Luxurious cars of the USSR in ambulance service

The first passenger ambulance in the USSR, the production of which was mass-produced, was a modification of the Pobeda called the Ambulance.
Svetlana ParfenovaThis version was produced based on the GAZ-M20 model, developed in 1945. Externally, it differed from an ordinary car only in the presence of a headlight on the roof with a red cross and the inscription “Ambulance” on the sides.
Svetlana ParfenovaThe key differences were in the redesigned interior: a partition with glass was installed to separate the driver from the doctor and the patient, and a stretcher was installed instead of the rear seat.
Svetlana ParfenovaThey were wheeled into the car by opening the trunk, and the doctor’s seat was on the right. There was frankly little space inside the cabin. An additional lamp was installed above the patient’s place, and the windows were covered with curtains.
Svetlana Parfenova“Pobeda” GAZ-M20 “Ambulance”
Svetlana ParfenovaAnd this is an ambulance created on the basis of ZIM – GAZ-12B.
Svetlana ParfenovaExternally, the car also differed from the standard ZIM only in the lantern with a red cross on the roof and the inscription “Emergency Medical Care” on the sides. Sometimes a seeker headlight with a red cross was installed on the left front fender.
Svetlana ParfenovaThe cabin here was more spacious and comfortable than in the medical Pobeda. There was also a partition separating the driver from the patient and the orderly from the doctor, and two folding seats were provided for them.
Svetlana ParfenovaThe stretcher was also rolled in from the trunk side. The rear windows were either painted over with white paint or covered with curtains
Svetlana ParfenovaGAZ-12B “Ambulance”.
Svetlana ParfenovaGAZ-22B is a sanitary version of the station wagon based on the Volga. The external differences of the car are traditionally a roof light and a finder headlight with a red cross on the glass.
Svetlana ParfenovaThe stretcher was rolled into the cabin through the rear door at the end of the body, which consisted of two halves. On the lower part there were guide runners for the stretcher, and on the glass of the upper door there was an image of a red cross.
Svetlana ParfenovaIn 1965, the ambulance received its own designation GAZ-22D. There were also export versions of the car: GAZ-22E for normal climates and GAZ-22EYU for southern climates, as well as the right-hand drive GAZ-22NE.
Svetlana ParfenovaRAF-977I is an ambulance created on the basis of the RAF-977 “Latvia” minibus. Produced at the Riga Automobile Factory. The engine, transmission and chassis were used from the GAZ-21 Volga.
Svetlana ParfenovaThe cabin accommodated two stretchers, which were located one above the other, and four accompanying persons: one located at the head, two next to the patient and one next to the driver.
Svetlana ParfenovaAfter the appearance in 1968 of a new basic modification of the minibus, the ambulance index changed to RAF-977IM. There was also an export version of the RAF-977IMU – for countries with a tropical climate.
Svetlana ParfenovaRAF-977I
Svetlana Parfenova“Black Doctor” ZIL-41042 – an ambulance based on the government ZIL
Svetlana ParfenovaThe car was included in the government motorcade and was intended for the prompt transportation of high-ranking patients to the Kremlin hospital in case of any health problems along the way.
Svetlana ParfenovaTo prevent the car from standing out among the motorcade, ZIL-41042 station wagons were painted black, for which they received the nickname “Black Doctor.”
Svetlana ParfenovaThe Black Doctor’s salon accommodates six people: one driver, one security guard, three doctors and one bedridden patient. Engine power – 315 hp. Maximum speed is 190 km/h.
Svetlana ParfenovaAnd this is the GAZ-RAF-3920 – a sanitary modification of the GAZ-14, created at the Riga Automobile Factory.
Svetlana ParfenovaGAZ-RAF-3920 was assembled by order of the 4th Main Directorate of the USSR Ministry of Health, and in order to fulfill all the customer’s requirements it was necessary to make an add-on over the roof: among other things, an air conditioner was provided. In general, everything in the cabin was standard for ambulances: a partition, stretchers, folding seats, medical equipment, special communications.
Svetlana ParfenovaOnly five copies of the RAF-3920 were manufactured. One, painted white, was sent to Cuba for Fidel Castro. The rest were painted black; there were no medical symbols or inscriptions on the bodies.
Svetlana ParfenovaStation wagon ambulances based on the Chaika GAZ-13 were created not only in the USSR, but also in the GDR. The German version was called GAS-T13 Tschaika Ambulanz and was very different from the GAZ-13S cars created at the RAF plant: the contours of the rear part were of a different shape, especially the fifth door, and the material for these body parts was phenol-formaldehyde resin reinforced with cotton or wool.
Svetlana ParfenovaThe stretchers in the cabin were located on the left, the folding seats on the right.
Svetlana ParfenovaAlso in the cabin were boxes and containers with medical equipment, and a bracket for an IV. And the spare wheel was placed in the cabin above the left rear fender.
Svetlana ParfenovaGAS-T13 Tschaika Ambulanz
Svetlana ParfenovaThere are still many interesting photos from the exhibition ahead. Scroll through the gallery
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A new exhibition has opened at the Special Purpose Garage Museum at VDNKh: “Medicine is the engine of history. Four centuries in the service of the state.” Until October 22, in the changing exhibition hall you can look at exhibits that tell about the history and development of medicine in our country. Of course, our focus is on ambulances. True, these are not the cars that could easily be found on the street, but something more exotic…