3/23/20 87/100 1997 Ford Econoline Ambulance

As mentioned in past posts the Ford Econoline vans have been abundant between 1997 and 2000 with the addition of the panel van in 2000 and the box van in 1999.  The first of these was the Ford Econoline Ambulance, released in 1997 to replace the age-old generic Chevrolet ambulance that has been around for a few decades.  The upright look is boxy and all-metal with detailed lights (separate light bar on top of the cab), side steps integrated into the base, and the familiar Econoline front-end with square headlights and the pre-1997 eggcrate grille without the round outer oval that the box van and panel van have.  Unfortunately, this new castings lacks the old ambulance’s opening doors and even an interior despite the increase of window space, plus not to mention the new plastic base without a working suspension.  Despite these negatives this casting got some good use and has produced some nice variations, such as this clean silver with Matchbox EMT heart beep lines across the sides.  This ambulance did give a new lease on life in 2009 when the next Econoline Ambulance debut with a new front-end, an interior, with a trade-off of a plastic ambulance body (later stretched to include the cab as part of the plastic exterior).

Specifications:

· Engine: 7.3L turbodiesel V8 170 hp. Est.

· Transmission: 4-speed automatic

· 0-60 mph: 15.0 sec. est.

· Real vehicle price: $75,000 est. 1997

Rating:  3 out of 5 stars