Historic Emergency Vehicle Display: Honouring a Heritage Unique to Australia

Ambulances and other support vehicles based on the Holden WB One-Tonner marked the end of an era for many local emergency vehicles as it was the last local passenger car-derived model with a full chassis. Developing a light-commercial replacement based on the Ford F100 and later GMC/Chevrolet models was a time-consuming and expensive process.

The first ever combined display of historic vehicles from the four branches of Victorian emergency services was held on Saturday, October 26, 2013. Part of History week in Victoria, the vehicles were shown at the Fire Services Museum’s Workshops in Newport, in Melbourne’s west. 

The inaugural event, which showcased vehicles from around Australia, was declared a success despite stiff competition from RACV Motorclassica  2013 in the central city area.

The big question asked by visitors on the day was why the big effort put in by past and present members of these services supported by a small army of volunteers was not better exploited and made more accessible to the general public. Although the Newport venue gave visitors a bonus peek inside the amazing historic Fire Services workshops, it was not as accessible as it could have been.

Held as part of the Motorclassica weekend in the central city area such as Federation Square, it would be a compelling extra reason for enthusiasts from interstate and overseas to make the trip to Melbourne. Because not every Australian state has the volunteer base and restoration facilities of the well-established historical societies in Victoria, significant vehicles from all over Australia facing the scrap heap are being sent to Victoria to be preserved and restored.

At a time when all four branches of the emergency services are attempting to educate the public and enlist their support on a wide range of civil issues including fire strategies, road safety, health and safety practices, the display was an opportunity wasted.

The enthusiasm and resources of the Fire Services Museum of Victoria, Ambulance Victoria Historical Society, State Emergency Service Museum and the Victoria Police Historical Society would come as a surprise to most. All four branches attract supporters of both genders and all ages as an involvement allows families to maintain past and present connections through the vehicles. 

Talking to former employees who were responsible for serving some of Australia’s remote areas, it was a way of life and not just a job. Ambulance crews would spend time off duty door-knocking for funds in their local area to keep their services viable.

Arguing over the merits of various car manufacturers is not an academic exercise at this sort of event. There was a refreshing pragmatism missing from most historic vehicle displays. 

Either a fire engine did its job and got to the fire in time to save lives or it didn’t. Ambulance crews in remote areas were even more pragmatic. If an ambulance couldn’t travel at high speed over poor roads and reach a regional centre in time to save a life, it was a liability. Equally, lone police officers in isolated areas were totally dependent on the vehicles assigned to them to do their jobs over all roads before 4WDs were assigned to these areas.

Australian isolation and a heavily protected market meant that most ambulance and fire service vehicles had to be purpose-built from what was available. Local coachbuilders sprung up to meet the special requirements, often started by ex-emergency service  members who knew what was needed.

After World War II, the 1949-51 Ford Custom V8s were popular starting points with their separate chassis to support special ambulance bodies and V8 engines to haul the extra weight. Local Dodge-DeSoto-Plymouth models joined the big Fords after 1952 but their side-valve sixes usually required attention every 30-40,000km.  Not all drivelines are suited to the punishing workout most emergency vehicle face from start-up. 

Districts that couldn’t afford extra purpose-built ambulances would supplement their fleets with Ford V8 “rear-loaders”, usually Custom or Customline sedans with their back seats removed so patients could be loaded through the boot. 

Locally-built vehicles with separate chassis tended to be preferred so the hefty Mainline with its X-braced chassis and V8 grunt became a favourite. After the Chrysler Royal switched to a V8 and a decent transmission, it became the main replacement for the big Fords after 1959 and was also highly regarded. Studebakers were also used during this period. Poor braking was an issue on all these vehicles.

As the Chrysler Royal was phased-out, the Humber Super Snipe and Ford Galaxie were often chosen. The final 1967-68 Australian Galaxies with their big 390 V8 engines, reliable transmissions, front disc brakes and even ride were a favourite but expensive. They were supplemented by local Fairlanes and various Holdens.  

