FE-FC Holden Discussion Forum

Hi Gary

So what's the "next one"?

Kathi  8)

---

NB: This thread was originally part of FC 219 Standard Wagon restoration ($2)

Hi Kathi, it's a toss up between a Queensland FC Ambulance Panelvan

(http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x152/nebedag/FC%20Ambulance/004.jpg)


Or a FC 3 door Panelvan (Bailey Conversion)

(http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x152/nebedag/FC%203%20door%202104%20Pvan/PREP004.jpg)

The Wagon we have just done was a major resto, so at the moment I'm leaning towards the green one as it is a lot less work. But the Ambo would be a lot more fun to drive.

Cheers, Gary

Go on Gary, do the ambo, you know you want to 8)

John

A hard choice but the ambulance would be a classic, can't say i've ever seen an FC with rear doors instead of a tailgate, it would look good besides Zulus cop car 8)

Gary,

Are you going to do the FC Ambulance in the old QATB colours like it would have had originally? I have never seen an FC ambulance before, love the rear doors, I assume that the back doors would have been done by a coach/body builder.

It looks to be a 219? Or was there a different number given to ambulances?

Sorry for all the questions, I am just very interested in the car.

Keith

I had an email from Mark at Aussie Speed this morning and he is very close to finishing the sideplate and the grey engine headers.......FC427.......

Hi  Gary

Go the ambulance! 

Do you have an FE/FC fire services vehicle tucked away somewhere so you can have the complete Emergency Services set? That would be fun!  :D

Kathi  8)

Gary,

The ambulance is really interesting.  What is its history? - there is a business name on the door by the look of it.  Do you know what it has been used for since being an ambulance?

Cheers
David

Surprisingly the ambulance doors were available through GMH as an extra - I can find the ad if people are interested.

Ken

Ken,

I for one would love to see the ad for the ambulance doors.  Were there different body numbers issued for ambulances, ie other than 219 or 229?

Keith

FIRE!!

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v117/customfc/holden%201/fireFCred.jpg)

Regards
Alex

Alex,

Well done with the photoshop or whatever program you used. Looks magnificent. A three door bailey conversion for the Fire Brigade.

Keith

Thanks Alex, I was going to keep that one under wraps until I'd finished the Ambo  ::)
Any how, now it's out there, does anyone have a +++++++++++++++ size period uniform ?
Regards, Gary

Alex COOL for us simple folks how do you make that happen [PRESTO] NEW CAR ........FC427......

Well aren't you a little smarty pants Alex?  Well done!  ;D

Kathi  8)
F4 ;)

Alex is a Master at this sort of stuff, my eyes nearly popped out when I saw that!

For those that are interested, the QATB (Queensland Ambulance Transport Brigade) Ambulance FC is a Panelvan 2104 not a wagon

It was converted when new by Hedges Body Works Qld, (I think the back doors Ken is referring to is the rear side door) The rear barn doors & the rear side door were fitted by the bodyworks along with split bench seat, full headliner with extra light, rear fold up attendants seat, black glass

(http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x152/nebedag/FC%20Ambulance/FCmeatwagon.jpg)

The Holden dealer that sold the Van to "Boonah Centre Ambulance" fitted 2 rear Winter tread tyres and a sunvisor at time of sale

It was decommissioned & sold in 1969, it was used by Dover & Sons Boonah to deliver tractor parts to local farms, then as a yard car for a timber mill, it then nearly went to god at a wreckers, but was saved by the bloke I bought it off in Beaudesert, he had it partly dismantled under his house.

It has all it's original black glass, siren & light buttons, seats etc, here is a pic of the front seat, it's not unlike the seat in Robins Panelvan

(http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x152/nebedag/FC%20Ambulance/011.jpg)
 
It still has it's original Ambo signwriting outlining along the sides & back although it does not show in pics

(http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x152/nebedag/FC%20Ambulance/BARNDRS023.jpg)

I have members of this site to thank for finding it, it was advertised here for sale, so keep an eye on the for sale section, also, if you become a paid member of the club, you will have access to the "for sale to club members only
section" which often has interesting items for sale.

I will be restoring it to original, or as close as I can within reason, it was originally India Ivory & the Ambulace cream has just been sprayed over the top.

