M43

The M43 is the ambulance
version of the M37. Built on almost the exact same chassis (frame
is approximately 6 inches longer than the M37), this ambulance
saw action all over the world beside its M37 counterpart. The
Canadian M43 was built by Chrysler/Dodge in Windsor, Ontario
between 1951 and 1955, they were used throughout Canada and
in Canadian military operations throughout the world.
The
M43 differed from the M37 by having a full sized enclosed box
on the rear of the vehicle instead of the regular pickup bed.
There are two large doors which open outwards in the rear, and
a sliding door which connects the cab to the rear compartment.
M43's also came with spot lights on the roof (controlled by
either the driver or the passenger in the front cab), and a
spare tire on the drivers door.
In
the rear there is a stretcher rack system which could hold up
to 4 persons at a time. The rack system was also collapsible,
letting you sit up to 8 people in the rear of the truck. An
interesting feature located in the back was a folding step for
getting into the back of the truck. When folded back up into
the back of the truck it acted as a seat for medical personnel
working on the wounded on the way to a medical unit. Also located
in the back was a light fixed to the inside of the roof near
the front cab. It could be folded down and turned towards a
patient. The bulb has a blue filter on it which would make blood
stand out in the dark. There is also a permanently installed
fuel powered heated located in one of the storage boxes in the
rear section. Fuel is taken from the gas tank to run the unit.
This gave heat to the wounded in the rear section in cold months.
Heater controls are located on the wall between the cab and
rear section.
***More
detailed information about this vehicle and others on the site
will be added in time***
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