My most difficult save was this 1959 mercury ambulance that was built by Memphian for the Anadarko, Oklahoma Fire & rescue dept. It was retired in 1976 and sold to a wrecking yard. In the early 90's I was told of it's existence and shown a picture of it. but the person could not remember in which wrecking yard in oklahoma it was at. For two years I called and drove round the state with the picture asking people if they had seen this car. Finally when I stopped in Duncan, OK. for fuel one day on my way back to Bakersfield, CA. with another 59 merc on my trailer,I met a man who asked what I was going to do with the merc. I told him that I collected 59 mercs and asked him if he had ever seen the one in the picture. He thought about it for a moment and told me about an old man in the woods that had a big junk yard of cars. this yard had NO telephone!! and was not advertized anywhere. I unhooked the trailer and started off to find this yard. when I found the yard I showed the old man the picture and he started to laugh. Yes it was here! but it was the farthest car in the back and it would be awhile before I could pick it up. I asked him how much he wanted for it. $ 200.00 was what he said. It took another year before I got a letter from him saying it was up front,ready to be picked up. here are pictures of the ambulance.
unlike many ambulances this mercury was not built from a station wagon, but a Monterey 4 door sedan.

Nice reading Jim. What an interesting treasure your white 59 Parklane is.
This ambulance will probably become even more exotic once the project is completed. Even more impressive than that is your strong dedication IMO.
How many years are you going to work on that ambulance for instance until it's done? ....and how much dineros is it going to swamp?

That is cool. Good of you to save it. Your '59 Mercury co-collectors must be envious.

How many years are you going to work on that ambulance for instance until it's done? ....and how much dineros is it going to swamp?

this is the 59 merc that was on the trailer when I found the ambulance. Being a complete car it should not take too long to get the ambulance up and running

Jim, are you doing all that yourself? Sheetmetal and body job too? Do you run a body shop?

no theo
I have to trade out my services for the body & paint work. I have found that the barter system works best for me. alot of people buy cars on ebay or craig's list and do not have a way to pick them up. also do transporting to the shipping co. for people overseas.

Yeah, the barter system is a good way to do some things. My T-Bird needs a body job. There is a scratch on the pass. side and a dented driver door. After all these years the car could use a complete new paint job as a few rust bubbles here and there start to come up. Body jobs are extremely expensive in Germany and they never do it right because they rush things before the paint steps are seated.
Again all the best with your project

1959 Mercury Monterey Memphian Ambulance

I want one!!!!!!

Lets have a body prep and paint party!!!!...........Hey, if the wives and girlfriends can do it!!!......

Its almost like makeup .....is it??

59lincolnrag wrote:1959 Mercury Monterey Memphian Ambulance
Lets have a body prep and paint party!!!!...........Hey, if the wives and girlfriends can do it!!!......
Its almost like makeup .....is it??

Body and paint party? Hmmm...To me it looks more like a loooong strip party