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Here we will showcase a selection of Members' vehicles, including a brief history and photographs where available.
CHW 834C
1951 Commer Ambulance
BRIEF HISTORY
2.4 litre 4 Cylinder Humber Hawk engine, 4 speed gear box. First registration 1951, Entered service with Lulsgate Airport as Ambulance and Rescue vehicle until 1965.
Bristol Ambulance Service used the vehicle as a Major Incident / Control Unit and Equipment vehicle.
Handed to the Trustees of the United Bristol Hospitals. Now back in the hands of the Bristol Ambulance Service Preservation Society, and owned by the Avon Ambulance Service NHS Trust. |
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SHU 573G
1968 Morris FG Ambulance
BRIEF HISTORY
Delivered to Bristol Ambulance Service April 1969, body made of aluminium and wood. 4.5 litre straight 6 engine, with four speed crash gear box.
May 1969 came into service as a front line emergency ambulance and covered 124,000 miles, still with original engine. March 1977 taken out of service and later used for training, then became a recovery vehicle.
1985 Bristol Ambulance Service Preservation Society, (formed by members of Avon Ambulance Service) undertook the restoration of this vehicle to its former glory. Now restored and re-equipped. |
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S74 CUA
Vauxhall Omega Estate
BRIEF HISTORY
This Vauxhall Omega Estate has a 3000cc V6 Engine with a five speed manual gearbox. It is believed that this vehicle started its life with the Halifax Police Force, moving onto the NHS Ambulance service, then onto two private ambulance companies, before it was purchased by the current owner, and collected from Sedburgh Nr Kendal.
If anybody has any further information on this vehicle, please let us know, by email using the General email address on the SAPS contact page, many thanks.
Current owner: Jon McGuigan. |
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BPF 281H
1969 BMC LDO Mk3 Wadhams Body
BRIEF HISTORY
BPF 281H was the last Ambulance to be used by St. John Ambulance in the livery of black & white and was built by Wadham Stringer (Coachbuilders), Waterlooville, Hampshire.
A preservation enthusiast rescued this Ambulance which was covered in green algae from a field, the LD had been re-sprayed all white, the LD was then re-sprayed again back to its former livery of black & white, and then in 2004 took it to a Heritage vehicle event.
Whilst at this event he was then confronted by a rather excited visitor, the lady in question recognised the number plate and said that she used to drive this ambulance back in the 1970’s.
This LD now spends its retirement attending various classic vehicle events, promoting Ambulance Preservation, and is currently owned by a SAPS member. |
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OYC 860L
1972 Range Rover, Herbert Lomas Body
BRIEF HISTORY
This vehicle was one of four Range Rover Ambulances bought by Somerset County Council in December 1972, to be used in bad weather and for off-road access.
From January 1973, the four were stationed at Yeovil, Taunton, Minehead and this one at Shepton Mallet, where it remained until 1983. It was then acquired by St. John Ambulance, City of Wells Division, and was also used in bad weather to help out the West Country Ambulance Service, because they had no four wheel drive Ambulances in Somerset at that time.
Acquired for Preservation in November 2000, and is currently owned by a SAPS member. |
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B133 WYE
1984 Ford Transit 100L
BRIEF HISTORY
First owner: 1984 – 1990 not known.
Second owner: 1990 – 1994 Radio Communication Agency.
Third owner:
1994 – 2009 St. John Ambulance, Hampshire based in Havant as a Radio Communication Control Unit.
B133 WYE was stood down from service with St. John on the 7th January 2009 and is now in Preservation.
Current owner:
Jon McGuigan, from the 7th January 2009 to further his hobby of Ambulance Preservation, and Fund Raising for the Hampshire & I.O.W. Air Ambulance
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B800 WOT
1985 Bedford CF2
Hawsons of Andover Hampshire built this Mini Bus on a 1985 Bedford CF2 Chassis,
Chassis No.SKF977900FV604648.
Petrol Engine 1979cc, No.0004676
5 Speed Gearbox.
BRIEF HISTORY
New to Winchester Silver Jubilee Committee, used as Mini Bus between April 1985 to February 1992
Winchester District Council of Community Service, used as Mini Bus between February 1992 to March 1995.
St. John Ambulance Winchester Division, used as Mini Bus and then converted to a Mobile First Aid Unit, between March 1995 to December 2006,.
Has been in Preservation, since December 2006, as Mobile Exhibition Unit for Ambulance Preservation.
This vehicle was built in Hampshire, has spent all of its working life in Hampshire and remains in Hampshire to the present day. B800WOT now spends its retirement travelling to various preservation events.
Current Owner: Roger Harris (SAPS Member) |
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JTP 634Y
Bedford TKG Water Tender
Hampshire Fire Brigade
The Chassis was built by BEDFORD and completed by Hampshire Fire Brigade in their Eastleigh workshops in May 1983.
It was issued to Havant Fire Station on 6th June 1983, where it served until November 1988. Then it was moved to Twyford Fire Station until November 1996. It was then transferred to ‘A’ Division, (Basingstoke) as a spare and finally taken off the run in May 1999.
It then went into private use as part of the Amey Comax Fire Fleet at Porton Down until being sold into private ownership in May 2006. This vehicle is being preserved as a Hampshire Fire Brigade Water Tender as issued to Havant Station in 1993.
Technical Information
Engine:
Bedford 500 Series Diesel (8.2 Litre Non Turbo)
Gearbox: 5 Speed Manual
Pump: Godiva 500 GPM
Water Tank: 400 Gallons
Ladder: 35’ Bayley Ladder, Roof Ladder & Triple Ext
Current Owner: Mr Ron Hobby |
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FORD TRANSIT
AMBULANCE
F168 RBK - FD221
This vehicle was delivered
new from Wadham Stringer to Hampshire Ambulance
Service on 20 March 1989, and was based at
Havant Ambulance Station. It has a V6 petrol
engine of 2993cc capacity and a 4-speed gearbox
with overdrive.
After decommissioning by
HAS, it was acquired by St John Ambulance,
Hampshire, on 28 June 1995, and given the call
sign FD221. Equipped once again as an emergency
ambulance, it remained at Havant Division for
some years, and later was allocated to
Waterlooville Division. It was decommissioned
by SJA in March 2007 after doing 119,000 miles
from new, and purchased for preservation 24
September 2007. It is photographed in the
decommissioned condition.
It is hoped to restore it
to 1980's Hampshire Ambulance Service livery in
due course. Internally it is being converted to
a multi-purpose vehicle that can operate as
both an emergency ambulance and a mobile first
aid post. It is used for emergency service
exhibitions and rallies where it can act as a
support vehicle, and for fundraising for
ambulance service charities. |
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G729
XPO
Leyland Daf 400 Series
3500cc V8
29,500 Miles
This vehicle was ordered
by St John Ambulance in 1990 and was put onto
the back end of a Hampshire Ambulance Service
order to keep the price down. It was in the
region of £32,000.
The engine is a 3.5 litre
petrol with manual gearbox. This was one of
the vehicles produced by Adams Morey (previously
Wadham Stringer) in Burrfields Rd, Portsmouth
and was one of the last without power steering. |
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Portsmouth Eastern
Quadrilateral Division placed the order for
this vehicle and in 2001 it moved to Portsmouth
& District Quadrilateral Division. It has covered
many local events in and around Hampshire, as
well as some further afield.
In August 2006 PADQAD replaced this vehicle
with a new Renault Master Crusader and, within
a week of the new vehicle arriving, Bishops
Waltham Division used G729 XPO until it was
stored then released from the fleet, in September
2006.
Due to these vehicles still being in use, we
have had to remove the Brigade markings - except
the callsign "FD 236" which has not been reused
by SJA.
G729 XPO is owned by SAPS members, Jon
McGuigan & Tony Holland (son-in-law and father-in-law). |
MOT 925R
Bedford CF 2300cc
In 1977 Hampshire County Council ordered a batch of 18 CF's for the Hampshire Ambulance Service.
These were bodied by Wadhams of Waterloovile and registered MOT 912R to MOT 930R.
MOT 925R was delivered new in May 1977.
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The chassis number is 9759GY604567 and a 2.3 petrol engine was specified, with 4-speed automatic gearbox and automatic locking rear axle.
This CF was based at Portsmouth Ambulance Station, where it remained until May 1984. During this time it was used for front-line, accident and emergency work. One of its longest journeys was to take a patient from Queen Alexandra Hospital Cosham to Carlisle, where the crew stayed overnight at Preston Royal Infirmary.
In May 1984, MOT 925R was sold to St John Ambulance (Western Area) and was based in Lymington, until April 1988 when it changed hands again and was sold to St John Ambulance (Winchester Division), who continued to use it as an accident & emergency vehicle at local events.
In 1999 this Ambulance was replaced by a Renault Master Crusader 900 (T191 GPO) variable purpose Ambulance. MOT 925R was then put into preservation.
MOT 925R is still in St John livery and is still associated with St John Ambulance (Winchester Division). Some of their members have formed "The Friends of MOT 925R Preservation".
This ambulance was built in Hampshire, has spent all of its working life in Hampshire and remains there to the present day. MOT 925R now spends its retirement travelling to various preservation events. |
C296 OCD
Ford Transit 2996cc, Hanlon Body
Date of Registration: 22.08.85
Previous Owners:
New to West Sussex Ambulance Service, 22.08.85 to 03.03.93, Based at Chichester Ambulance Station.
St. John Ambulance (Whitehill Division) 03.03.93 to 31.03.00
Total Mileage - 22.08.85 to 12.05.00 106,928 miles
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| Withdrawn from service in March 2000, this Ambulance was moved to St. John HQ, Winchester awaiting disposal. It was sold for preservation on 12.05.00, since then it has had three owners, the present owner Robert Gould of Gloucester acquired this vehicle in September 2009. |
Austin Sheerline
The Austin Motor Company's Sheerline 'A125' was introduced in 1947 as their first totally new post-war model. The petrol driven engine, designed in 1939 for commercial vehicles, is a large heavy 4 litre overhead valve 6 cylinder D-series type. |
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The ambulance coachwork, designed and built in wood and aluminium by T.Startin Junr. Ltd. Aston, Birmingham, is bolted on to a long wheel base, heavy duty, welded pressed steel chassis. The stretchers and interior equipped by Herbert Lomas Ltd. Manchester.The flooring is in-laid with a thick hard composite material, this extra weight ensures a quieter smoother ride for patients and passengers.
With the ambulance weighing just under 3 tons, and its powerful engine, the fuel consumption is about 8-10 miles to the gallon. The Austin Sheerline 'A125' has, as standard fitting, the 'Power Red Jackall' hydraulic jacking system. The starter type 12 volt electric motor drives a pump, which supplies fluid under pressure to 4 hydraulic jacks mounted on the front cross member and rear axle. When activated all four wheels are raised simultaneusly.
There are nearly 50 oil or greasing points, this ensures longer wear for track rod ends, spring shackles, king pins, prop shaft splines, bearings etc. The distributor, dynamo and water pump also have oiling facilities.
The two large chromium plated brass 'Lucas P100' headlamps have single filament bulbs. An electric solenoid, mounted behind the reflectors, is operated from a foot pedal switch in the cab. When the switch is depressed the reflectors swivel down to create 'dipped' position.
This vehicle has been converted to negative earth using two 12 volt batteries wired parallel. The cab seating and backrest was originally covered in leather, it has recently been re-covered with simulated heavy duty PVC. The tube type cross-ply tyres fitted to Sheerline ambulances are 7.50 x 16.
Nearly all the spare parts, accessories and technical advice that is needed to keep these superb vehicles on the road, are obtainable from the Austin Sheerline - Princess Club and the Southern Ambulance Preservation Society.
This ambulance has appeared in a number of films and TV, the most recent was in two episodes of 'Miss Marple'.
The livery is in Hythe Memorial Hospital. Further information about this rare ambulance is available on request from the Southern Ambulance Preservation Society. |
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