Wagon finds

On a recent trip to the UW medical center in Seattle I came across a couple of wagons. One is fairly commonplace, albeit not nearly as ubiquitous as they were in decades past.

 

The second one was much more unique.

 

That's a Citroen, 1950s era? Those cars were rare over here when new, much less now! I will say that I see them more on the west coast than I ever saw them back east.

 

Seems to be a rather large boat parked in somebody's backyard, there in the background.......


Kidding aside, these Citroen DS wagons were ahead of their time when first built, but IMO, the company didn't do enough to IMPROVE them through the years. Newer ones may have got a bit more power in the engine, and they updated things like the dash and lights, etc., but no 2nd-gen bodies or added features at all. And the U.S. distributors were few and far between. They were never really accepted by U.S. drivers.

 

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I have never worked on a Citroen ... were a few in my area ... always thought they were a bit of a weird car .... then I saw Jay Leno's garage .... he owns one and raves about its features , roominess , and excellent ride . Worth watching.

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Full disclosure:
I never liked these style Citron. I just could never get beyond their appearance.
However, I couldn't miss the opportunity to photograph it and share it with you all.

 

They were certainly unconventionally styled for sure. It's a bit of an odd mix of curves, radiuses, tapers, wedges and creases. Just looking at the styling of the tail lights, they kind of remind me of something between a DeSoto and a Checker. By the end of their run in 1975 that kind of styling was pretty dated and out of place. They did have some unique, and even good engineering though.

 

Check this thing out. I don't think I have ever even seen a photo of a 56 chevy ambulance, but by God here's one in real life.

 

I'm surprised some Seattle radio station or enterprising high school kid doesn't own it.

 

Haha yeah.
Although I think you're about 20 years past the prime time for a 56 ambulance to be high school kid/radio station fodder.

 

That '56 Chevy looks amazing - almost like an oversized wagon rather than your typical old ambulance. That vehicle NEEDS TO BE RESTORED.......

 

I don't know the story on it. It's on a piece of property that is on the back side of a lot where the American Pickers shot an episode, but I don't believe it's part of the same collection.
I was looking through the fence and a neighbor came out and asked "can I help you?" I asked if the car was theirs "no" I asked if the know the owner "I don't talk about them"
Well alrighty then.

 

Ooh, that's pretty pointed there.

 

Did a little research - 'Waterville Ambulance' seems to still be in business there in Washington. (The town itself is about 50 miles north of Jeremiah in Yakima.)

 

That may be as the crow flies, but by station wagon it's more like 130 miles.
According to the google machine it would take me two hours and nineteen minutes to get there.