Cheers, Gary

That is such a Treasure you lucky thing to own that car .......FC427.....

Gary,

I am surprised to find that they converted a Panel Van to an Ambulance and didn't make it from a Station Sedan. It seems to be a lot of extra work to fit the two side doors when they came factory with them in the wagon. In either case the rear doors would have to be remade, but I would assume that the rear doors would have been similiar on hearses too.

Keith
F4 : ;)

Very interesting history Gary.  Thanks

Kathi  8)
F4  ;)

Like the Bailey conversion, the Ambo is a panel-van with a third door. It doesn't have a 4th door on the LHS. Have a close look at the shelving on either side in the last photo.

As a general rule, standard wagons are very rare now because they didn't sell particularly well then. They cost substantially more than a van, and not much less than a Special wagon. Very much a car without a market...

RET

I hadn't noticed that the there were only three doors. I wrongly assumed as the the door was on the opposite side to the other three door conversions that I have seen that this was a four door station wagon. 

Do you have any idea of the cost of  a conversion. I am wondering if the wagon was dearer that the panel van was there much of a price difference between the panel van and conversion, to the basic cost of the station sedan.

If standard (219) station sedans are relatively rare now, how many were produced in the standard form?

Keith
F4 ;)

The price of the conversion I don't know, but in a newspaper article about them it says:

"At present Mr Bailey is converting the Holden panel van into an estate car - and the finished, three-door job costs less than the station wagon."

Have a look at AOTW #164, and also this page ($2).

FE-219 is the rarest of all factory Holdens (and one of the lowest volume full production - i.e. not limited edition - vehicles in the world). Only about 1800 ever made. I'm not sure how exactly how many FC-219s were produced, but it's somewhere in the vicinity of 7,000 IIRC.

cheers
RET

Keith - one word "COST" it was cheaper to build a van into a ambulance than a wagon into an ambulance. However it became very popular so a lot were converted from wagons to save time - I have lots of articles on ambulances and I have added a few here. These articles are from "Pointers" magazine - a monthly magazine for Holden dealers - rarely seen mags.
The 1st ad is for the barn doors - these could be ordered from your dealer but were outsourced to body builders for fitting. The fact is though that they were available at the time of purchase fitted to your brand new vehicle.

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v331/mcl1959/barndoorsad.jpg)

This article is about an ambulance conversion in Gympie QLD. Similar to Zulu's

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v331/mcl1959/ambo1.jpg)

This one is a very unusual conversion from a wagon with a lengthened body - the text is confusing but obviously there is a join in the glass.

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v331/mcl1959/ambo.jpg)

Ken

Hey Ken
Thank you for the extra info on the Ambos......extremely interesting stuff.
Regards
Alex

Ken,

You never cease to amaze me with your endless wealth of information. I read in one of your much earlier posts that you are writing a book on the FE/FC's. I hope that you are still continuing with the book and when you have finished please put me down for a copy.

RET

Thankyou for providing the numbers on the FE/FC 219. I had no idea that the FE 219 were so rare.
Have either you or Ken got numbers of how many survive, whether awaiting restoration or actually on the road?

Keith
F4 ;)

From what I read ($2) it seems there's quite a few things about FEs you don't appreciate ;)

The rareness of FE-219s has been discussed here quite a few times before. If memory serves Ken has records of around 15, with about 10 of those either going concerns or restorable.

cheers
RET

Thanks Ret, Ken we really enjoy reading the facts you put up, it all widens our knowledge re FE/FC's, and you know we're only stirring about the FE versus FC stuff, basically they are identical apart from some chrome and a few mechanical "IMPROVEMENTS" on the FC, (see just can't help myself) ;) ;D ;D
                                                Pedro F4

Yes RET you are right, there are a quite a few things about the FE that i don't appreciate (Out comes wooden spoon) (As a faithful Rabbitohs supporter I have many). I appreciate the fact the The FE is the First Edition. In all cases the First Edition is the rough draft and is excelled upon with the second edition. (Lucky for me my wife doesn't have a sister, so only one edition there :-X) There is much "Bling" on the FC. Now I know that there are those of you who will cry foul and complain that I am not taking in the true picture because so much more was available in the FE re colours and trim etc. Obviously GM saw what was selling and cut out what wasn't selling. I mean why offer a product if no is buying. Cant blame the GM executives for that.... ;) ;D ;D


I am amazed at how few of these cars were produced and how few still survive. It seems such a shame that time has nearly passed these cars into the history pages.

