Coachbult.com - Ford Motor Company



Ford Motor Company - 1908-present - Detroit, Michigan

An early, perhaps the prototype, Ford Ambulance is shown with truck-type ventilated disc wheels which were phased-out of this application shortly after model introduction. An additional Deluxe Panel truck derivative was the Type 285-A Deluxe Police Patrol, a 2-door body type priced at $1,250. Its companion, the $975 Standard Police Patrol (type 290-A) was, logically enough, adapted from the Type 85-B Panel Delivery.

Several derivatives of the Type 300-A Deluxe Panel were announced almost concurrently with it in February, 1931. Among them was the Type 270-A Funeral Service Car. Featuring the same convex roof body shell - with a 102inch long, 54-inch wide, 55-inch high load space - this side-windowed version was priced at $i,550. Standard equipment consisted of: casket rollers, side window covers, a removable flower tray, black genuine leather seats, plated bumpers and stainless steel trim including cowl lamps. This vehicle was the disc-wheeled prototype; production versions had steel spoke wheels. Only 17 Type 270-A's were built.

The most expensive 1931 Ford was the Type 275-A Funeral Coach priced at $1,900. Its special body was a four-door derivative of the Deluxe Panel model and incorporated many of the features desired by undertakers: casket rollers, window and side door curtains, a removable center pillar for side door servicing, and green mohair upholstery. Also featured were spoke wheels, special springs, and rear shock absorbers. A total of 96 Type 275-A's were built including three with the Combination option priced at $1,950.

The third Ford professional car introduced during the year was the Type 280-A Ambulance which shared its basic 4-door bodywork with the Funeral Coach. Special features of this $1,700 model were: a stretcher and spring-equipped truck, a bed and two mattresses, two attendant's seats in the rear, a medicine chest, folding rear steps, a white lacquered interior, and Triplex safety glass all around. This unit operated in Kansas City for many years.

Not all of the 84 Ford Ambulances built in 1931 were used as such. At least one of them was converted into a specialized bus for this itinerant dance band. Additional features of the 280-A included chrome-plated inside trim, dome lights, heater and fan, a glass partition and rubberized curtains at the doors. Its spoke wl1eels and suspension were shared with the Type 275-A.

(pp94 - Wagner's Ford Trucks since 1905)

In 1933 Ford sold the US Government over 300 1 1/2 ton panel trucks outfitted as ambulances to be used by Army at their Forest Service camps.

For more information please read:

George H. Dammann - Illustrated History of Ford

George H Dammann - 90 Years of Ford

James K. Wagner - Ford Trucks since 1905

The Professional Car (Quarterly Journal of the Professional car Society)

Gregg D. Merksamer - Professional Cars: Ambulances, Funeral Cars and Flower Cars

Thomas A. McPherson - American Funeral Cars & Ambulances Since 1900

Carriage Museum of America - Horse-Drawn Funeral Vehicles: 19th Century Funerals

Carriage Museum of America - Horse Drawn - Military, Civilian, Veterinary - Ambulances

Gunter-Michael Koch - Bestattungswagen im Wandel der Zeit