A couple weeks ago, while Demaras Racing’s top driver Daniel was busy doing important race-car-driver things at Shannonville, something strange was spotted lurking near the back straight: a dusty old wagon wearing Red Cross markings, parked rather unceremoniously in the overflow lot. At first glance, it looked like an ancient ambulance. Or possibly the official medical vehicle for a zombie apocalypse.
Turns out, it was actually a 1955 Ford 2-door Ranch Wagon with a Fordomatic automatic transmission by Borg-Warner. The grille, hood ornament, headlight surrounds, and crest badge all point to regular Ford passenger-car roots—not a professional ambulance conversion. In other words, this thing didn’t start life saving lives. It probably started life hauling kids, groceries, and maybe one extremely suspicious casserole.
So was it a real Red Cross vehicle? Probably not. The interior still looks like a normal station wagon, complete with a rear bench seat. A proper ambulance would usually have stretcher space, equipment mounts, cabinets, or at least some sign that someone once yelled “Stat!” inside it. This one looks more like it once yelled, “Who wants to stop for ice cream?”
The New York windshield registration adds another layer of weirdness, with markings like UFO and Area 51. That doesn’t exactly scream “faithfully preserved emergency vehicle.” It screams “movie prop,” “promotional oddity,” or “somebody had a vision and access to red paint.”
Still, that’s what makes it cool. With its bold Red Cross graphics and roadside-attraction energy, this old Ford has clearly been given a second life. Maybe it’s not a genuine 1950s medical wagon, but it is a fun tribute, a strange little mystery, and exactly the kind of oddball machine you hope to find hiding at a racetrack.
The 1954 was my favorite as a child
This was my first time EVER seeing one in person!
It’s an age thing😀
Yup!