Coventry Ambulances

A blast from the past here, but does anyone remember when Coventry's ambulances looked like this??? I'm not too sure when this photo was taken, as it is from a collection of old photo's that were taken by a late friend of mine and this one I guess must be from sometime between 1965-1967??? I don't really know too much about ambulances, so if anyone can tell me anything at all about them, regarding their make etc., it would be very much appreciated!!!

The red ones are Austin JUs, the one inside looks like an FG. They were called threepenny bit cabs because of the unusual doors. The second one from the tree is an LD, all Austin/Morris.

Thank you for your reply NormK, as it's very much appreciated!!! It's great (and interesting too) to learn any information about the ambulances that once ran around the streets of Coventry and on seeing this photo here above, it makes me think what a shame it is now, that not one of these maroon coloured ambulances is now in preservation today and put on display somewhere.

C.E.T. 6th November 1948: C.E.T. 7th June 1967: C.E.T. 9th November 1967:

To pick up on the earlier remarks: I am pretty sure that Coventry ambulances were painted maroon in the 1960's. I know that in the early 70's they retained one maroon painted Commer ambulance for one specific duty - the picking up of dead bodies which were likely to put an ordinary ambulance out of service for deep cleaning. The ambulance carried a suitably shaped box in the back which was made from white fibreglass. I only know this because I asked at the time why it was a different colour to all of the others. There is a photograph on the internet of the exact same type of vehicle in white livery and with the registration number WKV2 which originated in Coventry and almost certainly was first owned by Coventry Ambulance Service. West Midlands Ambulance Service at one time provided storage for several old ambulances at their Chelmsley Wood ambulance station but that was at least 20 years ago so I don't know if they are still there. The Daimler 'straight eight' ambulance from the Daimler factory was at one time in the care of the Daimler Owners Club. It was exactly the same as the ones seen in London in 1950's films, and also was made as a Dinky toy which would have been known to little boys from the 1950's.

Not Local Here's a picture of the Dinky Daimler Ambulance for this little boys collection!

Colintheglen, that's the one. I am sure more 1950's schoolboys saw the Dinky model than actually saw a real one. A search of the internet turns up an old photograph of a Daimler ambulance at a 1970's car show with other Daimler cars in the background. This is MWK331 which I would bet is the former works ambulance from the Daimler factory then in the ownership of the Daimler Owners Club. It looks to be light blue in the photograph but no details of the show are known because the image was one of 1100 glass slides recued from a rubbish skip. A DVLA check shows a cream coloured Daimler with the last registration document issued in January 1997 and with the tax expiring on 30 June 1997. There is no MOT history. Hopefully the old ambulance is still lurking in a museum or private collection somewhere or maybe in some dusty barn.

I have found another image of the Daimler ambulance and it clearly shows that MWK331 was indeed the former works ambulance at the Daimler factory. The writing along the side says something like, 'Presented by Daimler Ltd to the Daimler Lanchester Owners Club'. I recall being told that the club used it to carry their banner and other stuff to classic car shows. It frightens me to think that this conversation was back in the late 70's. The replacement works ambulance at the Daimler was a BMC LD with an 'F' suffix, so 1967/68.

Does anyone have any info regarding an ambulance station in Wheatley Street circa 1960?

Hi Allan, welcome to the forum I hope that someone can help. It's an unusual subject. Is there an interesting reason for asking about it?

An ex-colleague is researching local history of ambulance services. He had no idea Wheatley Street existed. I said I would try and find out any details / photos / exact location and get back to him.

From my research into the fire service, I do have some information on the ambulance service, which is not surprising really, as the fire service started the ambulance service and ran it until the fire service was nationalised and the creation of the NFS. The ambulance service moved to Wheatley Street School and was there until the 6th November 1948. There was also a ambulance station in Abbotts Lane which closed on the 19th August 1948. The ambulance service has also crossed over into my research into Coventry Transport, would you believe, the disposal of old ambulances in the 50s & 60s was the responsilbility of the transport manager at the bus garage 113-117 Harnall Lane East.

Thank you very much for this information. Very useful. There appears to be a gap between 1948 and the opening of the NHS ambulance station in Lincoln Street approx 1960s. I wonder where the vehicles responded from??

Thank you all, for the wonderful information you have provided about the history of Coventry ambulance stations.