1968 Pontiac ambulance

[musikill]

Man This is one hell of a deal. No motor or tranny but for the price he's asking...

http://sacramento.craigslist.org/cto/1098776701.html

If my coach was closer to being finished I'd go get this one myself.

[60Crown]

Wonderful find at a great price. You should retrieve that regardless of your coach's level of completion - even if acquiring pushes it back.

[EvilManor]

Wonderful find at a great price. You should retrieve that regardless of your coach's level of completion - even if acquiring pushes it back.

Wow no kidding. I'd think the commercial glass and ambulance specific parts by themselves would be well worth the asking price.

[musikill]

Couldn't do it. I have a problem with the idea of parting out pro cars that are savable. Especially one so close to being on the road as this one is.

[Riff Raff]

If it weren't ALL the way across counrty, I'd be all over that.

[EvilManor]

Couldn't do it. I have a problem with the idea of parting out pro cars that are savable. Especially one so close to being on the road as this one is.

Trust me I by no means did I mean buy it and part it out. I was just thinking if you bought it without most of the ambulance parts and if it had a cracked windshield it would cost you more than the asking price just to get it back to the current condition.

[Spank]

Thought I'd chime in here-- I'm the new owner of this coach and will likely be on here a bit to beg for info regarding brakes and suspension parts compatibility. "I don't know nothin' 'bout dem 'Merican cars."[sic]

background and intentions:

Always wanted an ambulance or hearse (always been fond of station wagons and older cars) but got into classic minis instead. Been "building a race car" out of a mini for 10 years now and finally picked up a '51 caddy superior ambulance to use for a tow vehicle-- race car still not built-- and I bought an Isuzu NPR for the diesel drivetrain to drop into the Caddy. Caught a bit of flak for wanting to modify an original, complete driving '51 so I've passed her on to an owner of another '51 (but a hearse) who just wants to shine up the chrome slap on some paint and get her back to her former glory.

I've got the Pontiac (well, taking delivery by Sat. morning) to put the 4-cyl turbo diesel and monster transmission in so that it will work as my tow rig and about town "big car". I don't plan on doing any extreme mods-- just putting in my powerplant of choice (not budging on this, sorry if it disappoints and I'm sure a 350 chevy or whatever would be easier/cheaper in many people's eyes) and whatever suspension and brake mods my intended use may require (1st hurdle will be getting rear end gearing that will work with a 2500rpm cruising speed-- any constructive input is welcome).

--Spank

[EvilManor]

Congrats on your purchase and good luck. It's your car so I say do as you please, I know I am with mine.

[musikill]

You'll find that most people here aren't about keeping coachs "stock" but are about saving pro cars, finding pro cars, sharing info about pro cars and community. So congrats on not only signing up here but on saving one pretty sweet ride as well!

(Don't forget to create an album and show us pics on your new ride as things move along!)

[51ambulance]

Congrats on this one. Glad to see its being saved and not parted. That will be a great looking & running rig when you are done.

[Abnorml]

Before I got a hearse, I wanted to put a diesel in one. Keep us updated on the progress. i also like mini, so I wouldn't mind seeing them pictures either.

[Riff Raff]

I will be the voice of reason and say don't put a diesel in the 68 Pontiac. Not really, but as an owner of one of these cars, I had at least be able to say that I said it. I would like to see the 68 restored to it's former glory. But I am also of the mind it is yours to do with it what you want. I get plenty of power with mine and still get 14-16 mpg with it.

You are right to think about the brakes. 68s had power 4 wheel drum brakes. The fronts are alum. and rare. Depending on the weight of your mini and trailer, you might just need to make sure they are in good working order. A trailer hitch for this car is non-existant. The frame is wider than stock, so you will have to cut and stretch one to fit. And depending on how big the transmission is you may have to cut the trans hump for clearance which will kill the resell value. I know you aren't concerned with that now, but you never know what the future holds.