1957 DeSoto Firesweep Ambulance

1957 DeSoto Firesweep Ambulance “Memphian”
1957	Spring	The ambulance is build by the DeSoto company. It consists of a front from a 4 door car and the back section is from a 2 door. The two sections are welded together and shipped to Memphis Tenn.
	Summer	Body work is completed by the Memphis Coach Company, Memphis Tennessee by adding the roof, inside cabinets and adding after-market air-conditioning (this is required to cool the front as well as the rear compartment). Upon completion the model is now named the "Memphian".
	September 23rd	Purchased by Jesse James Walker, Jr. for use by the Globe Mortuary in Globe Arizona as a primary response ambulance. The unit was used for 15 years as the town's primary patient transport vehicle and was only used as an ambulance. The original color was the current red/white color scheme including the rear floor pattern.
1972	June 1st	The "Memphian" was sold to Superior Western Company of Santa Fe Springs, Calif. since Globe Mortuary was getting out of the ambulance business.
	June 7^th	The ambulance was transferred to David Vansell of San Clemente CA and then transferred to Al Martinez of Santa Anna CA.
1972	Fall	The unit is owned by Al Martinez Paint and Body shop where it is used to transport "body parts". The original siren and light were removed when one of the workers was cited for illegal use on city streets, the siren and light were stolen by the employee when he was fired.
1988	September	The "Memphian" is sold to Gene Lichtman of Silver Springs Maryland. Who is a collector of old ambulances. Gene’s vehicles have appeared in various movies and television programs. His cars have also been featured in multiple EMS shows and various car magazines.
1997	September 7th	The "Memphian" is purchased from Mr. Lichtman by it's current owner, Dawson Blackmore. The ambulance is partially restored but not running. It is towed from Maryland to Connecticut where after only a couple of hours it’s running fine. During it’s interior restoration all electrical wires were cut and not labeled, this was also resolved and all emergency lights are working correctly. The remainder of the restoration work is completed and the vehicle is ready for presentation.
		The ambulance has been given a nic-name of "B & B’s Dream" after Dawson "Blackie" and Charles "Buddy" Wilson. This name was chosen to honor Dawson’s friend Buddy, who died of cancer in 1997. Blackie and Buddy always talked about owning an antique ambulance one day and this is Blackie's way of remembering his friend. Marie (Dawson's wife) gives the ambulance the name "Baby" since so much time is spent "pampering her".
1997	September 13th	"B & B" went on it’s first outing, at Engine 260’s 26^th Annual Fire Muster.
	Currently	"B & B" goes to various car shows and EMS/Fire events & functions to bring viewing pleasure to those who see BABY.

Below is the list of where "B & B" has been seen and enjoyed.
	Date	Event:
		*() denotes "B & B" trailered, otherwise BABY was driven to the listed event**
1998	May	Memorial Day Parade, Stratford CT
	July	National DeSoto Club Meet in Valley Forge, PA Here B&B receives numerous raves for the other DeSoto car collectors.
	September	Lead East Car Show, Parsippany NJ
		Engine 260’s 27^th Annual Fire Parade & Muster, Milford CT
	October	Bridgeport Area Retired Firefighters Antique Vehicle Show, Bridgeport CT
		Stratfield Vol. Fire Department, Open House, Fairfield CT
		Firelite Car Show, with D.A.R.E., Branford CT
1999	May	*Emergency Vehicles Owners and Operators Association, Fairfax VA ()** Fairfax City Days Car Show & EVOOA Show Won 2^nd place "Best Antique Restored Ambulance"
		Quinnipiac College Car Show, with D.A.R.E., Hamden CT Received 2^nd place award ‘Other’ Class
		Memorial Day Parades, Hamden & Stratford CT
	June	Williamsport Ambulance Corp., 25^th Anniversary Celebration, Williamsport MD, with other members from the Mid-Atlantic Chapter of the Professional Car Society.
	July	Barnum Festival Street Fair, Stratford CT
	August	*Professional Car Society International Meet, Lancaster PA ()**
		Walnut Beach Appreciation Association, 1^st Annual Outing, Milford CT
	September	Lead East Car Show, Parsippany NJ
		Engine 260’s 28^th Annual Fire Parade & Muster, Milford CT
		Bridgeport Area Retired Firefighters Antique Vehicle Show, Bridgeport CT
	October	Cristiana Vol. Fire Department, 50^th Anniversary, Cristiana DE
		Firelite Car Show, with D.A.R.E., Branford CT
2000	April	Health Fair, St. Mary's School, Milford CT
	May	Memorial Day Parades, Hamden & Stratford CT
		Quinnipiac College Car Show, with D.A.R.E., Hamden CT
	July	*Professional Car Society International Meet, Kingston Ontario Canada ()**
	August	Oyster Festival, Featured Car with D.A.R.E. display, Milford CT
	September	Lead East Car Show, Parsippany NJ
		Engine 260’s 29^th Annual Fire Parade & Muster, Milford CT Won "BEST RESTORED" 1950-1959
		Congress of Connecticut State Firefighters Annual Convention, East Haven CT, as a display of antique fire and EMS equipment. Also participated in the Firefighter’s Parade
2001	March	Connecticut Emergency Medical Services Convention, Cromwell CT, with other members of the Professional Car Society’s New England Chapter.
	May	Quinnipiac College Car Show, with D.A.R.E., Hamden CT
	August	National DeSoto Annual Convention, Doylestown PA Receives a 3^rdplace award in the Modified Class
	September	Lead East Car Show, Parsippany NJ
		Engine 260’s 30^th Annual Fire Parade & Muster, Milford CT Won "BEST RESTORED" 1950-1959, for the second time
	October	Congress of Connecticut State Firefighters Annual Convention & Parade, West Haven CT, as a display of antique fire and EMS equipment. Also participated, as a unit with the host towns department, in the Firefighter’s Parade
		Stratfield Vol. Fire Department, Open House, Fairfield CT
		Southport Vol. Fire Department, Open House, Fairfield CT
2002	May	Quinnipiac College Car Show, with D.A.R.E., Hamden CT
		Memorial Day Parade, Stratford CT
		Friends of Fairfield Volunteer Fire Departments Outing, Fairfield CT
	June	Cruise Night at the Greeks, Milford CT Gayload Hospital 100^th Anniversary Car Show, Wallingford CT
		Vietnam Veterans ‘Visit to the Rock’ Cruise Night, West Haven, CT
		Gayload Hospital 100^th Anniversary Car Show, Wallingford CT
	July	Firefighter’s Parade, Warehouse Point CT
	August	*Professional Car Society International Convention, Grand Rapids MI ()**
		75^th Anniversary of the Rocky Hill Volunteer Fire Department Parade, Rocky Hill CT
		Hometown Wheels to support the Special Olympics Car Show, Farmington CT
	September	Lead East Car Show, Parsippany NJ
		Engine 260’s 31^th Annual Fire Parade & Muster, Milford CT
		Sikorsky Aircraft “Safe Kids Day”, Shelton CT
		Congress of Connecticut State Firefighters Annual Parade, Thomaston CT, participated as a unit with other departments, in the Firefighter’s Parade
	October	Stratfield Vol. Fire Department, Open House, Fairfield CT
		Southport Vol. Fire Department, Open House, Fairfield CT
2003		(Bad year for outings, rain every weekend thru April, May & June)
	June	Gayload Hospital 101^th Anniversary Car Show, Wallingford CT Won BEST Professional Vehicle
	July	Professional Car Society International Meet, Pittsburgh PA
	August	Attended in a couple of local cruise nights in the Milford/Stratford area
	September	Lead East Car Show, Parsippany NJ
		Engine 260 32^nd Annual Fire Parade & Muster, Milford CT
		Invited to display at the CT State Firefighters Convention, Wethersfield CT, participated as a unit with other departments, in the Firefighter’s Parade
2004	May	Memorial Day Parades, Fairfield & Stratford CT
	June	Cruise Night at the Greek’s, Milford CT
		Vietnam Veterans Visit to the Rock’ Cruise Night, West Haven CT
		New England Fire Chief’s Show & Parade, West Springfield MA
	July	Chryslers at Carlisle PA
		Cruise Nite – At the Dock, Stratford CT
	August	Tune by Tuna – Shriners Hospital Emergency Vehicle Show, Springfield MA
	September	Engine 260’s 33^th Annual Fire Parade & Muster, Milford CT
		Congress of Connecticut State Firefighters Annual Parade, Cromwell CT, participated as a unit with other departments, in the Firefighter’s Parade
	October	Platt Tech – Robotics Club Car Show, Milford CT
2005	May	Memorial Day Parade, Stratford CT Used to transport a friend to their High School Senior Prom, engine pulley broke loose, driving the fan into the radiator and destroying it. Had to replace radiator, fan, pulley and all belts.
	June	New England Fire Chief’s Show & Parade, West Springfield MA
	July	Cruise Nite – At the Dock, Stratford CT
	September	Engine 260’s 34^th Annual Fire Parade & Muster, Milford CT
		Congress of Connecticut State Firefighters Annual Parade, Cannan CT, participated as a unit with other departments, in the Firefighter’s Parade
	October	Platt Tech – Robotics Club Car Show, Milford CT
	November	Attended the dedication of the I-91 Weighting Station to the Crew of the downed LIFEStar flight 10 years ago.
2006	May	Memorial Day Parade, Stratford CT
	June - July - August	Various car show in the area
	September	Engine 260’s 35^th Annual Fire Parade & Muster, Milford CT Won "MOST UNUSUAL in Show" award
		Congress of Connecticut State Firefighters Annual Parade, Ansonia - Shelton - Derby CT, participated as a unit with other departments, in the Firefighter’s Parade
	October	Sikorsky Aircraft's Car & Bike Show, Stratford CT
	November and December	Part of a commercial activity shot in New York City. This was to promote a .com called www.diningfever.com, who is a discount web based restaurant guide. If you go to the home page and page down you will see how hard I had to work to do this promotion, and they paid me as well. Part of the function was to drive around NYC promoting the site with the girls waving to the various bystanders just looking at the ambulance.
2007	May	Memorial Day Parade, Stratford CT
	June	Participated in the Barnum Parade with a marching unit from Stratford Vol. EMS, Bridgeport CT
	June - July	Various car show in the area
	August	Participated in the FIRST Annual Burn Camp Fund Raiser (Parade & Show) with the Stratford Professional Fire Fighters held at Shakespeare Theater, Stratford CT
	September	Engine 260’s 36^th Annual Fire Parade & Muster, Milford CT
		Congress of Connecticut State Firefighters Annual Parade, West Haven CT, participated as a unit with other departments, in the Firefighter’s Parade
		Sikorsky Aircraft's UW/CHC Appreciation Concert & Sikorsky Aircraft's Car & Bike Show, Stratford CT
		Shriner's Car & Truck Show (one of over 1,300 vehicles on the show grounds), Orange CT
	October	Police - Fire - EMS Appreciation Day, TSI Harley Davidson & Sun Valley Resort, Stafford Springs CT
		Bershire SPAAMFAA Show, Stockbridge MA Public Safety Day, Westfield Connecticut Post Shopping Plaza, Milford CT Platt Tech – Robotics Club Car Show, Milford CT
2008	May	Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center 50th Anniversary "Gala 2008", as a featured presentation of what an ambulance from the 50's would have functioned as, Lebanon NH
		Memorial Day Parade, Stratford CT
	August	Professional Car Society International Meet, Mount Laurel NJ
		Oyster Festival - Car Show, Milford CT
		New England's All-MOPAR Show & Swap Meet, Vernon CT Won 2nd Place in the 'Special Interest' class, beating out other MoPars in this class (a Duke of Hazard replica, a Military Dodge 6 wheeler from WWII and the like)
	September	Engine 260’s 37^th Annual Fire Parade & Muster, Milford CT
	October	Public Safety Day, Westfield Shopping Park, Trumbull CT
2009	March	St. Patrick's Day Parade, Milford CT
		Video Shoot with Motley Crew, New York City NY
	April	Stratford Fire Department 100th Anniversary Parade, Stratford CT
	July	Featured in a movie "All Good Things" for a scene in the 50's, Greenwich CT
		New England Chapter of Professional Car Society Get-together, Woodstock CT
	September	Engine 260’s 38^th Annual Fire Parade & Muster, Milford CT Won 1st place "Public Service Vehicle - Non-Fire Related"
	October	Platt Tech – Robotics Club Car Show, Milford CT
		Merritt Parkway Preservation Conservatory, Ryder's Landing, Stratford, Milford CT
	November	Seymour Christmas Parade, Seymour CT

