Dodge : Power Wagon Ambulance

Beautiful. rare. low-mileage. very well-maintained. great running. great driving. stock. original. complete. near rust-free. Vietnam era. Army surplus. desert Southern California based 1966 Dodge W200 Ambulance. All the original nomenclature plates and dash plaques remain (see pics). They give you an idea of all the custom and heavy-duty upgrades these were built with. What a one-of-a-kind find. I hope it's next owner keeps her stock and original but she could also be the basis for an awesome expedition/exploration/bug-out vehicle.
This ambulance was ordered and delivered new to the U. S. Army in 1966 in it's original olive-drab paint configuration. What action it saw and where it was used is unknown. In the early 1970's it was decommissioned by the military and purchased by the Montezuma Valley Volunteer Fire Department of Ranchita. CA in eastern San Diego County. At that time it was resprayed in standard Fire Engine Yellow. It remained in service with them and the Borrego Springs Fire Protection District until the late 1990's when it was sold at auction in Barstow. CA to a private party. He resprayed it white and brought it to Utah where it has remained in storage until now.
Mechanically. this truck is outstanding. Years and years of disciplined. scheduled. military and fire department maintenance are clearly in evidence here. Engine is the original 273CID V8 running through a four speed manual and twin-stick transfer case to Dana axles front and rear. It starts. idles. accelerates. shifts. steers and drives extremely well. Four wheel drive shift levers and locking hubs work great. And every system is as simple as it gets. For example. brakes and steering are manual but it is still very easy to drive. Right now brakes are soft and need to be pumped. I think it's the master cylinder and may have it fixed by auction end. Parking brake works great.
The interior is still all original. It even has the vintage Dymo Labeler stickers for medical supplies on the cabinets. Rear has storage under the benches (which would be perfect for beds) and cabinetry up front. Inner walls are original wood (painted once?) in great shape and floors are original linoleum tile and wood (see pics). Ceiling has leaked in the past (decades old roof sealant has dried and cracked; steel roof itself is in great shape) so original headliner is sagging. It could still be used as a pattern for a new one. Much of the roof is made of galvanized steel so any rust above headliner is only surface or non-existent.
The cab has aged well too. Doors open and close properly (Passenger door handle is broken on the outside). Windows roll up and down. All glass is good. Dash is complete with no cutting or butchery of any kind. Gauges and all lights (other than dash lights) work properly. Heater works; wipers/horn do not. Rust is limited to part of an easily repairable flat running board (not floorboard). a very. very small portion of one kick panel. inside door bottoms just a bit. and a single roof panel only on the front corners (see pics). It's just little stuff. Anything else is only on the surface. Ambulance switch pod and PA system are still installed between front seats but no longer wired up.
The exterior body shell (both the Dodge portion and Mark Body Corporation (ambulance builder) portion) has aged extremely well. We have many years in a dry. desert climate to thank for that. Ambulance body has only surface rust (nature's protectant) and is limited to the non-galvanized portion of the roof where the factory sealer has flaked away (see pics). Any rust on the Dodge front clip is confined to a little spot on the fenders directly behind the front tires (see pics). Very minor. easily repairable stuff. The original wood flooring in the ambulance portion is rock solid. It was treated and undercoated prior to installation and looks great from underneath.
This is such an awesome rig. It runs/drives great and is wonderfully original. I hope it finds a home with someone who will treat her like the rare beast she is and perhaps bring her back to her former glory. Just my two cents.
My name is Chris and I am happy to answer your questions. Please call me at 435-669-1470. I also have tons of pictures that show every nook and cranny in great detail. Send me your email address and I'll get them to you. This sweet Power Wagon Ambulance is located in the dry. desert community of Hurricane. Utah (a little over 100 miles north of Las Vegas). Thank you very much for your interest.

Also published at eBay.ca

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