The Polonez ambulance/van is a light delivery vehicle based on the design and components of the FSO Polonez passenger car. Developed between 1985 and 1990 by the Zakład Samochodów Dostawczych in Nysa, the vehicle was intended to be mainly used for sanitary transportation. Over time it was to replace the outdated Nysa 522.
The prototype had a mixed structure: the body front was monocoque, the cargo space was based on a frame. The roof of both parts of the vehicle had a flexible connection with a stress and vibration damper – a solution that was patented.
Despite the favourable results of the prototype testing it was never launched into mass production. This was because of a conflict between the Management Boards of Fabryka Samochodów Osobowych and its subsidiary, the Zakład Samochodów Dostawczych. The vehicle designed in Nysa was considered as competition to the Polonez Truck that was under development in FSO, and as a result, the Zakład Samochodów Dostawczych was not allocated funds for the construction of the new production facility.
The car presented here is probably the only remaining example of the 10 units built. It is the fifth prototype in the series and was used for tensometric testing. The tests resulted in major stress and deformation of the vehicle’s structure, including the body panels. Nevertheless, after the tests were completed the vehicle was purchased by a private individual and was used at a horse stud near Ozimek until the early 21st century. In 2012 it was purchased by the Museum and then rebuilt.