Life savers on parade
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• For a sector worth no more than 800 vehicles a year, the UK ambulance market is courted by a surprising number of manufacturers and importers, as last week's annual Ambex exhibition demonstrated.
Dewsbury-based Customline added sparkle to the proceedings with a dry ice and flashing beacon launch for its new Lazer ambulance body system on Ford's new generation Transit.
Other new chassis options on show included Iveco's more powerful charge-cooled 49.12 Daily and a Mercedes 310D with a four-speed automatic gearbox, softer springs and ABS brakes.
Leyland Daf has added Chrysler auto-transmission options for its vee-eight petrol and 2.5-litre turbo-diesel models.
Body market
Others with designs on the UK ambulance body market include Irish manufacturer Wilker of Clara and Bernard Collett of Argentan in France.
Collett plans to launch a GRP body system next and it will also convert existing chassis with a fully equipped two-stretcher body for around E8,400.
Northumbria's ambulance service, with the help of Wadham Stringer and Renault, has designed its own modular swap body system; Ryder's public sector leasing operation hopes to interest newly formed Health Authority Trusts with its own ambulances.
The concept vehicle — bodied by Locomotors on a stainless steel spaceframe — was based on a Transit chassis: choices include Peugeot Talbot and Renault. It has rear air suspension to minimise the step height especially where hydraulic welfare lifts are not fitted.