The oldest operating ambulance in America just set a Guinness World Record.
Usually, you’d want your emergency vehicle to be fast, loud, and state-of-the-art.
This one is neither – but in this case that didn’t matter.
The car drove from Hollywood, California to Hollywood, Florida, setting a world record.
The oldest licensed ambulance
The 1950s to the 1970s was the golden era for emergency vehicles, with Cadillacs being the standard model.
Back then, the focus was more on getting patients to the hospital as fast as possible, rather than on-scene treatment.
In the early 1970s, the importance of pre-hospital care became clearer, and ambulances began to resemble the large, well-equipped cars we have today.
The largest is an ambulance in Dubai, which can carry 123 patients at once.
Today, these Cadillacs are rare collector’s items, but one remains in use.
It’s a 1972 Miller-Meteor Cadillac, one of the last Cadillacs to be used as an ambulance.
The stylish emergency vehicle is 21 feet long, producing 220 horsepower and a top speed of 115mph.
Most importantly, this model offered a smooth ride, crucial for emergency trips to the hospital.
Setting a Guinness World Record
Two Hollywood-based teams banded together to attempt this Guinness World Record.
The journey was intended to raise awareness around the importance of ongoing training for EMS workers.
The teams held educational presentations along the way during the nine-day trip.
It was also a way to pay tribute to these iconic ambulances, which served the country for nearly two decades, and to the paramedics of the past.
Plus an excuse to show off this incredibly cool-looking car.
Ultimately the attempt was successful, clocking in 3,233 miles and setting a new record for longest journey by ambulance.
Let’s hope no emergency comes close to beating it.
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