1971: CHEVY VANGARD AMBULANCE (NAE)

This shows the rear entrance of a 1971 Chevrolet “Vangard” low-roof ambulance, which was manufactured by the Wayne Corporation that had recently absorbed the Cotner-Bevington and the Miller-Meteor ambulance manufacturing companies. This well-designed vehicle featured the latest recommendations of the National Academy of Engineering (NAE) “Ambulance Design Criteria”, which suggested roof-mounted blue front and rear warning lights, alternating white/blue lens beacon, “Omaha Orange” Cross, “Omaha Orange” stripe, side and rear “AMBULANCE” lettering in black, and front hood “AMBULANCE” lettering in reverse.

The recommendations also called for minimum patient compartment headroom, width, and length. Remember this pre-dated the U.S. Department of Transportation KKK-1822-A ambulance specifications by several years.

The NAE committee choose to use the Orange Cross because the American Red Cross objected to the use of their Red Cross symbol on ambulances other than those used by the military. Leo Swartz would later develop the blue “Star of Life”, which rapidly became universal on ambulances. The popular van raised roof ambulance began emerging in 1971, especially when Dodge redesigned their Tradesman van. This vehicle was manufactured by the Wayne Corporation of Blytheville, Arkansas, which had previously purchased both the Miller-Meteor and the Cotner-Bevington companies.

Submitted to NEMSM August 2007 by Tom Barlett (MS)