1957 DeSoto Firesweep ‘Memphian’ Ambulance

1957 – Spring	The ambulance is ordered from the DeSoto Car company. The order is for a front from a 4 door car and the back section is from a 2 door. The two sections are loaded and shipped to Memphis Tenn.
1957 - Summer	Body work is completed by the Memphis Coach Company, Memphis TN by putting the two parts together, adding the roof, inside cabinets and after-market air-conditioning (this is required to cool the front as well as the rear compartment). Upon completion the model is now named the “Memphian”.
September, 1957	Purchased by Jesse James Walker, Jr. for use by the Globe Mortuary in Globe Arizona as a primary response ambulance. The unit was used for 15 years as the town's primary patient transport vehicle and was only used as an ambulance.
	The original color was a red & white color scheme, the current colors are opposite the original color scheme. The rear floor pattern was the current layout.
June 1st, 1972	The “Memphian” was sold to Superior Western Company of Santa Fe Springs, Calif. since Globe Mortuary was getting out of the ambulance business.
June 1972	The ambulance was transferred to David Vansell of San Clemente CA and then transferred to Al Martinez of Santa Anna CA.
June 72 to Sept 88	The unit is owned by Al Martinez Paint and Body shop where it is used to transport "body parts". The original siren and light were removed when one of the workers was cited for illegal use on city streets, the siren and light were stolen by the employee when he was fired.
September 1988	The “Memphian” is sold to Gene Lichtman of Silver Spings Maryland. Who is a collector of old ambulances. Gene’s vehicles have appeared in various movies and television programs. His cars have also been featured in multiple EMS shows and various car magazines.
September 7th, 1997	The “Memphian” is purchased from Mr. Lichtman by it's current owner, Dawson Blackmore.
	The ambulance is partially restored but not running. It is towed from Maryland to Connecticut where after only a couple of hours it’s running fine. During it’s interior restoration all electrical wires were cut and not labeled, this was also resolved and all emergency lights are working correctly. The remainder of the restoration work is completed and the vehicle is ready for presentation.
	The ambulance has been given a nic-name of “B & B’s Dream” after Dawson “Blackie” and Charles “Buddy” Wilson. This name was chosen to honor Dawson’s friend Buddy, who died of cancer in 1997. Blackie and Buddy always talked about owning an antique ambulance one day and this is Blackie's way of remembering his friend. Marie (Dawson’s wife) gives the ambulance the name “Baby” since so much time is spent “pampering her”.
September 13th 1997	“B & B” went on it’s first outing, at Engine 260’s 26^th Annual Fire Muster.


	Currently “B & B” goes to various car shows and EMS/Fire events & functions to bring viewing pleasure to those who see B & B’s Dream.

Date: Event:

