Precision Miniatures 1966 Cadillac S&S 48 High Top Ambulance

For years, commercial chassis have been made available to custom houses that make limousines, etc. Sayers & Scoville (S&S) was a major customer and built hearses and ambulances based on an industrial GM/Cadillac chassis. The Caddy offered several advantages: the soft ride benefited the patient’s comfort while the horsepower got them to the hospital rapidly. This type of car-based ambulance was a common sight into the early 1980s, but eventually the benefits of all wheel drive as well as increased working space and storage areas made building ambulances on a truck platform the status quo.

Just a few years ago, there were no precision models of the car-based ambulance in 1/18. In what is a short time in the diecast world, Precision Miniatures has crafted two different model ambulances based on their Sunset Coach line that have filled that void nicely and their latest, a 1966 S&S Cadillac might be the best effort to date.

The overall length of the model is epic for 1/18, checking in at just a hair or two short of 14 inches. From a head on (or rear view mirror) view, the Cadillac’s trademarks stand out, the split egg crate grill (with metal scripted insignia) to the stacked headlights with chrome bezel insets to the chevron and shield logo are all sharp. Chrome work is good on the entire model - the time and effort to get all the window trim, siren bezels and door handles and locks well executed will be much appreciated by the discriminating collector.

The exterior has other nice touches such as good hubcap detail, soft triple striped white sidewall tires, enameled S&S logo rear panel door, rear wheel skirts and extruded fuel door. Lighting and sirens are separate translucent pieces with the exception of the rear tail lights but even these look real encased in muscular chrome carriage light-style bezels. Fit and finish, particularly the classic red and white paint, are well done though the interior door joins are a bit rough (refer to the picture). The doors are attached on hinges with only dog legs on the rear hatch but don’t fret, that’s accurate given the support needed for the gargantuan door to swing easily.

The models driver cabin is well appointed with readable gauges and all the custom hardware needed to run the sirens, operate the floodlight and communicate with the dispatch. Front quarter windows are pre-posed in an inverted stance. The fixed bench seat is soft vinyl and not shiny and plastic. The aptly named “hightop” cabin is where the action is and instead of running you through a numbing list of features, refer to my photograph that diagrams much of the delicious detail. There is no viewable engine on this model, nor do the rear suicide doors function – but when you see the rich content within the patient care bay, what’s “missing” seems trivial by comparison. It would no doubt also substantially inflate the retail price point – given the subject matter Precision Miniatures makes the right choice.

It’s tough to know where Precision Miniatures goes with Ambulance models from here though a 1972 Cadillac version would be interesting. For now this beauty and its 1959 counterpart represent two well thought and very unique collecting opportunities.

-Rusty Hurley