Jesse Ybarra sent in this report on the trip he and Andrea are enjoying in their modified 1964 M-679. They’ve driven from Phoenix to Dan’s Military FC show in Illinois, before heading down to Dallas.
The van at Dan’s Military FC show.
He wrote: “We are still on our MOST EXCELLENT ROAD TRIP ADVENTURE. We drove the M-679 Ambulance from Phoenix to Marengo, Illinois. There were a lot of weather and road conditions to test me and my van. It has a new (for this trip) softer suspension change of 10 to 5 leaves and an added air ride. It sure was needed, because off roading at 10 mph is not like seeing the road sign that says bump at 75 mph and then flying all 4 tires in the air!
I also finished the interior, adding insulation covered by anodized aluminum and a headliner. I also installed a rear view monitor with side and rear cameras. Other modern conveniences include a motorized touch screen sound system, GPS MAPS, and a bluetooth onscreen connected phone.
At every pitstop, even ln the rain, people asked if they could take pictures. Even on the turn pikes
at over 75mph truckers and other drivers were taking pictures out their windows as we would pass them.
After a week in IL. We are in Dallas for another week with our daughter and grandchildren. The real road test is not the handling or power and economy, but how it can stop in the big city traffic. Driving into Dallas at afternoon rush hour was a real test on me more than on the van.”
Jesse plans to send some more photos and either or Mark Smith at warjeeps.com will have more on Jesse’s adventure.
For those curious about this built, you can seehow it looked before Jesse began work on it. The van had been headed for the scrapyard when Jesse got a hold of it. It is one of 6 known FC-679s.
