In the mid-1970s, the United States General Services Agency (GSA) released a specification for ambulances. Any ambulance purchased with government aid money had to meet this specification. This soon became the national standard for ambulances, regardless of government aid. In order to qualify to display the "Star of Life" emblem of EMS, a vehicle needed to comply. Specification GSA KKK-A-1822 recognized only three types of ambulance. A conventional pickup truck chassis with a modular ambulance body was a Type I ambulance. A van chassis with a raised roof was a Type II ambulance. A cutaway van chassis with a modular body was a Type III ambulance. Anything else, like the Suburban, Panel Truck and Professional Car types previously used by Bower Hill VFD, were non-compliant. To meet the new standards, Bower Hill purchased this 1978 Dodge van with a Wayne "Medicruiser" high-top conversion.


The interior is spacious compared to its Cadillac and GMC predecessors, but cramped compared to its modular (Type III) successors.

The red color of the striping matched the American LaFrance bought the year before. In 1985, this ambulance became "Ambulance 4-2" and the designation was painted in gold leaf on the vehicle's nose.


The door sticker is the VASC "Certificate of Excellence" emblem. The similar sticker above the stripe is the official state licensure emblem, which superseded VASC in 1985.