New equipment and procedures made air-conditioning and a standard size and layout desirable. The phasing-out of passenger cars with separate chassis forced ambulance services to look elsewhere.

At this point, the locally assembled Ford F100 was trialled but proved a disaster with poor suspension, braking, inadequate wheels and tyres and a six cylinder engine that would strip its fibre timing gear under duress. Ambulance crews had to build special trailers to recover them.

Local suspension upgrades, special Sunraysia wheels and tyre developments along with the local version of the Cleveland V8 changed all that. The Holden One-Tonner became an important supplement with its full-chassis, front disc brakes and V8 option. 

After the Holden WB series was withdrawn in 1985, local ambulance services became dependent on light commercials. 

The choice of police vehicles and why makes an equally interesting story. Like the ambulances in 1985, a new chapter will soon be forced onto police vehicles as full-size rear drive Australian cars are withdrawn from the market with their choice of powerful six-cylinder and V8 engines.  As in the US following the withdrawal of the Ford Crown Victoria, their replacements might be compromised in one area or another.

The overwhelming take from the October 26 display is how big a part the local automotive industry backed by clever local suppliers played in getting the right vehicles on the road to keep the community safe. Because this history is so unique to Australia, the preservation of representative vehicles and a chance to showcase them in all states appear to be a worthwhile development.

This purpose-built Fargo was typical of Australian fire service vehicles just before and after World War II. Similar units were based on locally-assembled International, Chevrolet and Ford trucks and the occasional British Bedford.

This early 1950s Austin pumper reflected the popularity of Austin trucks throughout regional and rural fire brigades for several decades. Their simple but relatively efficient overhead valve sixes, low cost and compact size allowed them to access fires along narrow roads and trails.

This special-bodied ambulance based on a 1957 Ford Mainline is one of the few survivors of this type of vehicle as most were recycled to smaller and poorer ambulance services then driven until they dropped.

This four-door Chrysler Royal V8 ambulance with special local body is very different from the specialist two-door model that served metro areas. This one led a hard life in Victorian regional centres before it faced a second life in a Tasmanian service. Worn-out and ready for scrap, the Tasmanians sent it back to Victoria to be preserved.

The locally-assembled British Humber Super Snipe was an unusual 1960s deviation from the more common US-derived vehicles but it had its supporters with its ride, packaging and powerful six-cylinder engine.

This International van operated as a municipal civil response vehicle for local emergencies in the heavily-industrialised western suburbs of Melbourne. Local International models played a big role in specialist emergency vehicles.

A purpose-built fire services vehicle based on the Australian International C-series. Variations built on this chassis were common across Australia.

The first International Acco truck was a unique local development which refined and updated the war-time Blitz truck concept for 1960s defence, civil and emergency service use. This second generation Acco was the next local design. Although bigger Scanias are replacing this model as a fire service vehicle in Victoria, the local Acco still survives under the Iveco brand and forms the backbone of the recycling industry.

The Studebaker Lark was chosen over bigger US models for police highway patrol and ambulance work in several states. It was relatively light and rugged and offered V8 performance but its poor braking was always a concern. Local Ramblers, compact Fairlanes and Chrysler Royals were also used during this period. Note the amphometer “tapes” and on-the-spot fine pad.

Vehicles were not the only equipment changes on display.

The VL Commodore with its choice of Nissan turbo inline six or Holden 4.9-litre V8 was a popular highway patrol and pursuit car with its agility and performance. Ford still owned the local squad car market where the extra space of the Falcon was a priority, prompting Holden to catch Ford napping with its popular factory police specials based on the wider VN series.

This latest FG Falcon in Highway Patrol guise was a reminder of how important the current Falcon sedans, utes and Territory wagons and Commodore sedans, utes and Sportwagons have become for the entire spectrum of local emergency services in various frontline and support roles. What happens when they are gone?