In all honesty I love both models of these cars, I prefer the FC over the FE but did not realise how rare the FE standard wagons were. Credit given where it is due, some of the cars that I have seen and some of the photo's shown and work done by people on this site is exemplarary. Bit I just cannot resist when it comes time to use the wooden spoon... :D

And if I could get a bite from a fish next time I went fishing such as the bites that I have had on the forum, I would be weighing in record fish ;D ;D ;D


Keith
F4 ;)

Ken, A big thanks for the additional info re the Ambo & Barn Doors. While we were in Beaudesert picking up the Ambo, we decided to go home via Boonah where the Ambulance was stationed.

While there were no employees still there that remembered our unit, they bent over backwards to help, later sending us invaluable text of minutes of the various meetings from their archives, around the time of the quoting for the Ambo, including panelvan versus wagon prices, & later the actual purchace & quote for conversion to Ambulance.

These extracts also covered it's 1st call out & it's decomishioning & sale

Regards, Gary

Hi Gary,

Just wanted to heap accolades on you for the "GREAT" job you have done with your wagon.

I read the story, from the start,,,,,,,,and Jeez Louise,,,,,,,what a great ending,,,,,

Thanks for sharing it,,,,,,,

And great vehicle,,,,,,,,,would love to have one like that one day  ????

Thanks Geoff

Thanks to everyone for all the support and comments about the 219 build and the proposed next project, which is still to be decided.

Ken, This Body Builder must have decided to go it alone with the barn doors as they are sheet metal over wood frames from what I can see

Regards, Gary

Well, after much thought we decided to restore the Ambulance, as it turned out the body wasn't as bad as I remembered, but the paint was too far gone to resurect so opted for a total rebuild.

Coming out of the shed

(http://img23.imageshack.us/img23/1097/69452452.jpg) ($2)

Grey matter out


(http://img193.imageshack.us/img193/9759/65738436.jpg) ($2)



Before taking it to the panelbeater I traced what remained of the Ambulance signwriting on to clear vinyl


(http://img36.imageshack.us/img36/6655/20831268.jpg) ($2)

Great new picture uploading tool RET..........very easy to use, pity my pics are so ordinary

Off with old paint

(http://img29.imageshack.us/img29/9135/25216678.jpg) ($2)


Guards required Some Rares rust repair panels

(http://img193.imageshack.us/img193/5550/32611965.jpg) ($2)

And some NOS repair bits, including some of the floors

(http://img8.imageshack.us/img8/5982/93074504.jpg) ($2)

Sills only needed work in spots, luckily the spare tyre & tank area were rust free, doors were pretty good too but the barn doors needed some work.

I had earlier stated that the original paint was India Ivory but it was actually Adobe Beige with Queensland Ambulance Cream over the top

I have jumped a few steps here, I decided to paint the sub frame & firewall the body colour instead of black

(http://img43.imageshack.us/img43/396/64393250.jpg) ($2)

some panels

(http://img43.imageshack.us/img43/3645/46261701.jpg) ($2)

Almost time to fit some Genuine NOS Rubbers to the front & Barn door openings, with a NOS Old Auto Rubber for the rear side door

(http://img20.imageshack.us/img20/1311/82058101.jpg) ($2)

looking good gary
regards fatboy

I come from the Boonah area and remember this van when Dover's had it.
The Dover's yard is next to the High School so I saw it a lot while I went
there 1976-1979. It's good to see it's getting restored I'll tell my brother in law
 who works for Dover's and maybe some of the old employees might remember
when they stop using it.
Bazza

The Ambulance is looking fantastic...

You are going to be swamped with people wanting to look at thing one when its done, as well as all of us that want to see the progress shots as you put it all back together.

Well done.

Jason.

wow  :o   looking foward to seeing this.
well done.

Great to see the progress on this.  It will be an interesting vehicle to see when done.  Will it be ready for and going to the Nats in Orange?

