Original West Des Moines Ambulance Restoration

Over the past couple of years, we have been looking for an ambulance that matches one of the original West Des Moines Ambulances. Last Fall we found one! A generous donor provided $5,000 to purchase a 1970 ambulance we found in Kansas which is the exact type shown in the picture. The ambulance did start and has everything original, with just

over 30,000 miles. It was built by International and was sold in Harlan, Iowa to the Lincoln County Ambulance Service in Kansas.

The ambulance is in storage at WDMEMS headquarters. Privately, a group of department alumni are working to bring this vehicle back to its original look, matching the one in the picture. Once completed, the ambulance will be donated to the City of West Des Moines, where it will be on display in the Fire and EMS Headquarters garage that faces 5th Street. It will also be used in special events such as parades, which is why we not only need to restore the outside but also all of the mechanical features to be able to safely drive it.

initial estimates are around $50,000 to restore this ambulance. $25,000 for mechanical upgrades and $25,000 to restore the outside and inside to how it was in 1970. Help us to preserve a piece of history for West Des Moines Emergency Medical Services. (This is a private fundraising campaign and not associated with the City of West Des Moines.)

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