'56 chevy ambulance - retrofitted?

Factual Questions
1

So, I want to buy this ambulance and use it as an everyday vehicle. Yeah, crazy, I know, but I just turned 40 and decided I’m allowed on midlife crisis extravagance. Any car folks out there - can I get it retrofitted? Like, get an automatic transmission put in, fix it so it runs on unleaded (I’m assuming it runs on leaded now), get all the modern bells and whistles? (I saw my Grandma drive her “three on the tree” when I was a kid, but don’t see myself doing THAT everyday.) How do I find someone who can do this kind of work? Ball park on cost?

Here is the description from the site where it’s listed for sale. I would put a link, but think that might violate SDMB rules.

1956 CHEVROLET NATIONAL, 1956 CHEVROLET AMBULANCE BY NATIONAL 4 DOOR 265 CU IN V8 162 HP VIRTUALLY PERFECTLY STRAIGHT RUST-FREE BODY RECEIVED RECENT BARE-METAL RESPRAY EXCELLENT CHROME DRIVES VERY WELL VERY WELL PRESERVED ORIGINAL INTERIOR NEW WIDE WHITE RADIALS WORKING EMERGENCY LIGHTS AND SIRENS LOCK IN STRETCHER MOTOROLA RADIO 3-SPEED COLUMN SHIFT HISTORY: BUILT BY NATIONAL OUT OF OHIO. BELIEVED TO BE THE LAST OF 6 EVER BUILT. PURCHASED NEW BY THE BUTTE, MONTANA ANACONDA COPPER MINE FOR INSURANCE ISSUES. $34,500

Any advise or suggestions (including but not limited to suggesting “don’t buy this nightmare”) will be appreciated.

Hunter

2

What modern bells and whistles do you want?
Auto trans, sure that can be done.
Bigger engine? Small block Chevies are pretty much the same, and aren’t hard to swap.
Fuel injection / electronic ignition? Not hard, plenty of aftermarket pieces available.
Modern stero? Sure why not?
All it will take is money. If you are not doing the work yourself make that cubic money.
Talk to guys that build hot rods, they do this stuff all the time.

3

Personally, I’d keep it all original, restore what isn’t and show it. It’s a rare item.