Cheers
David

Thanks for all the interest and words of encouragement, yes, we do hope to have it ready in time for the Nationals in Orange.

Bazza, somewhere along the line it lost the bottom part of the rear attendants seat, but apart from that it was still amazingly intact with it's black glass and cabinets in the back as well.

It wasn't decommissioned till 1969

Apparently, after leaving Dover's it did a stint at a timber yard before being rescued from the bloke I purchased it off from the local tip!

Picture of Dover's, we stopped at Dover's on the way home, but the only bloke who would have used it was away that day

(http://img16.imageshack.us/img16/2170/30785514.th.jpg) ($2)

We also stopped at the new Boonah Centre Ambulance Station, we later received valuable info from here regarding it's purchase & subsequent bodywork, everyone up there was very helpful

(http://img19.imageshack.us/img19/859/29058290.th.jpg) ($2)

Here is a shot of us picking it up way back then

(http://img40.imageshack.us/img40/6349/48266601.th.jpg) ($2)

Coming together nicely Gary, she'll be something special when she's finished, is that two pack paint you are using.
 
Hey Bazza, don't suppose you know my brother Ray, he runs the local carpet shop at Boonah.
                                       Pedro

Keep up the great work and pics Gary. Its great to watch.
Cheers,
Graham

Just joined your forum today. Very interesting this ambulance.
One of the reasons for using a panel van instead of a station sedan is because with a panel van body, you can access the spare tyre without interupting the rear load.
With the special purpose of an ambulance and the way it is fitted out, it is not practical to unload the patient on the side of the road to fix the tyre. Further more the floor will have been fitted out differently for the stretcher.
Also the reason why the third door is behind the driver and not the pasenger side as is normal practice for a three door wagon, is because you can fold the front seat forward and place the patient along side the attendant and the driver. If you had the attendant on the other side this would not be possible. FC panel vans and wagons are not really long enough without doing this for a tall patient, trolley etc.
Hope this helps.
Darren Johnston

Apart from the surface rust that's pretty well what it looked like back when I used to see it as the paint was pretty faded. The photo of the old ambulance station is in Park st and we lived just a little bit further up the street when we first got married.
Pedro I'm a bit out of touch with the Boonah news but if he is a local I would know him. We left for the big smoke of Ipswich 20 years ago and don't go there much. We only go to Kalbar to see friends and family. My sister and brother in law still work in Boonah.
Bazza

Great progress Gary.
I was very excited upon hearing you had started this project.
Any help I can give you, just shout.
Really looking forward to this ol' girl hitting the blacktop again.
Keep the progress pics coming.
Regards
Alex

Was only wondering the other day if you'd started on this - and obviously you have.  Look forward to seeing it at Orange.

Kathi 

Niiice,
Great to see this happening Gary :) Brilliant. Would love an Ambo. There are a couple of early ambos down here...an HD & an EH. Both beautiful cars. But the FC is something special.

Regards,
Rob J

Well, thought I'd better give an update on the progress, or lack of it, our work keeps us busy from October till about half way through January so I have not spent a lot of time on it

Made these dust deflectors up to Craig A recipe to go under the rear bars
(http://s2.postimage.org/I9gp9.jpg) ($2)

Just fit them & I hear some bloke in the club (Maco) decides to go into production & repro them
(http://s2.postimage.org/I9xS9.jpg) ($2)

Rear bars fitted
(http://s2.postimage.org/Ianf9.jpg) ($2)

Front end jigsaw

(http://s2.postimage.org/IcvWS.jpg) ($2)

Squeezing

(http://s2.postimage.org/IcSo9.jpg) ($2)

Squoze

(http://s1.postimage.org/qHvKA.jpg) ($2)

Hey Gary
Any progress is good progress!!
Brightwork starting to go on....gotta be happy with that.
Looking forward to more progress and pics.
Regards
Alex

Great to some progress on the ambo.
Cheers
Paul

Thanks for the words of encouragement, fingers crossed, if not at least I have other options.

Zulu,

Great to see some progress on the ambo. I am sure it will look great when finished

Keith

A little more done, front suspension & steering in


(http://s3.postimage.org/Ap8f9.jpg) ($2)


Steering box felt & turned ok (easily without the wheel attached) so decided to remove the lid, had a bit of a look inside  ::) while the lid was off dropped in a couple of glugs of Penrite steering box lubricant.

Bolted the lid back on & low & behold it was binding about midway point, so backed off the lash bolt on top & seems to be fine now, I must have disturbed the adjustment when I removed the lid

 
(http://s3.postimage.org/ArUR9.jpg) ($2)


All painted up and back in, now I can moove it around again, so took it back to the painter today to be cut / buffed or whatever it is he has to do, expect to bring it back on Saturday & then the push will be on to have it ready for Orange.

Still a lot to do but I have most of it ready to bolt / screw back on, was going to fiddle around with one of the (as is) engines in the shed, but bit the bullett today & took one of them up to be rebuilt, should have it back before the end of this month


(http://s4.postimage.org/m9Csi.jpg) ($2)


I had John Dennis re do the seats, I found a very close match to the "Mesa Tan" seat vinyl & he has done a great job considering how poxed they were.

I cut some new back boards for them using the old ones as templates


(http://s4.postimage.org/maGO9.jpg) ($2)

Zulu,

Looking good so far, you must be please with the progress to hopefully make it to Orange. Hope all goes well and we can see it in Orange

Keith

Gary did you take your engine up to Norwest for reco ??? Ambo looks amazing .......FC427......

Hey Gary
That's what we like to see, more progress, and with pics.
Thanks for the update, looking forward to the next.
Regards
Alex

Sure hope you make it to Orange. The two ambos side by side will be a great photo shoot.

Cheers
Paul

Making great progress, keep up the good work and enthusiasm. Theres nothing like a Nationals to get the cars progress along, if there was no nationals then alot of cars would remain stagnant for a long time.

Scott, you are making pretty good progress yourself and you are correct, it's amazing what you can do when a deadline is looming

Hi Paul, great to hear you will make it to Orange, I look forward to seeing them together also

Thanks Alex, Keith, Mark, I rang Norwest just prior to Christmas & I think he said they were flat out till January, so I didn't book in.

I was just going to test fire & use one of the engines in the shed, but in the end (like yesterday) I decided to have one recoed.

Regards, Gary

Well, I have just about finished re assembly underneath, hallelujah!
The rear brakes are finally on & I just put the petrol tank in

(http://s2.postimage.org/T3jyJ.jpg) ($2)

Cut the new floor panel where the stretcher goes too, as well as cleaned and repainted the dual horns

(http://s3.postimage.org/APRX9.jpg) ($2)

Found the old NASCO sticker on the high note horn

(http://s2.postimage.org/T3Xt0.jpg) ($2)

The engine bay is getting there, got the motor back from rebuilding on Friday, hope to bolt everything back on it & fit it in the next day or 2

(http://s1.postimage.org/SuYuJ.jpg) ($2)

More soon

Gary,

Starting to see some real progress there, it is looking great. I certainly hope that you are able to finish it in time for Orange. Marvellous what you find while removing paint on various bits and pieces isn't it. Than NASCO sticker being there is fascinating. It's nearly half the joy of pulling it all apart and putting it back together.

Good luck with it

Keith

Well, the next day or 2 stretched till today,

I had to replace the sideplate on the fresh motor because the coil bracket was snapped off & I didn't realize it till the engine was all painted up & reassembled @#bugger!

(http://s3.postimage.org/iYu69.jpg) ($2)

After what happened to the distributer on the 219 wagon I decided to pull the unit for the ambo down & check & rebuild it, I pulled it down to the counterweights & glad I did, it was full of 50 years crud & dirt

(http://s4.postimage.org/7GcEi.jpg)
 ($2)

Wiring loom in, engine bay part at least

(http://s4.postimage.org/7GwBr.jpg) ($2)

Here is a pic of the 2 part rusty manifold spring that Rusty supplied me with

(http://s1.postimage.org/ySR3i.jpg) ($2)

Up up & away, thanks again to Rusty for help with some last minute bolt ons

(http://s3.postimage.org/j0uG0.jpg) ($2)

Well it's in, now I just have too hook it all up, exhaust, rest of wiring, Glass, bleed clutch & brakes, interior, bling, bla bla bla.........will it be ready in time? hope so

(http://s3.postimage.org/j1559.jpg) ($2)

I hope so too!!
Looking forward to seeing the ole girl back in service.
Seems to be a bit of progress being made....keep going!!
Regards
Alex

Gary,

Nice work, you must be very happy with the progress.

