Wide body 109

[isuzutoo-eh]

Hello all,
Somewhere in suburban Sydney is this interesting late 2a:

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2016/03/159.jpg

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2016/03/160.jpg


You can see that the rear body is wider than standard, with the front doors angled to make up for the width from the standard firewall.
I think the roof is a pop-top too.

It looks like an ambulance, however, it doesn't match the design of any I have seen on the web before, though most are UK Marshalls and so forth that would rarely if ever have come to Aus.

I haven't yet spoken to the owner or gone looking for a chassis number.

Any theories on provenance? My fiance reckons it won't fit in my backyard :twisted: :angel:

[Lionelgee]

Hello Isuzutoo-eh ,

I might have found it "Land-Rover Series IIA Ambulance. The Ambulance body is by Herbert Lomas who built ambulance bodies on a variety of vehicles". The quote is from this site Accessed March 28th 2016

https://www.google.com.au/url'sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwiI9N6lxuLLAhWEjJQKHTJUDlwQjB0IBg&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.simoncars.co.uk%2Fcoachwork%2 Flomas.html&psig=AFQjCNGR7DEcKyy6xa74pD3PDsGjpLhQug&ust=1459225917865522

Another photograph of the side view - https://www.flickr.com/photos/homer----simpson/4439275270

If you scroll down this site at the bottom there is a photograph of a Lomas Series III ambulance - perhaps the one you looked at is a intermediate model between the earlier 2A? Accessed March 28th 2016 from, Lomas Ambulances (http://www.rtrehearn.plus.com/lomas_ambulances.htm)

Kind Regards
Lionel

[Mick_Marsh]

What an interesting find.

My fiance reckons it won't fit in my backyard :twisted: :angel:
I reckon she's wrong.

[JDNSW]

Lionel, I think you are wrong. The Lomas ambulance has a coachbuilt windscreen, doors and lower side panels.

This one has standard windscreen, doors and tub sides, although it is entirely possible the concept for it came from the Lomas ambulance.

John

[Lionelgee]

Lionel, I think you are wrong. The Lomas ambulance has a coachbuilt windscreen, doors and lower side panels.

This one has standard windscreen, doors and tub sides, although it is entirely possible the concept for it came from the Lomas ambulance.

John


Hello John,

Or the other option was a converted "Piglet" from the Irish "Troubles".

Kind Regards
Lionel

[Lionelgee]

Lionel, I think you are wrong. The Lomas ambulance has a coachbuilt windscreen, doors and lower side panels.

This one has standard windscreen, doors and tub sides, although it is entirely possible the concept for it came from the Lomas ambulance.

John


Hello John,

The website does not provide a source however if the body is removable - as this photograph indicates - then it could be slipped over a stripped down cab of a Series IIA or a Series III and still maintain the doors. Accessed March 28th 2016 from http://www.lchr.org/a/24/mb/ambulances.html

The Series 2A Lomas Ambulance Accessed March 28th 2016 from https://www.flickr.com/photos/homer----simpson/sets/72157623634576350

The Series III Lomas uses the standard Land Rover Cab. Accessed March 28th 2016 from Lomas Ambulances (http://www.rtrehearn.plus.com/lomas_ambulances.htm)

It may be possible that between the Series 2A in the third photograph and the Series III in the first two photographs that Lomas had a hybrid between the wide body with the angled doors and custom windscreen plus custom doors to a more modular model for the later Series III?

The last photograph is of a 1964 Land Rover Series 2A that has a similar body to the Series 3 ambulance module. Accessed March 28th 2016 from, 1964 Land Rover Series 2A Lomas-bodied Ambulance JHR527B (22400399642) - Puebla Pictures.com (http://www.pueblapictures.com/foto-22400399642+22636653495+22015518213) So it looks like Lomas made different versions of ambulance modules and perhaps the one Isuzutoo-eh located was one of them.

Also throw on a Dormobile camper into the mix.

Kind Regards
Lionel

[isuzutoo-eh]

The Lomas examples have a different roof profile, the one I photographed appears to be in two pieces, potentially a pop-top, which none of the Lomas bodies in the photos I saw matched.
Piglets have a different roof too.


Heck it may be a doughnut truck or ice-cream van for all I know!

[Lionelgee]

The Lomas examples have a different roof profile, the one I photographed appears to be in two pieces, potentially a pop-top, which none of the Lomas bodies in the photos I saw matched.
Piglets have a different roof too.


Heck it may be a doughnut truck or ice-cream van for all I know!

Hello Isuzutoo-eh,

Well you are in the best position to ask about its history :) Just out of idle curiosity and without measuring the available space in your yard - that is. I am not sure the "it just followed me home" excuse works more than once!

Kind Regards
Lionel

[JDNSW]

It certainly looks as if the history would be fascinating. Go on, follow it up!

John

[isuzutoo-eh]

Closest I have found, and it's not close enough, is The Grizzly Torque by Pilcher in the UK:
Robert Bateman’s unearthed vintage Land Rover to be restored | Driving (http://driving.ca/land-rover/auto-news/news/rover-boys-reunite-with-grizzly-torque)

I'll endeavour to meet the owner, but I have never seen anyone outside and I go past the house several times a week.

[Lionelgee]

Hello All,

Apart from the Pilcher Greene ambulances I also found another manufacturer called Wadham Stringer. Accessed March 28th 2016 from,http://www.landrover.vlothuizen.nl/images/brochures/6034/6034-01.jpg

Plus there was a list of about 100 other manufacturers of ambulance bodies in the UK alone.

Hopefully some one is there when you knock on the door. :)

I like the style of the Lomas Range Rover ambulance Accessed March 28th 2016 from, http://www.range-rover-classic.com/_/rsrc/1335692226652/Home/land-rover-brochures/range-rover-specials/Range%20Rover%20Ambulance%20Switzerland%20-%20Web%201%20W.jpg

Nor would I sneeze at a Pitcher Greene Land Rover 110 Ambulance like this one Accessed March 28th 2016 from, 1984 LAND ROVER DEFENDER 110 For Sale in Witney, Oxfordshire | Preloved (http://www.preloved.co.uk/adverts/show/610822006/1984-land-rover-defender-110.html?utm_source=newsnow&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=trovitcars)

BTW my father-in-law is visiting and I am hiding :) ... Oops I mean keeping myself very busy...

Kind Regards
Lionel

[pop058]

Hello Isuzutoo-eh,

Well you are in the best position to ask about its history :) Just out of idle curiosity and without measuring the available space in your yard - that is. I am not sure the "it just followed me home" excuse works more than once!

Kind Regards
Lionel

If that doesn't work, forgiveness is a hell of a lot easier to get that permission. :D

[JDNSW]

Closest I have found, and it's not close enough, is The Grizzly Torque by Pilcher in the UK:
Robert Bateman's unearthed vintage Land Rover to be restored | Driving (http://driving.ca/land-rover/auto-news/news/rover-boys-reunite-with-grizzly-torque)

I'll endeavour to meet the owner, but I have never seen anyone outside and I go past the house several times a week.

If you can't find them, you could note the address, and write to "The occupant".

John

[Dark61]

looks like an ice cream van to me.
cheers,
D

[dickyjoe]

Mr Whippy vs. Low Range

[isuzutoo-eh]

It's got a V8!
1972 model year.
Extended chassis at rear.
Hrmmm.