A Dodge Mowag B350 4×4 (former) ambulance, now that was a special treat when visiting the recently held 2018 Classic Park American Day. So far the oddest of oddballs I encountered at such an event.
Mowag (Moparwagen Motorwagen-Fabrik), full name General Dynamics European Land Systems – Mowag GmbH, is a Swiss company that develops, designs and builds armored military vehicles.
Mowag dates back to the late forties and used to offer a whole range of emergency vehicles and civilian or military specialties for both on- and off-road use. Mowag was taken over by General Dynamics in 2003.
One of their emergency vehicles was the Mowag B-series, entirely based on the Dodge B-series of full-size vans. It was available as a fire truck and ambulance. The former ambulance I caught at the show was probably put into service in the early nineties and represents the second generation of the Dodge full-sizer.
According to this Swiss website (Achtung: in German) the 4×4 conversion was done by Pathfinder Vans from the US. Mowag imported the all-terrain Dodge Ram Vans into Switzerland and took care of the end product.
Here’s the front axle, front view.
Front axle, rear view.
The coachbuilder’s signature. The company from Bioggio, Switzerland, was founded in 1960.
The Mowag’s plate says it hails from the Leverkusen region in Germany. Surely the hospitals there can’t be that bad…
Related reading:
Reader Ride: Dodge Mowag 4×4 B350 Van – Rare Swiss Mopar Mowagen
Curbside Classic Global: Dodge Ram Van Charger 4×4 in Sweden
Great find, Johannes! I’m something of a fan of Dodge vans, in my younger life I had several friends with them (back in the late 70’s). It fascinates me to see all the permutations of Dodge vans from all around the world. My favorites are the Japanese racing Dajibans… http://hooniverse.com/2010/02/24/japanese-combine-molester-vans-and-racing-to-create-something-new/
There is something highly compelling (and bothering) about the Dajiban. Maybe I could install a V10 in my old Ford van and start something called Fordiban here.
Now I want a lowered “Daj”. But I’m also non-American so I don’t associate vans with sex offenders.
@Tonito: FWIW, the Brits have the White Van Man https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_van_man, which sometimes morphs into sex offender territory… But I don’t think it’s a common perception over there…
Nah there’s no unsavoury connotations with that, and plenty hippy/surfer/rock climber etc types drive vans, so a van obviously in non-commercial use doesn’t even have the white van man thing.
Now – I live in the US so can’t be seen driving a van, but the Japanese link has me thinking a van is potentially a bargain muscle car, and the Beetle pickup post makes me wonder what a chopped in half Ram Speedster (Barchetta?) would look like.
But I’m also non-American so I don’t associate vans with sex offenders.
Me too, although I’m technically an American. Frankly I’m more than tired the inevitable knee-jerk responses about vans and sex offenders. It’s a worn-out trope. One cannot post a picture of a van without that coming up. It’s another example of Godwin’s law.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Godwin%27s_law
Wow, this is really cool. I really liked that grille on the B van/wagon which puts this one between 1986 and 1993. This is shaping into JPC near-miss day because I recall test driving two different B wagons, one of which was a 92 or 93 with this grille. But as nice as these were to drive the factory wagon was a decade behind the design of the Ford on the inside.
If Paul sees this he might re-think his new camper project in order to swap out the powertrain on his old camper with one of these later air-conditioned 4WD versions. That would be Chinook Perfection, I would think. 🙂
The Chinook was available as a 4×4 in its later years. But I’m mostly over 4x4s, because of their extra weight, height, fuel consumption, and other issues. I take my xB on roads that only folks with AWD take, and they are often surprised to see me. It takes a pretty sever terrain to actually require AWD.
Here is what a crusty old mountain man told me many years ago:
“If you need four wheel drive, you just don’t know how to drive.”
He had a point, too. I took Rabbit diesels up goat paths no fancy dance 4X4 is ever going to even get near. I went back country in a Volare Wagon. Got a steep hill with poor traction? Well, take a run at it!
Sweet. I’ve never seen any Dodge van of this long generation converted to four-wheel drive. Thinking about it, I did once drive a ’92 Dodge van like this one, although it had the extended body.
It does look like the right front tire has been scrubbing a curb or five although I can just imagine how delightful that van is to drive in the more condensed areas of Europe.
Cool find, effectively the European version of a Quigley Econoline and it fills the gap in 4×4 converted big three vans since Quigley only did Ford and Chevy products. Interestingly Quigley also did RHD conversions of the GM vans for mail delivery, including an optional extra deep window to make it easier to reach the mailbox
These where converted to 4 wheel drive in the US by pathfinder.
cool
You mentioned Johannes that this van is “the oddest of the odd” you have seen at those shows.
I think even here, where the full size van was basically created a Dodge 4wd van turned ambulance would create quite the stir!