Hi everyone.

Many many moons ago when I was a young warthog (well maybe not that many moons - talking 2002-ish here) I remember seeing an old Series III 109" Hardtop (from memory) outside the Ryde (NSW) depot of St John Ambulance. Without even looking properly at the vehicle, nor nowing what to look for at any rate being young and excitable but not very knowledgeable I marched inside and asked if I could buy it.

I spoke to one of the officers and he said that I had missed it by one day - it had already been sold.

The vehicle had not been used regularly in active service for a few years (but not that many) and was decommissioned in favour of a Landcruiser Troopcarrier. (delivered 2004)

I found out a few years later (2006-ish) that the Landy I almost bought actually was originally part of the State fleet before being issued to Ryde Division, and infact it was the FIRST vehicle in the state fleet. This makes it quite probably the first (or one of the first) motorised vehicle owned by St John Operations Branch in NSW.

I have seen one photo of it from it's time as "140" (it's state fleet callsign)and it was plain white with "proudly donated by Leyland" (or something like that) painted in black down the sides of the tub, and it's callsign painted on the wings. It had the St John logo of the era on the doors.

Going from foggy childhood memories here, but when it was sold it had black and white reflective chequers down low on either side and a peeling round St John logo on the door (over the older logo which was painted on) It also had a full length roof rack and plenty of cobwebs. Overall it looked pretty shabby and unloved.

I was wondering wether anyone on here possibly bought it, or if somebody knows what became of it? (I told you it was a long shot!)

It would be interesting to see what happened to the old girl that almost became my very first Landrover.