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1981 280GE Ambulance

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jtrein
Posts: 496

1981 280GE Ambulance

Post#1 » Tue Apr 11, 2017 8:39 am

As the subject line says I have recently acquired a 280GE ambulance! Long story short I was originally set on finding a Land Cruiser 75 series troopy to turn into an adventure rig/ camper. There was a guy here in Bend Oregon that had a few for sale, but I thought the price was too high so I started looking for one on austousa website. Obviously that didn't happen! I got tired of reading about land cuisers on expedition portal and stumbled into the G section..... which then led to this forum and watching lots of youtube videos of G's in action. Saw the mastadon (hope I spelled that correctly :lol: ) videos of the G ambulance and instantly thought it would be the perfect platform for my purposes. Never thought I would actually find one for sale, but as luck would have it I saw one in a list of vehicles for sale in the text of another G being sold on ebay. I gave him a call, we talked, he sent me a bunch of pictures and I decided that I was going to make it mine even though the rig was in Florida and I wouldn't be able to see it in person. Still waiting for it to arrive in my driveway, but thought I would introduce myself here before it does. Of course the plan is OM606A swap with a 6 speed manual, I have done lots of reading (researching) on this forum as well as Gwagenregister, but will be looking for some help and guidance from forum members as I embark on this swap. Luckily there are a few locals here in Bend that are active on this forum to help me out :D, but they are just finding out! G Nome we have met before in the Mt Biking world, and I also have a 98 dodge 12V so I will be in touch, still have your number. More to follow....

Cheers,
Joe
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1981 280GE Ambulance - full restoration in progress
1985 280GE

G Nome
Posts: 7766

Re: 1981 280GE Ambulance

Post#2 » Tue Apr 11, 2017 8:49 am

Joe,

Congratulations! That is awesome. Give a call. I am happy to help and have just completed a 606a swap and had a 460 back in the day. Would love to see the new rig.

Kent
Kent
If you need help...I usually have extra zip ties and duct tape.

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vadimivanovich
Posts: 8643

Re: 1981 280GE Ambulance

Post#3 » Tue Apr 11, 2017 9:24 am

Welcome and congratulations. I hope Paul gave you a full and honest description and that your purchase is everything you hope. That's a very nice and interesting G to build from. You don't see them very often and white is one of my Gwagen favorite colors. Best of luck with it!
"The way you think is the way you live"

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bram_r
Posts: 939

Re: 1981 280GE Ambulance

Post#4 » Tue Apr 11, 2017 12:21 pm

Always liked these extended models. Hoping to have one myself some day.

Some are made by Binz, I thought there's another coach builder who also did extend these G's.
Some pics (red one is a Puch btw):

IMG_9511 (Small).JPG


extended1.jpg


gr. Bram
'experience is what you have, just after you needed it..'

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TechMOGogy
Posts: 3239

Re: 1981 280GE Ambulance

Post#5 » Tue Apr 11, 2017 12:29 pm

The PUCH one's are the best they say ;)

Joe - looks like a great base for your plans!
Cheers
PUCH IT: 72 Haflinger Pathfinder - 75 Pinzgauer 710M 2.7i - 96 Puch 350GDT Worker

autonovice
Posts: 2560

Re: 1981 280GE Ambulance

Post#6 » Tue Apr 11, 2017 12:32 pm

how do you classify the frame length? 3400mm? spare tire is under the deck ... cool!
Is the deck flat from the back of front seat to the rear doors?

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bram_r
Posts: 939

Re: 1981 280GE Ambulance

Post#7 » Tue Apr 11, 2017 12:41 pm

autonovice wrote:how do you classify the frame length? 3400mm? spare tire is under the deck ... cool!
Is the deck flat from the back of front seat to the rear doors?


Rear door and interior pic from the red (fire brigade) one.
Ambulance version got more medical stuff in there.

extended2.jpg


extended3.jpg


gr. Bram
'experience is what you have, just after you needed it..'

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mogwild
Posts: 4190

Re: 1981 280GE Ambulance

Post#8 » Tue Apr 11, 2017 12:56 pm

Puch your money where your mouth is ;)

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-trev

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mogwild
Posts: 4190

Re: 1981 280GE Ambulance

Post#9 » Tue Apr 11, 2017 12:57 pm

Nother

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-trev

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bram_r
Posts: 939

Re: 1981 280GE Ambulance

Post#10 » Tue Apr 11, 2017 1:01 pm

The first one (white) indeed got a different tailgate and rear lights than the red one.
Like I said, I remember two companies doing this conversion. Binz and the other one I forgot :)
Have to check my files for that.

Edit: company called Miesen also did some conversions. The white one is a Miesen version I think.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zVvnsYoQzKc


gr. Bram
Last edited by bram_r on Tue Apr 11, 2017 1:08 pm, edited 1 time in total.
'experience is what you have, just after you needed it..'

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