		*() denotes “B & B” trailered, otherwise B & B was driven to the listed event**
1998	May	Memorial Day Parade, Stratford CT
	July	National DeSoto Club Annual Convention, Valley Forge PA, here “B & B” receives numerous raves from the other DeSoto car collectors.
	September	Lead East Car Show, Parsippany NJ
		Engine 260’s 27^th Annual Fire Parade & Muster, Milford CT
		Bridgeport Area Retired Firefighters Antique Vehicle Show, Bridgeport CT
	October	Stratfield Vol. Fire Department Open House, Fairfield CT
		Firelite Car Show, with D.A.R.E., Branford CT
1999	May	*Emergency Vehicles Owners and Operators Association, Fairfax VA () Fairfax City Days Car Show & EVOOA Show Wins 2^nd place “Best Antique Restored Ambulance”**
		Quinnipiac College Car Show, with D.A.R.E., Hamden CT Received 2^nd place award ‘Other’ Class
		Memorial Day Parades, Hamden & Stratford CT
	June	Williamsport Ambulance Corp., 25^th Anniversary Celebration, Williamsport MD, with other members from the Mid-Atlantic Chapter of the Professional Car Society.
	July	Barnium Festival Street Fair, Stratford CT
	August	*International Professional Car Society Annual Convention, Lancaster PA ()**
		Walnut Beach Appreciation Association, 1^st Annual Outing, Milford CT
	September	Lead East Car Show, Parsippany NJ
		Engine 260’s 28^th Annual Fire Parade & Muster, Milford CT
		Bridgeport Area Retired Firefighters Antique Vehicle Show, Bridgeport CT
	October	Cristiana Vol. Fire Department, 50^th Anniversary, Cristiana DE
		Firelite Car Show, with D.A.R.E., Branford CT
2000	April	Health Fair, St. Mary’s School, Milford CT
	May	Memorial Day Parades, Hamden & Stratford CT
		Quinnipiac College Car Show, with D.A.R.E., Hamden CT
	July	*International Professional Car Society Annual Convention, Kingston, Canada ()**
	August	Oyster Festival, Featured Car with a D.A.R.E. display, Milford CT
	September	Lead East Car Show, Parsippany NJ
		Engine 260’s 29^th Annual Fire Parade & Muster, Milford CT Won “BEST RESTORED” 1950-1959
		Congress of Connecticut State Firefighters Annual Convention, East Haven CT, as a display of antique fire and EMS equipment. Also participated in the Firefighter’s Parade on the following Sunday
	October	Stratfield Vol. Fire Department Open House, Fairfield CT
		Southport Vol. Fire Department Open House, Southport CT
2001	March	Connecticut Emergency Medical Services Convention, Cromwell CT, with other members of the Professional Car Society’s New England Chapter
	May	Quinnipiac College Car Show, with D.A.R.E., Hamden CT
		Memorial Day Parade, Stratford CT
	August	National DeSoto Annual Convention, Doylestown PA Receives a 3^rdplace award in the Modified Class
	September	Lead East Car Show, Parsippany NJ
		Engine 260’s 30^th Annual Fire Parade & Muster, Milford CT Won “BEST RESTORED” 1950-1959, for the second time
	October	Congress of Connecticut State Firefighters Annual Convention & Parade, West Haven CT, as a display of antique fire and EMS equipment. Also participated, as a unit with the host towns department, in the Firefighter’s Parade on Sunday
2002	May	Quinnipiac College Car Show, with D.A.R.E., Hamden CT
		Memorial Day Parade, Stratford CT
		Friends of Fairfield Vol. Fire Department Outing, Fairfield CT
	June	Cruise Night at the Greek’s, Milford, CT
		Vietnam Veterans ‘Visit to the Rock’ Cruise Night, West Haven, CT
		Gayloard Hospital 100 Anniversary Celebration - Car Show, Wallingford, CT
	July	Firefighter’s Parade, Warehouse Point, CT
	August	*International Professional Car Society Annual Convention, Grand Rapids MI ()**
		75 Anniversary Firefighter’s Parade, Rocky Hill CT
		Hometown Wheels Car Show, Farmington Polo Grounds, Farmington CT
	September	Lead East Car Show, Parsippany NJ
		Engine 260’s 31^th Annual Fire Parade & Muster, Milford CT
		Sikorsky Aircraft Safe Kids Day, Stratford CT
		Congress of Connecticut State Firefighters Annual Parade, Thomaston CT
	October	Stratfield Vol. Fire Department Open House, Fairfield CT
		Southport Vol. Fire Department Open House, Southport CT

Various Communications reference vehicle history:

Received: Wed - 23 Sept 98

Dawson,

My name is Clarence Williams, I live in Santa Ana, California.

The first time I saw a 57 desoto ambulance was in 1975. I was 14 riding with my mother on First St. it was parked at Al Martinez Paint and Body Shop. it was complete including lights on roof. It was repainted orig. red and white, and sat for sale for about 4 years collecting dust. The car was gone one day and never seen again.

Seeing a picture of your red 57 brought back happy memories. How long were desoto ambulances made? I've only seen 57's.

Thanks, Clarence Williams

Received: Fri - 25 Sept 98

Dawson,

I made a few phone calls, and found the new shop in Orange, Ca. Al senior passed away a few years back. But I talked to his son Al jr. who had fond memories of the car. They used it to haul "body parts" and run errands.

It had lights and a siren till one of the workers was fooling around on the streets and got cited. They were told to remove the lights and siren to make the car legal to drive.

The latter was stolen by the guy who was cited, who used the siren in his volkswagen.

The address for Al Martinez Paint and Body is 1011 W. Barkley, Orange, Ca. 92668 the phone number is 714-288-6700.

Al Jr. is a nice but very busy man. We talked only a couple of minutes. It was after five p.m. and I'm sure he wanted to go home to his family.

They have an email address for the shop, but he said that was his son's thing. Good luck. Keep me posted, I hope this info was helpful to you.

Clarence Williams

Phone Call: Fri - 2 Oct 98

Spoke with Al Martinez, Jr. who fondly remembered the DeSoto. He stated that what Mr. William said was infact what happened to the lights and siren. Al Jr. also stated that his father had gotten the vehicle from a wholesaler in CA in the early seventies.

Mr. Lichtman did indeed buy the car in 88 and have it shipped to Maryland. Where it resided till it was brought to Connecticut.

Mr. Martinez asked what the unit was being used for and I informed him that it was going to car shows and various antique vehicle outings.

Pictures and history are going to be forward to Al Jr. for his collection of history of the body shop.

Dawson

1957 DeSoto Firesweep ‘Memphian’ Ambulance

Purchased by Jesse James Walker, Jr. for use by the Globe Mortuary in

Various Communications reference vehicle history: