M38CDN Ambulance

[rob love]

Originally Posted by David Dunlop

JD
The odds are your M38CDN was never an ambulance in in RCHA Service.
David

There is actually a very good chance that the ambulance would have been out of an artillery unit. According to the 1960 War Establishments manual, there were a total of 5 in each field regiment. Every Battery had one, as well as the headquarters having 2.

I recall seeing the ambulance version of the Iltis at the local militia armoury. It would almost seem like the use of the light amb in the artillery battery (militia) perpetuated.

[donjunior]

Thanks to everyone who took the time to post their thoughts regarding my M38.

Based on your comments and photos, I believe this M38 was likely an ambulance at one point. The hood-mounted spare tire and relocated jerry can point in that direction. It would also appear from the manual cover posted by Wayne H. that the tailgate remained in place during the ambulance conversion. The tailgate looks original to the jeep and someone took the time to put bolts back into the jerry can and spare tire mount holes (the paint on these bolts matches the rest of the jeep). Several additional holes were drilled into the tailgate both top and bottom (part of the ambulance conversion?). This jeep also had a hot water heater kit.

Finally, the overall condition of the jeep is quite remarkable. It has two small dents, one crease you can see on the left rear corner and another dent on the lower left front fender. The floors are not wavey and the rear fender wells are pristine (no dents nor holes). There is also no significant rust other than surface rust where the paint was worn away. From my experience, ambulances had a pretty easy life and were normally stored indoors.

I brought her into the shop last weekend for a mechanical evaluation. In addition, I will start removing some of the layers of paint, hopefully getting down to the original semi-gloss OD. I don't think I will try to source all of the ambulance kit (good canvas would likely be impossible to find), but I will keep the spare on the hood and the jerry can on the right rear corner.

I will post updates...

[rob love]

The 4 digits on the bumperette are the census code. I have the list of codes at home and that would verify it as an ambulance, but all the existing holes pretty much already make that a certainty.

[donjunior]

Originally Posted by rob love

The 4 digits on the bumperette are the census code. I have the list of codes at home and that would verify it as an ambulance, but all the existing holes pretty much already make that a certainty.

It would be pretty neat to have that confirmation, thanks Rob.

[Ed Storey]

Not to get too deep into the weeds with respect to Canadian post-SWW vehicle markings but from my list, the ECC for a M38CDN with Stretcher Rack Kit was 121106 and 121107 for a M38CDN w/winch. So 2236 on the bumperette would be ECC 122236 which falls within the ¾ ton M series of vehicles and could indicate a replacement from another vehicle.

I think I am seeing black behind the 2236 which leads me to believe that this is actually a pair of arm of service markings painted on top of each other. According to the 1963 list of AoS codes, a white 22 on a black square designates a RCAMC Feild Ambulance which fits for an Ambulance Jeep.
If the background is a dark blue, then from the 1949 list of AoC codes, then 36 designated an Engineer Regiment.

It also appears to me that the other bumperette has the remains of a yellow maple leaf on red square formation sign of the 1st Canadian Division.

There is always a bit of vehicle archeology involved when trying to decypher the markings provided they are athentic and have not been altered by previous owners.

[rob love]

Ed, you are talking about the newer census code, later revised to equipment configuration code. The correlation between the old code and the new configuration code isn't that direct.
I just checked my manual from 1960 and can confirm that the old census code for the 1/4 ton ambulance (both M38 and M38A1) is 2236. There are also 2238 (121106) and 2239 (121107) which have a different stock code for the kit, and the 2239 is with an interim radio adapter kit. The ECC for the old census 2236 amb is 121103.

[Ed Storey]

Ah, so not only is tracking the AoS markings a challenge but at some point in the early 1960s there was a change from the Census Code to the Equipment Configuration Code for military vehicles. It is good to see that 2236 does relate to the Ambulance and yes, I misread my ECC list as ECC 121103 is for the M38CDN Ambulance.