Below correspondence received concerning "B & B's" history.

Received: Wed - 23 Sept 98

Dawson,

My name is Clarence Williams, I live in Santa Ana, California.

The first time I saw a 57 desoto ambulance was in 1975. I was 14 riding with my mother on First St. it was parked at Al Martinez Paint and Body Shop. it was complete including lights on roof. It was repainted orig. red and white, and sat for sale for about 4 years collecting dust. The car was gone one day and never seen again.

Seeing a picture of your red 57 brought back happy memories. How long were desoto ambulances made? I've only seen 57's.

Thanks, Clarence Williams

Received: Fri - 25 Sept 98

Dawson,

I made a few phone calls, and found there new shop in Orange, Ca. Al senior passed away a few years back. But I talked to his son Al jr. who had fond memories of the car. They used it to haul "body parts" and run errands.

It had lights and a siren till one of the workers was fooling around on the street and got cited. They were told to remove the lights and siren to make the car legal to drive.

The latter was stolen by the guy who was cited, who used the siren in his volkswagen.

The address for Al Martinez Paint and Body is 1011 W. Barkley, Orange, Ca. 92668 the phone number is 714-288-6700.

Al jr. is a nice but very busy man. We talked only a couple of minutes. It was after five p.m. and I'm sure he wanted to go home to his family.

They have an email address for the shop, but he said that was his son's thing. Good luck. Keep me posted, i hope this info was helpful to you.

Clarence Williams

Phone Call: Fri - 2 Oct 98

Spoke with Al Martinez, Jr. who fondly remembered the DeSoto. He stated that what Mr. William said was infact what happened to the lights and siren. Al Jr. also stated that his father had gotten the vehicle from a wholesaler in CA in the early seventies.

Mr. Lichtman did indeed buy the car in 88 and have it shipped to Maryland. Where it resided till it was taken to Connecticut.

Mr. Martinez asked what the unit was being used for and I informed him that it was going to car shows and various antique vehicle outings and he was pleased to see it being used for such a fine endeavor.

Pictures and history are going to be forward to Al Jr. for his collection of history of the body shop.

Dawson

I would like to thank Clarence Williams for his kind assistance.

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Memorial Day Parades, Fairfield & Stratford CT

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