VEHICLES # 7.

 

 

1914 DENNIS MOTORISED FIRE PUMP.

 

This was Coventry's first motorised fire engine. It has a Coventry made White and Poppe engine and a body made by Dennis Brothers of Guildford. This appliance was used in Coventry until the 1930s, when it was sold to the General Electric Company ( GEC ) and used at their factory in the Stoke area of Coventry, where it saw service during the second world war. It was eventually brought back by Dennis Brothers, the original manufacturers, and restored by the company's apprentices to the condition in which you see it today.

 

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1977 TRIUMPH 2500Tc POLICE CAR.

 

The Triumph 2000 was launched at the London motor show in 1963. It had a body designed by Michelotti who designed many Triumphs cars in the 1950s,60s and 70s. In 1968 the 2500 was introduced. The 2000 and 2500 models stayed in production until 1977 with a number of facelifts to the body design. One of the most popular vehicles with police officers, the Triumph 2500 was very quick and reliable. This vehicle was restored in the police garage in Little Park Street, Coventry, prior to coming to the Coventry Transport Museum.

 

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1982 DE LOREAN.

 

Engine - 2.8 litre. Top speed - 135mph. Price new - £25,000. The Belfast based De Lorean company set out to build a car that would look and drive like a $50,000 sports car, but for about half the price. Production on the stainless steel bodied and gull winged door De Lorean started in 1980 but by 1982 the project had floundered and the company went into liquidation. It consumed millions of pounds of British taxpayers money when it was set up, yet its clear aim was to create a niche in the American market. The car itself had a reputed speed of some 135mph and retailed at £25,000 and most indeed found their way to American shores. It has a fuel injected rear mounted 2.8 litre six cylinder engine, central petrol tank and luxurious if not novel interior. The romance of the De Lorean has been kept alive through the hugely popular `back to the future` films.

 

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AUSTIN PRINCESS AMBULANCE.

 

This ambulance is based on the Austin Princess motorcar. It has been fitted out to the highest standard and is seen as a luxury ambulance to be used by V.I.Ps and dignitaries. It is a shame most of its passengers would have been in no fit state to appreciate the opulence this ambulance has to offer.

 

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1949 BEDFORD KZ AMBULANCE.

 

The vehicle on which this ambulance was based was very easy to use and very sturdy making it very suitable for conversion to an ambulance. In 1948 the National Health Service was introduced in Britain and many local authorities took the responsibility for operating an ambulance service. Many of these new local authorities began to use this type of ambulance. Coventry service had several of these vehicles which they painted maroon rather than the more usual white or cream.

 

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DENNIS F8 FIRE PUMP.

 

This type of appliance was the mainstay of most British fire brigades in the 1950s and 1960s. It is fitted with a B80 straight eight Rolls Royce engine and both pump and the vehicle were made by Dennis at their factory in Guildford, Surrey. Coventry fire brigade had this type of appliance in service throughout the city along with the F7 and F12 models. This is also the type of fire engine used by the cartoon character `Fireman Sam` which he called Jupiter.

 

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1929 DENNIS MOTORISED FIRE PUMP.

 

This appliance served with the city of Coventry fire brigade and was based at Hales Street station which is the red brick building facing the front of the museum which you can see through the window behind the vehicle. The fire pump is fitted with a White and Poppe engine which was made in the Holbrooks area of Coventry. During the second world war this appliance provided fire cover from temporary out stations located in the suburbs of Coventry.

 

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1937 DENNIS.

 

Model - Ace fire engine. Engine - 24.8hp ( 3,770cc ). Top speed - approx. 50mph. This fire engine is sometimes called the flying pig as its extended bonnet gives it a snout like appearance. It is fitted with a 400 gallon water pump mounted at the rear.

 

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1922 GWYNNE FIRE ENGINE.

 

Model - eight. Engine - 8hp ( 950cc ). Top speed - 35mph. Price new - £207 ( 8hp car ).

 

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1969 FORD CAPRI 1600XL.

 

Specification - 1600cc crossflow engine, Borg Warner type 35 3 speed automatic gearbox. Original colour silver fox metallic. Price when new £1,066-12-11d. This car was donated to the Lincolnshire Vintage Vehicle Society to mark the 25th birthday of the Ford Capri by Alan and Amanda Horton who provided the following potted history:-

The car was given to us by a couple who knew we collected Capri`s as they had no further time, money or space to keep her. They decided to give her away to someone who had. So we took her on and planned a full restoration in future years. Unfortunately owing to other expenses that arose we undertook a budget respray, hence the reason that she is not in her original colour now. We have promised in the not too distant future to rectify this problem and any others that arise in her upkeep. In recent years we have taken `Clara` to numerous classic car shows and she creates a lot of interest partly due to the fact that she is automatic, which is very rare for this model.

 

 

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