Seldom seen 1940 Buick Flxible Premier Ambulance scheduled to attend the 2017 Hemmings Motor News Concours

1940 Buick Flxible 60-6 Premier Ambulance. Image courtesy of owner Paul Vickery.

Let’s accept the fact, for just a few moments, that unless you’re in need of one, few appreciate the importance of a professional vehicle. We’ll casually clear the way for a rescue vehicle, or pause for a funeral procession, and then hurry off to the tasks that consume our days. That’s not to remove the human element: the men and women who rely on the machines to serve those in need far more efficiently. However, it’s the vehicles – limousines, flower cars, hearses, ambulances, and even combination hearse-ambulances that were once so prevalent – that are as much a key element as the people.

Professional vehicles are an interesting breed. Usually based on passenger cars and/or their styling, they originate from the realm of custom coachwork; two words usually held in high regard with Full Classics. In this case, however, the custom coachwork was based on practicality rather than opulent styling. And the marriage of necessity between manufacturer and coachwork company was far from exclusive. Take, for instance, Buick. In the Flint automaker’s 114 years, the GM division has provided chassis for conversion to Eureka Company (Rock Falls, Illinois), Sayers & Scoville (Cincinnati, Ohio), Knightstown Body Company (Knightstown, Indiana), A.J. Miller Company (Bellefontaine, Ohio), August Schubert Wagon Company (Oneida, New York), and Flxible Company (Loudonville, Ohio). Let’s take a closer look at one example.

For the 1940 model year, Buick continued to work with Flxible in order for the latter to provide reliable service vehicles in the form of funeral cars and  ambulances to their customer base. An example of one is pictured above: a 60-6 Premier Ambulance, owned by Paul Vickery, which was based on the Century (Series 60) chassis. The conversion work was extensive. Flxible cut the platform and extended it, widening the wheelbase from a standard 126 inches to 159 inches. To blend the standard Buick front end into the custom body appropriately, the hood and cowl had to be raised, at which point the interior could be fitted with the necessary trim and appointments as specified by their client. According to records, Flxible performed the ambulance conversion just 54 times for 1940. It’s unclear how many have survived; however it’s believed this may be the only type extant, and it’s scheduled to be on display in the Professional Vehicle Class at the 11th annual Hemmings Motor News Concours d’Elegance.

Presented by Gullwing Motor Cars, We’re proud to welcome supporting sponsor NOCO Company. Further supported by Arkonik, Covercraft Industries, Coker Tire, MPT Industries and Thermo-Tec, along with hospitality sponsor, Rogo Fastener Company, the Hemmings Motor News Concours d’Elegance will take place on the weekend of September 15-17 at The Festival Commons — Charles R. Wood Park, in Lake George, New York. This year we will honor six feature marques: 1967-’81 Chevrolet Camaro and Pontiac Firebird, in honor of their 50th anniversaries; 1963-’73 Buick Riviera; Studebaker; MG; Wood-Bodied Station Wagons; and Professional Vehicles through 1980. These featured marques will be accompanied by our remaining traditional pre-1974 classes, headlined by Full Classics (as recognized by the Classic Car Club of America), along with American pre- and postwar cars, American Muscle cars, European cars, Vintage Trucks and Preservation cars.

Due to class size restrictions, each of these categories have already filled to capacity; however we are still accepting submittals for consideration should space become available. If you would like to have your vehicle considered for this year’s Concours, we urge you to submit your entry early. To do so, please send full contact information, photos and a brief write-up about it to Hemmings Motor News Concours, Attn: Matthew Litwin, 222 Main Street, Bennington, Vermont, 05201, or by email at [email protected].

A portion of the Concours proceeds goes directly towards the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and Autism Speaks. For more information about the 11th Annual Hemmings Motor News Concours d’Elegance presented by Gullwing Motor Cars, including tickets and accommodations, visit Hemmings.com/events/concours. For more information about Lake George, including activities and attractions, visit LakeGeorge.com. For sponsorship opportunities, please email Jeff Yager at [email protected], or call 802-447-9679. Vendors can contact Mary Pat Glover at [email protected], or Kathy Ryder at [email protected].