I'm directing this question to you guys because you seem the most knowledgable about Cadillacs and The Ectomobiles.

My Question:

How difficult is it to modify a 1960 Miller Meteor ambulance to resemble a 1959 ambulance?

Looking at pictures of both year models, I'm guessing the only major difference is the rear end and fins. Is that right? So lets say I had a 1960 ambulance, and found a junked-out 1959 Caddy (not necessarily a hearse or ambo). Do you reckon it would be possible to transfer the metal from one to the other and weld and bog it up to make it look like a standard ‘59?

The reason I ask is I’ve found a 1960 Miller Meteor, with limousine windows exactly like the Ecto-1, and it's virtually a bargain price (I don't have the money anyway, but I'm contemplating selling my soul to get it, hehe). 1960 Cadillac's look beautiful anyway and I'd be more than happy with that year-model even if a 1959 conversion wasn't possible.

Thanks guys,

oh man, buy it, that car rulz like the '59 buy it and be happy!

I would like to have such a car too…. but i am in vienna, thats a little bit far away from America

good luck with the car!

Rick,

A simple answer would be: Yes and No.

A more complex answer would be, Yes it can be done, but it would be seriously expensive. (You would pretty much need to pay someone to refabricate the entire rear end of the car.) The rear fenders and sheet metal on Ambulances was shipped to the coachbuilder seperate from the rest of the car. (In fact, the car was shipped as a hood, cowl, front fenders, and Bare frame. Everything from the windshield back was built by the coachbuilder.) While the fenders off of a “normal” ‘59 might look right, I think if you did some measuring you would start to notice differences in the lengths of the fender pieces, differences in the shape of the panel where it transitions into the car itself, and some other little differences. Also, the coachbuilders would make changes in the dies and the production process from year to year, so odds are that ’60 is a slightly different shape than a ‘59 anyways.

Looks can be decieving when it comes to parts that “Look” like they will fit.

Anything can be done if you throw enough money at it. My suggestion is if you like the ’60 and can afford it, just grab it and work with what you have. 99% of the public isnt going to know the difference. (I had an all white 1971 Cad Ambulance, and I had folks Yelling Ghostbusters at me all the time.) Pretty much any Cad ambulance can be converted and the public will be happy.

Will you be happy with a 1960 Ambulance? My personal feeling is if the car is solid and in fairly good condition, DONT cut it up. Paint and logos and equipment can make the car close enough for the public without killing the value of the car itself. ALL of these old Cadillac ambulances are getting rarer and harder to find. The more we cut up, the more that are lost forever. Also, if you ever want or need to sell it later, there is a REALLY small market for Ecto's to start with. And a car that's been seriously modified to make an Ecto is only worth something to that Ecto market. (And the folks with the money to buy a replica, are going to hold out for a ‘59 if they can anyways.) If you keep it as a ’60, then you could remove the “Ecto stuff” and open up the vintage ambulance collectors market if you did need to sell. My ‘59 Ecto-1a replica started out as a bare hulk ready for the crusher. The conversion saved this car. My ’59 ambulance is essentially intact, and I wouldnt even consider trying to convert it as the car itself is rare.

I collect Vintage ambulances and Hearses in addition to my Ecto, so I'm aware and active in that side of the hobby as well. I hate to see a perfectly good coach cut up. My suggestion is keep it stock and paint her up. Its cheaper for you in the long run, and better for the car as well.

TheEcto1a

I'm tending to agree with you, TheEcto1A. This car is apparently almost all original. It has a single front bench seat, two nurses seats in the back, an orginal medicine cabinet, 390 motor, etc. The ‘59 conversion probably won’t be practical or feasable. But I'm completely content with having a 1960 Cadillac, so it doesn't bother me It's still a classic.

I'd love to at least give it an Ecto-1 paint job, though. And if I do an Ecto-conversion, it would have to be completely reversable if I wanted to take it back to original.

The guy I spoke to on the phone said another person is interested in it. But unfortunately for me it's now in the hands of the bank. If they don't lend me the money I can't buy it Hopefully I should hear back from them by the end of the week.

Rick,

Good luck! I'll keep my fingers crossed for you.. I think you will enjoy it regardless what year it is. They are habit forming, and tons of fun.

TheEcto1a

i read this thread and it almost made me cry. the same thing happened to me, rick, and i passed it up. i found a 60 m/m caddy ambulance when i was a junior in high school about 5 min. from my house. it ran and drove good, but needed a comsetic restoration, which is what my dad and i do as a hobby to old cars. the biggie….it was $500!!! AND I DECIDED TO GET A FREAKIN GUITAR INSTEAD!!!! AAAAAHHHH!!! WHY?!?!?! WHY DID I DO THAT?!?!? rick, if the bank loans you the money, GET IT! the 60's still have fins, right? not the size of the 59 fins, but they're still fins. like ecto1a said, hardly anyone except for ghostheads are gonna notice the difference. go for it, man. good luck..

Yeah, what he said. When you get it, be sure to send some pics to Back and Me..

d_osborn, don't worry, I know the feeling. I'm a guitarist too and I've been known to rack up hideous debts on my credit card at the music store! I've got two guitars now, but I may sell one of them to help finance this car. I might only get $150 for it, but money's money.

TheEcto1A, I'm already hooked on these cars. I keep the advertisment for this car on my desk at work and I can't stop studying it and daydreaming about it! I still can't wrap my head around the size of this thing, though, and what it'll be like to drive it here in Australia when the steering wheel is on the wrong side, and because it's so massive. I've never driven a left-hand drive car before, let alone one this size.

Ectoman, if I do get it, you guys will be the first to hear about it. If all else fails I might be able to borrow the money of dad from his fathers inheritance (my grandfather past away this year and my dad and his sisters recently sold his old house, so he'll be in the money soon). But I don't really want to do that because I'm delaying telling the folks until I get the car. They'll spew whether I tell them before or after anyway, but if I buy it first and tell them later, they won't have any say in me buying it

Cheers guys, and thanks for the comments.

Ok, we all know that Im a Cadillac freak, and i love them to death. the last thing i would like to see is a 1960 caddy chopped up. there a work of art, why mess with a good thing? the fins are almost identical anyway. the biggest difference that ive found with the 1960 caddy is that its lower in height, and just plain smaller. but thats not necissarily a bad thing either. i do have a pic of a baby blue 1960 caddy convertable in my ecto-info section, and to be perfectly honest nothing can ever replace the 59's but i find the 60 or 61 caddys to be much much more sleek and warming. 61 caddys especially cause they look a little like thunderbirds lol Even if you did have the cash to chop it up and place fins on it and such it wouldnt look the same(well to you, GB fans and other cadillac lovers). comparing the body size of the 59-60 the 60 is much smaller, the porportions or various parts wouldnt be quite right. but yeah, with a little metal work, electrical & a coat of paint you'd have an exellent Ectomobile! and pics, yeah! take some and send them to us all, before, then after!
im gone.

Don't worry, back, I've decided not to do the ‘59 Conversion. You’re right, it just wouldn't look right. And like you said, the ‘60 Caddy is a classic too, and I agree that the lines are more sleek than the ’59. I still love the ‘59s because that’s what the Ectomobile is, but the 60s just look so cooool too

I've put a picture of the car on my website. Hopefully I should hear from the bank today whether the loan was approved or not.

http://www.deloreanaustralia.com/ambo.jpg