus its 4Motion.
Ok, enough of the plastic. But how it actually fits in here is because I had just agreed to buy it last week and it was in PE.
Then on Thursday this ambulance comes up in the Northen Free state in Memel and I try and figure out how I can get both. So I book a ticket to PE that night and I courier my A frame and 4 tyres on rims to PE. On Friday morning I fetch the T5, then load up A frame and rims and leave PE around 11:45am to head to Harrismith.
I sleep in Harrismith and early Saturday morning I head to the ambulance in Memel.
Some pics from Saturday morning on route to fetch the ambulance. Again, I landed up on a horrendous gravel road that had become a mud bath due to all the heavy rains. I arrived late because of this, but man, what a beautiful pass and scenery it was.
Ok, here's the real deal one. Its a 1976 ambulance, with branding from the civil defense. It belonged to the local municipality for as far as I can see on the papers.
Pics of ambulance and town.
Now after all this loading up, I was 300km away from Parys. Not wanting to disappoint old Retrovan who believed I couldn't make it back before next week Thursday, I decided to take a detour and head that way. What a good idea this was.
On route to Parys through the Free State.
Arrived at Parys on Saturday afternoon after a 1440km drive from PE via Memel.
I left Parys at 4:30am on Sunday and drove solid with only 2 fuel stops and arrived home at around 18:30. Not bad time at all considering I was towing and on my own.
The final stretch through the Karoo.
I will take some more interior pics and more details re the ambulance and share tomorrow.
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- Fuel Injection
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Re: My 1976 Ambulance and trip report
Great story and a nice two finds the Ambulance looks like a nice find and straight.Good one thanks for sharing with us.
- jolas
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Re: My 1976 Ambulance and trip report
Congrats on the ambo !!!!
by fig » Mar 26, 2018
Sambas in South Africa are good for only 2 things: showing off and sunburn.
Sambas in South Africa are good for only 2 things: showing off and sunburn.
-
- Single Port
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Re: My 1976 Ambulance and trip report
Good work. Probably the most comfortable drive yet to the plasie!
See my parts for sale here .... https://docs.google.com/document/d/12TS ... sp=sharing
- Tony Z
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Re: My 1976 Ambulance and trip report
it still amazes me how you find/hear of these things...
nice score, looking forward to the pics.
nice score, looking forward to the pics.
ANGRRR
http://www.aircooledvwsa.co.za/viewtopi ... 23&t=14775
1302S
http://www.aircooledvwsa.co.za/viewtopi ... 23&t=33521
Panel Van
http://www.aircooledvwsa.co.za/viewtopic.php?p=288723
http://www.aircooledvwsa.co.za/viewtopi ... 23&t=14775
1302S
http://www.aircooledvwsa.co.za/viewtopi ... 23&t=33521
Panel Van
http://www.aircooledvwsa.co.za/viewtopic.php?p=288723
vader wrote: The Force is strong with you young Sith Lord Z!
- V6 Capri
- Oil Stain
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Re: My 1976 Ambulance and trip report
That is a very nice bus, and ambulance!
The R32 motor does sound magic... Care to share what sort of consumption you were getting?
The R32 motor does sound magic... Care to share what sort of consumption you were getting?
1964 Ford Anglia 997cc
1972 Ford Capri 3L GT
1994 Escort Cosworth (replica)
1996 Escort 2L Zetec
2016 VW Touran 1.6TDi
1971 Baywindow project
1972 Ford Capri 3L GT
1994 Escort Cosworth (replica)
1996 Escort 2L Zetec
2016 VW Touran 1.6TDi
1971 Baywindow project
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- Fuel Injection
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Re: My 1976 Ambulance and trip report
Nice. Do you think it was assembled in Uitenhage? And did they fit these ventilation fans?
Staying Aircooled is so much nicer.
Do'nt assume anything- (While doing fault-finding).
Do'nt assume anything- (While doing fault-finding).
- sean
- Transmission
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Re: My 1976 Ambulance and trip report
No, it’s a full German import, not Uitenhage.
Mine doesn’t have those fans, it has one on the roof though.
- Donovan D
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Re: My 1976 Ambulance and trip report
Lekker score there Sean, very nice !
---------- 67 Panelvan -----------
---------- 56 Oval ----------
---------- 56 Oval ----------
- sean
- Transmission
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Re: My 1976 Ambulance and trip report
Nothing fantastic. Going up was around 5.5 km/l, but was hammering it. Coming down towing the ambulance gave 6.5 km/l.
- fig
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Re: My 1976 Ambulance and trip report
Thanks for making the detour Sean. You forgot to mention that it earned you the Long Distance Award ... again.
And you forgot to take your stretcher. Sorry I was still asleep when you left.
And you forgot to take your stretcher. Sorry I was still asleep when you left.
fig
Kaapse Kombi Kult
"Whether you think you can or whether you think you can't, you're right." -- Henry Ford
Kaapse Kombi Kult
"Whether you think you can or whether you think you can't, you're right." -- Henry Ford
- sean
- Transmission
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Re: My 1976 Ambulance and trip report
Some interior pics. In the interim I got my domestic at work to clean it nicely inside. Well, after this, she didn't come back to work ever again.
The stretches were missing, but one has already been sourced.
Still with some old school bandages in storage
Cab divider
The stretches were missing, but one has already been sourced.
Still with some old school bandages in storage
Cab divider
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- Fuel Injection
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Re: My 1976 Ambulance and trip report
As my Dad would say its a meat wagon.But if they could talk I dont think you would get in the back either.It must have been nice if you had a back injury and they tied you down on that stretcher.Bliksem
Well done Sean nice find very original.
Well done Sean nice find very original.
- sean
- Transmission
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Re: My 1976 Ambulance and trip report
One of the tasks was sorting out the rotating light. It was dead when I switched it on.
All looked ok so far.
But open opening, it had got water inside so obviously completely wasted now.
Another light was sourced (plastic base), but I found that I could remove the mechanism from the replacement part and fit it straight onto the same mounting points as on the metal base fitted to the ambulance.
Completed. The lens isn't perfect, it has has some sticky tape repair to it, but it will do just fine for now.
All looked ok so far.
But open opening, it had got water inside so obviously completely wasted now.
Another light was sourced (plastic base), but I found that I could remove the mechanism from the replacement part and fit it straight onto the same mounting points as on the metal base fitted to the ambulance.
Completed. The lens isn't perfect, it has has some sticky tape repair to it, but it will do just fine for now.