i've been looking for a second car as a runabout as the marea is always broken at the moment, i've found an Ex-ambulance car which i thought was awesome (esp to use as a track car!).

i was just wondering if there would be any legal issues with driving it on the road? it still has full decals, the lights & sirens have been removed and of course is fully MOT'd & taxed

Ry

Evo mag had a fully liveried V40 in police battenburg - all legal afaik.

I couldn't give a definitive response about any legal issues. I'm not aware of any at the moment although I did read somewhere about a government review to try to limit 'battenberg' markings to statutory emergency services.

I'd have to say though, as someone who drives ambulance cars for a living, O wouldn't pay a penny for a second hand one. Ours tend to be driven under normal conditions 24/7 (which knackers seats and interiors) thrashed on emergencies (especially as NHS economy means that they're rarely modified for the purpose, just ordinary spec cars run until they collapsed and been resuscitated several times) and, now and again, vomited and bled into.

The pressure to keep vehicles on the road means that although the guys who maintain them are good at what they do, they only get time to do the minimum to keep the vehicle safe.

I would suggest that your only chance of a good one is the rare occasion when one is being returned to a lease company and, days before the return, the engine blows up. Lease terms then mean that it has to go back to the company with a new engine.

Good luck.

I think that you would have to remove teh Ambulance wording (or cover with white vinyl or duct tape...

I dont have a proper answer but there’s a bloke round the corner from me with a police rangerover like this. The flashing lights siren and anything that says police was removed but most of the sticker was still on their.

Now that i think about it someone round the corner has an ambulance. Its stripped the same way too late 80s

i assume you mean that for the standard estate cars aswell?

the specific car is a Volvo 850 T5, admittedly its got stonking milage at 200k but as i only need a runabout and will probably blast it around castle combe for fun i'm not concerned about it lasting long.

i know they are hardy cars and thought it might be a steal?

Ry

if your not overly bothered about its condition a heat gun and a plastic scraper should make light work of the signs then some tardis or wd-40 to remove the adhesive then a bit of polish

All I can say is that we're phasing out Astras and Vectras at the moment and they are absolutely knackered. Power, handling and comfort are terrible. The current fleet is Volvo V50's. When you get a newer one you realise just how much the first ones - now at about 130K mileage - really are.

It does all depend on what you're hoping to get. Wheels for a few months if the price is right should be ok but performance or longevity - I'd be surprised.

i suppose it depends on the extect of the work needed, a good service and a cheapy second hand turbo i dont mind but if its going to be needing engine/gearbox rebuild then its just not worth it.

i'll have a think about it, i have requested interior photos following on from what you said

Ry

You don't want an ex ambulance - what you want is an ex rescue vehicle!

Think ambulance meets fire engine :spin:

Hellcat said:

You don't want an ex ambulance - what you want is an ex rescue vehicle!

Think ambulance meets fire engine :spin:

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Thats a good idea they wont get hammered like police and ambulance.

yeah, still going to be a rare find lol

driving an T5 ambulance around castle combe just has a certain appeal for some reason

bulldog5046 said:

yeah, still going to be a rare find lol

driving an T5 ambulance around castle combe just has a certain appeal for some reason

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you'll be wanting this website then

http://www.emergencyequipmentshop.co.uk/


(cue the boy racer comments about silly extra lights) :devil:

If you buy any ex emergency vehicle, you might be best going down the heat gun and scraper route as has already been suggested. Alternatively, try MOD disposal auctions. More expensive but far better condition. A friend of ours in Italy who deals (and sometimes breaks) 4WD vehicles, bought an IVECO 12 tonne 4X4 tipper with 30 thousand Ks on the clock for £10,000.

bulldog5046 said:

yeah, still going to be a rare find lol

driving an T5 ambulance around castle combe just has a certain appeal for some reason

Click to expand...

Keep the stretchers in there that might come useful on a track day..

Adrian Bravo said:

Thats a good idea they wont get hammered like police and ambulance.

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Yeah, they don't follow the field around on the 1st lap trying to keep up with the single seaters




2:52

Our local services have a thing more the Skoda Octavia VRS. I know the police use them nation wide, but local ambulance service have them too as fast response cars. Local fire station has one too. Looks like a bit of a toy to show of in tbh