Cheers
John

Keep it up Gary great job.
Cheers,
Graham

I'm still hoping to have that lie down in the back at the Nationals.

Looks really good Gary,

that engine bay colour scheme really hits the mark.

Cheers

Ed

There are lots of others who are hoping it will be ready too - me included.

Keep up the good work - it is looking great.

Cheers
David

Looking awesome Gary!! love the white engine bay!!

Looking forward to seeing it in Orange ;)

Cheers, Les...

Great to see the progress been made.


We might have to charge admission for those who want a lie down in the back of the ambos.  ;D

Cheers
Paul

Garry.

Bit partial to a white engine bay option myself.

It is a wonderful job you have done.

Hope to catch up one day again.

Regards

Craig

I had a mate come over last night who did his apprenticeship at Dover's in the early 80's, so I asked him if he remembered the van and he said hell yeah! He said they were using it then, until he thinks one of the other guys was driving it one day and one of the uni's let go. He also had a nice FC van himself back then and wished he still had it.
BAZZA

Gary,

Good progress, Hope to meet you in Orange and have a look at your ambulance

Looks great from the photo's

Keith

Well...........I'm going to have to admit defeat, just about every thing I've done latley to the Ambulance has taken longer than it should have & the remaining time is taken with family matters

The fixed glass has been re fitted by Ralph Moore, took a day and a half as he was short staffed

Exhaust system, another day gone

(http://s4.postimage.org/a2bQr.jpg) ($2)

I fitted up the swinging door glass & guts & the fliper window panel, 2 days with some other small jobs in between

(http://s3.postimage.org/q2iii.jpg) ($2)

Mal Owen kindly came over & spent a day to get the motor sorted, after checking everything it turns out that the ports were not lining up with the manifold as the head has had some port work (yella terra)

(http://s1.postimage.org/EbwFr.jpg) ($2)

BAZZA, took the tail shaft to Metrpolitan Drive Shafts, so no more sloppy unis

So.........We'll still be seeing you in Orange, thanks for all the encouragement & offers of help

Gary

 :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'(

Gary,

You must be really dissapointed. To be so close but yet still not there.  :(

Cheers
Paul

Very, Very, disappointing Gary. But just think what stage the Ambulance would be if you hadn't made all that effort to get it to Orange. Bad Luck mate and chin up, we will have beer over it at Orange anyway,
 Cheers Scotty

Sorry to hear that Gary. Tough call sometimes but just think of how close you will be to being able to finish it without compromise when you get back.   :)

 Gary ..Got to be proud of the work you have done even if it's not ready for Orange ..I saw Luke and he said you got some tall tyres of him  were they for the Ambo ????? .....FC427......

I'm sorry to hear this too Gary as I can imagine how hard you've worked. Look forward to catching up, might even go the same route as Scotty and have a beer.........

Cheers
John

Gary,

Sorry to hear that you won't be able to bring your amabulance to Orange, At least oyu don't have much to go to get it finished now.

Keith

Oh, who is the dopey speller ???

That should be (amabulance) ambulance and (oyu) you

Sorry :-[

Keith

Well been busy again, thought it would be quick to finish off after Orange but must have slackened off the pace with no deadline, making good progress now

With the stretcher in place the passenger side of the front seat has to slide almost all the way forward on the special seat runners

(http://s4.postimage.org/5wrIi.jpg) ($2)

Had to make up an off side quarter panel liner as the original snapped getting it out

(http://s4.postimage.org/5x9BS.jpg) ($2)

ended up making the seat brackets up myself, would you believe the original ones were made of hardwood wedges :o

(http://s1.postimage.org/NwQ1r.jpg) ($2)

I'd believe that. The Austin A40 seats I have set aside for my FC also have hardwood wedges.

Keep up the good work - this is a very interesting build.

Kind regards,

Ol_Girl_58

Great to see some more progress photos.

Cheers
Paul

Gary,

Great to see you msking progress again, not far to go now ;)

Keith