The M725 Ambulance was part of the G-890 series developed after the U.S. military decided it wanted a more affordable all-wheel-drive alternative to the Dodge G-741 in service in 1965 and turned to the civilian market, where it found the Kaiser Jeep Gladiator pick-up. The resulting G-890 series became the first M series tactical vehicles to use primarily civilian commercial components. In March 1966, the military awarded Kaiser a contract to produce 20,680 M715 cargo trucks and M725 ambulances, and the first trucks rolled off the assembly line in Toledo, Ohio, in January 1967. By the time production ceased in 1969, more than 30,500 M715 series trucks had been built. The ambulance variant used the same cab and front end components as the M715, but its rear had an ambulance body fitted with four litter racks, a surgical light, air ventilators, double rear doors, and a gas heater.