SASR Ford F100

[Tommy]

A few years ago I came across a genuine ex SASR F100 for sale in Maddington, Perth. It was a two wheel drive version of the SASR anti terrorist vehicle as used in the 1980s. The SASR had a number of these Fords in both two and four wheel drive.







A year or so later I spotted the same F100 parked at a house in Bentley.



Whilst on a work trip to Albany, Western Australia recently, I reacquainted myself with this same vehicle. Unfortunately, it was in a wrecking yard. Sad end to a unique military vehicle.

[Carzee]

Interesting that side door. Its obviously wide enough to avoid troublesome exits when kitted up. I wonder if its a special door pressing or is it from an American rear opening van. Inside I'd expect just north south seats each side.

[Phoenix]

Interestingly apparently the SAS lads used some F100 ambulances in stock colours as discreet runabouts for a time.  One at bandiana proportedly came with a selection of number plates stored in the vehicle, military and otherwise.

[CharlieG]

Not in a war zone, I hope, phoenix?

[kman]

They had them stored at capital cities ready for CT ops. Sold them off sometime around 1986 as I recall.

Howard

Interestingly apparently the SAS lads used some F100 ambulances in stock colours as discreet runabouts for a time.  One at bandiana proportedly came with a selection of number plates stored in the vehicle, military and otherwise.

[Paul Britton]

In the late 1970s a SASR officer met with allied counter terrorist units overseas in an effort to ascertain the most suitable vehicle for the fledgling Australian Counter Terrorist Force to adopt.

The overwhelming recommendation was the Range Rover. Australian Army procurement officers however disagreed with the recommendation, opting instead for in-service F100 vehicles configured as ambulances.

http://www.australiansas.com/Collection.html

[Mick]

Hi Boys,

Just came across this tread.  My understanding was they were not off the shelf ambulances but purpose built using the Ford F100.  The body was built and designed by the same company that built the ambo`s.  If you look closely in the photo you will see the roof line is alot lower (you couldn`t stand up ) and from memory the rear had a station wagon like two piece tailgate  - not the lift open rear like in the pic`s provided.  The inside rear had a bench seat for two people and stowage space for the ladders, etc .

They had three sets of number plates as they were commonwealth vehicles they had a "Z" plate, they were with the army so had a ADF plate , and a state set of plates for whatever sate the vehicle was located in.  A mate of mine whilst in Tassie driving one was pulled over by a local cop and he nearly had heart failure when shown the three sets of plates.

The ones in the NT would have been the ones to get your hands on at Auction as they had very few k`s and factory aircon. 

If I had money on it I`d reckon that one photo`d is not ex SASR. The bull bar isn`t correct, the side door is close but not right, and it is clearly a ambulance body.

The vehicles were replaced by the Nissan Patrols.

Cheers,

Mick

[digger]

Original photo vehicle looks to have
-no side window, (drivers side)
-The roof line appears to me to be one level (as opposed to ambo scalloped roof) but Its hard to tell with people seated on it. 
-no side light
-no front roof air on lump in roof with roof light front
-may have a vent at rear of roof (appears single not two vents)
-no front above windscreen ambo lights (round hella red lights)

Hopefully they're still out there, unusual colour would have been interesting to see if this is this colour for a reason...

I found this roofline      http://starcarsagency.com.au/vehicle/1982-Ford-F100-Ambulance/
that looks like it to me but that side door wasn't in any f100/350 ambo I am aware of....I was in ambos late 80s-early 90s in the country towns I lived in and none of the 350s we had had a side door.


Cheers

[Mick]

Yep,
The misconception is they were ex ambo's - they weren't they were purpose built . I'd have posted example once upon a time.

Cheers,

Mick