1957
DeSoto Firesweep Ambulance
“Memphian”
Boy am I glad to be sitting here in my garage again. I’ve been all over the place the last few years. Let’s see if I can remember where; Pittsburgh PA, Springfield MA, Grand Rapid MI., in Connecticut I’ve been to Rocky Hill, Thomaston, Stratford, Hamden, New Haven, Wallingford, Farmington, Fairfield, and to various shows right here in my home town of West Haven. Not bad for somebody 50 years old with just over 74 thousand original miles.
Oh by the way if you don’t know who I am, I’m B & B’s Dream, a 1957 DeSoto “Memphian” Ambulance based on a Firesweep chassis. I’m made up of 2 cars, my front part is from a 4 door, my middle section is from a 2 door and the back section was manufactured by the Memphis Coach Company of Memphis TN. Some people think I should have a large hemi engine but my 325 with a 2 barrel carb and 2 speed Powerflite transmission allows to get down the highway at a good clip at 14 mph. I laugh to myself when the guys try and park me with NO power steering or bakes.
I was built in the fall of 1957 for the Globe Funeral Home of Globe Arizona. Jesse James Walker and his wife brought me to Globe in September of 1957 where I worked as the primary ambulance for our small town until 1972. At that time Mr. Walker decided to get out of the ambulance business, when those new fangled guys called Emergency Medical Technicians and Paramedics started showing up.
I was then sold to Superior Western Company of Santa Fe Springs, California who transferred me to Al Martinez Paint and Body shop of Santa Anna where I was used to move “Body Parts” around the area. Boy did I get in trouble once there when the guy who was driving me decided to use the red lights and siren to get around faster and got busted by the local police. He got fired but not before he stole my siren.
I then sat around till 1988 when Gene Lichtman bought me and had me shipped to Baltimore Maryland where I had some body work done and some of my interior was redone. Boy did they make a mess out of this job, the people doing the work cut all my wires and I didn’t even run. I looked good on the outside but nothing worked on the inside. I spent my time in Gene’s collection with some of his other cars until which time I was bought by my present owner.
Boy do I remember that day, let’s see it was Sunday, September 7th, 1997. Dawson Blackmore and his friend Chip Carpenter came to Gene’s garage to buy an ambulance. They looked around at a couple of vehicles Gene had and settled on me. They worked for hours trying to get me up on this little two-wheel car dolly. After what seemed forever I was on the dolly and on the way to my new home in Connecticut. Being pulled up the New Jersey turnpike I just knew I was in for a lot of fun with these guys.
We pulled into Milford late that night and the next day Dawson’s brother-in-law, Chuck Durant, fiddled under my hood for a little while and got me running, Chuck sure knows what it takes to get a car going. At this point they found that all the wiring was cut during my painting and Chuck & Dawson spent a couple of days working the wiring problems out. Dawson also ordered a siren for me, from John Dorgan, glad to see I can now make noise again, it was installed on Thursday.
While being worked on, my new name was given “B & B’s Dream”. The name came from Blackie and Buddy’s Dream. They worked together on the ambulance locally and had always talked about having an antique for shows and the like. Buddy died of cancer before ever seeing me, I am Dawson’s way of remember his friend, Charles “Buddy” Wilson.
On September 13th, 1997 I was introduced to Connecticut at the Engine 260 Fire Muster parade. Dawson’s friend Alan Squires was driving me and we were the hit among the EMS types. At the muster site some guy even came up to my owner and asked to buy me right there for $10,000, Dawson refused.
I’ve developed a nickname over the last couple of years from Blackie’s wife Marie. She calls me “Baby” since they spend so much time BABYING me. I do like the part that someone is always cleaning or working on me to make me look and run better.
I spend my time going to various parades, car shows, EMS outings and the like wherever I am asked to appear. I’ve been to various Professional Car Society meets, National DeSoto Club events, a large northeast event called LEADEAST in New Jersey and other outings. I’ve even been invited to attend the 30th anniversary of the signing of the Emergency Medical Services Legislature at the Connecticut State Capital during the summer of 2003.
You know what really ticks me off is when I’m in a parade and someone yells there goes a GHOST BUSTER’S CAR. They don’t even know that I’m an real ambulance and those cars in the movies were hearses, and beside ECTO1 was a Caddy.
I would like to especially thank Marie (Dawson’s wife) for her understanding and support. Also some of Dawson’s friends who have helped me look and run as good as I do; Chuck & Jackie Durant, Anthony “Chip” Carpenter, James DeVico and Nick Buccitti. And last but not least the “ROAD CREW” James Collett and Thomas Caruso, without their assistance numerous times I still would be sitting on the side of the road broken down.
You know I even have my own web site you can visit me at www.ctemsi.com . Well I guess I’ve gone on enough for now, see you around at one of the various events I’m planning on going to in the future.
If you have any questions about me please feel free to contact my owner: