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.

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.

KHP 91D
1964 Hillman Super Minx Estate Ambulance

First owned by Coventry Radiators as an ambulance/security car, it then passed onto the Rugby Division of St Johns where it was used at various well known events until being parked up sometime in the 1970s.

Currently being restored, it should debut at the Bristol Classic Car Show next year. Conversion builder unknown. Owned by SAPS 'Stand-By' editor Dean Reader of Lymington, Hampshire.

LEJ  771J
1971 Bedford J1 with a Lomas Body.

Delivered  to  Nelson  Garages, Pier  Street,  Aberystwyth,  Cardiganshire  on   the  12th  of  February  1971,  Purchased  by  Cardiganshire  County  Council,  Ambulance.

LEJ 771J   was   based   at  Aberystwyth and   Lampeter  Ambulance  Stations,  throughout  its   working  life.   It  was withdrawn  from  Service  in  1986.

RBH  540D
1966 Vauxhall Victor 101 with a Martin  Walter Ambulance Conversion.

Supplied  by  Bridge  Garage Ltd  Windsor  Berks  on  the  5th  of  July 1966  to  Slough  Industrial  Health  Service,  Farnham  Road  Slough  Bucks.  Conversion  to  Ambulance  by  Martin  Walter  Conversions,  Folkestone,  Kent.  

Price  when  new  was  £725  +  £168  to  convert  for  Ambulance  use.  Had  only  done  20,000 miles  when  withdrawn  from  service,  and  only  has  40,000 on  the  clock  now (2011)!

SPO 191K
Ford Transit

In the livery of West Sussex Area Health Authority.

XAA 452R
1976 Bedford C F Ambulance

BRIEF HISTORY

Converted by Dormobile of Folkstone.
Engine size 2.300 cc Petrol.
2725 kg Gross
Four speed manual gear box.

Vehicle purchased by Warminster St John Ambulance from new and was in service with them until June 2004.

Then it was transferred Salisbury St John HQ where it remained non operational in storage.
Purchased by a SAPS member from St John in 2007 with the intention of preserving and maintaining it as an Ambulance and showing it at Vintage Rallies.

V817 HCE (Now V999 WAG)
Volvo V90 Ambulance

BRIEF HISTORY

An ex Oxfordshire Ambulance Service Volvo V90 Ambulance, little is known about the vehicle. When it left Oxfordshire Ambulance Service it passed to a private Ambulance company in Surrey.
Unfortunately all the fleet data for it was lost.

V999 WAG has had a large amount of work undertaken by the current owner to bring it back to an operational standard.

The third picture below shows it in service livery with two very bulky light bars. Oxfordshire Ambulance did change these to a single strobe bar. Currently owned by Richard, SAPS member.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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)

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

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.

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.