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The Miller-Meteor
Criterion; perhaps the finest example of any emergency ambulance
ever designed. Beautiful in style: practical in function, the
Criterion was more than just a newly designed Cadillac ambulance. It
came to represent a very important part of Emergency Medical Service
history during an era when car-chassis ambulances were being phased
out by government regulations demanding larger, better-equipped
vehicles.
The Wayne Corporation – Miller-Meteor Division of Piqua, Ohio, led
the way in creating a Cadillac ambulance that satisfied the federal
government’s specifications in terms of vehicle dimensions and
functionality. When Miller-Meteor unveiled the 1973 Criterion
prototype, it was obvious they had invested a great deal of time and
energy into the design of this interesting ambulance.
Designed as a "landau-style" car, rear side windows were absent to
allow for a large dispensary cabinet on the left side of the car in
the patient compartment. Perhaps the most fascinating feature found
inside the new Criterion was a WALK-THRU partition! This was
accomplished by replacing the traditional front bench seat with
bucket seats (those used in the Chevrolet Monte Carlo and Pontiac
Grand Prix.) The spare tire, usually found behind the front seat,
was cleverly relocated to a stand-up position inside the left rear
door; a uniquely designed half-door due to the car’s landau styling.
A full door with window remained on the right side of the car to
permit side entry and exit to and from the patient compartment. The
Criterion came with a long list of standard and available features
to insure that potential buyers could get the best function from the
basic design.
The Criterion was a large ambulance inside and out. The patient
compartment was 117 inches long and boasted a full 64 inches of
headroom in the emergency action center. This car rode on a 157.5
inch wheel base and had an overall length of 255.25 inches.
Just what did the federal government think of all this? The
Criterion DID impress the high powers in Washington D.C. In a
two-way memo sent to Dr. Roger White at the Mayo Clinic in
Rochester, Minnesota, Mr. Robert Motley of the Department of
Transportation Rescue & Emergency Medical Services in Washington
D.C. wrote: "I spoke to our staff about the new 1974 Criterion
Miller-Meteor Cadillac ambulance. It is my guess we will allow this
model to be purchased as the converter has come a long way in
meeting most of the design criteria."
While only one Criterion, the prototype, was produced in 1973,
Miller-Meteor placed this new model into full production for 1974.
The Criterion became Miller-Meteor’s flagship ambulance, while the
Lifeliner, a limousine-style car with 54 inches of rear interior
headroom, became the medium-priced offering. The 48-inch Volunteer,
Miller-Meteor’s smallest ambulance, was discontinued after the 1974
model year. The Criterion quickly gained popularity among ambulance
operators and remained in production through the 1976 model year.
Due to major downsizing of the Cadillac commercial chassis in 1977,
dimensions simply did not allow for the unique Criterion to remain
in production. In fact, Miller-Meteor produced only a very limited
number of Cadillac Lifeliner ambulances in 1977 and 78. No Cadillac
ambulances came from Miller-Meteor in 1979…the year the company
closed its doors. |
