The U.S. federal "Emergency Medical Services Systems Act" of 1973, passed by a strong Senate vote in the face of a veto by President Nixon, mandated a massive overhaul of EMS policy and procedures. It included training for paramedics, and requirements for ambulances to be bigger, safer and better-equipped. Senator Cranston of California wrote to producer Jack Webb to thank him for the role his TV show Emergency! had played in making the public aware of a medical idea whose time had come.(1)
The Horton Company in Grove City, Ohio, was well positioned to take advantage of the demand for the new van-based and modular EMS vehicles. Since 1968, its founder Carl Horton had been building van-based ambulances, seeing them as safer and more functional than the station wagons or hearse-based "professional cars" of the past.(2)
But now that other emergency vehicle builders had caught up with him, Carl Horton apparently decided to continue innovating. Identifying a potential market for an off-road-capable EMS vehicle, his company put ambulance bodies on a half dozen Jeep CJ-8 Scramblers in 1981. Horton had applied in the summer of 1980 for patents on an "ambulance" and an "ambulance trailer or the like," suggesting that he may also have had trailers in mind as a way to get more capacity off road.(3)
An advertisement for The Horton ATM (All Terrain Medic) reveals that there were also plans for an ATR (All Terrain Rescue) version; the only difference listed is "interior and exterior compartments." It's not clear whether any of the ATR units were actually built.
The front passenger seat was removed, and a stretcher platform extended feet first into the cab, beside the driver. The attendant's seat was placed rearward facing, behind the driver.
Despite the neat integration of the ambulance module with the Scrambler's front bodywork, the ad mentions "changeover capability, from chassis to chassis." It also claims, "The Horton ATM work space will surprise you! The all-aluminum interior includes cabinetry for all medical supplies; oxygen; suction; stretcher; splints; CPR capability; cot; bucket-style attendant seat; interior lighting package."
In an era of increasing space inside ambulances, however, paramedics were apparently unwilling to squeeze into a shorter, narrower cabin in order to have the advantage of better access to the occasional off-road incident, and only the initial six (or possibly ten) demo units were built.
This ATM appears to be in a red Horton demo livery. Date and location of the photo are unknown.
This picture was taken when an ATM was being tested for use on New York City beaches. Mark Peck (EMT-P, FDNY Ret) has written in his History of the New York City Emergency Medical Service that "New York City EMS field tested this vehicle for use on the Coney Island, Rockaway and Orchard Beach recreational areas, but did not purchase. The Jeep proved too small, with limited ability for airway control or CPR, and was not purchased."(4)
As of 2014, the ATM was getting some online attention due to one of the original units, with 33,730 miles, being offered on eBay.
The seller stated, "The unit was designed as a backup unit and for off road rescue applications. Due to their high cost they never caught on. My ATM was acquired in 1992 in Beckley, WVA and I am the only owner to date. It's time to pass the vehicle on."
The unit listed on eBay also appeared to be in excellent condition, and repainted with the original striping pattern. See additional photos of the storage wall beside the stretcher (100K JPEG), the Scrambler's cab (120K JPEG) and the AMC 258 straight-six engine (140K JPEG).
Let's hope some institution came up with the funding to keep this rare vehicle preserved in its original condition, because it's easy to understand the appeal of turning it into a one-person, go-anywhere camper.
This example reveals Horton's traditional willingness to customize details, in this case apparently for use in a remote area: winch on the front, windshield spotlights, litter carrier on the roof, fewer warning lights.
This photo courtesy of Tim Turner shows it labelled for "South Fork Ambulance" but I don't know where the vehicle is currently located.
Jim Fairweather found a shot of a Horton ATM in Paoli PA on the northwest side of Philadelphia, in a parade for the Paoli Fire Company's 75th anniversary. The Jeep provided ALS as Medic 92 for Paoli Memorial Hospital. Eric Fedor told CJ3B.info, "If memory serves me correctly I was driving that deathtrap when the photo was taken. I considered the ATM a deathtrap since it was very top-heavy and 'ass-heavy' which made the front end light under certain conditions."
The Horton badge is clearly visible in this photo, on the aluminum rear body.
Eric Fedor still has a drawing of the ATM which was featured in a flyer advertising Medic 92's paramedic services and Paoli Memorial's Emergency Department. Eric commented, "That's me on the right. We were the second unit in service in Chester County, so there was lots of publicity stuff and 'dog & pony shows.'
Like New York EMS, Paoli also found the ATM too small, and replaced it after a couple of years with a Ford light rescue. The current status of this unit is unknown.
At least one of the All Terrain Medics has been preserved. When this photo was taken it was in the Gold Cross EMS museum in Augusta, Georgia, whose website states that Horton produced six of the Medic version, and six of the Rescue version without patient transport capability, and that they were unsuccessful due to the small size for the price.
"In 1982 two of the patient transport Jeeps were purchased for Supervisor vehicles at Metro Ambulance Service in Marietta, Georgia. They were small, maneuverable in tight spots and could traverse most any slick grass medians on the interstates regardless of the weather. They proved most useful during the annual infrequent snow days in the South!"(5)
When those two ATM's were retired, one was sold and converted for personal use, and in 1997 the other was placed back into service by Gold Cross in their Bike Medic Patrol, and become part of the impressive historical ambulance collection maintained by Gold Cross, which also includes a Kaiser M725 military ambulance.
Storage shelves with sliding glass doors hold medical supplies beside the stretcher, and equipment is carried in a number of other storage compartments.
As of 2022, the Gold Cross ATM has been relettered for MetroAtlanta Ambulance Service, although I'm not sure what its status is. Thanks to Andreas Ulber for this photo. See also a rear view and the cab (90K JPEGs).
Thanks to Gary Urbanowicz. Further information on any of the Horton Scramblers is welcome. -- Derek Redmond
See also a Mountain Rescue CJ-3B in Italy.
See more Jeep Ambulances in Fire Service Jeeps on CJ3B.info.
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