 You don't need to be an 'investor' to invest in Singletrack: 6 days left: 95% of target - Find out more
Surely we have all had fantasies of joining one public service or other based on the cool vehicles/machines. When I was a kid, I loved different police cars, and some armoured army vehicles. But ever since I moved to the UK, even though I am supposed to be a mature adult, I am utterly taken by the RNLI. I mean, look at this:
[img] 
[/img]
[img] 
[/img]
Aren't they beautiful?
What's your favourite service vehicle, vessel, or machine?
[img] 
[/img]
When Northumbria Police brought these into service before anyone else, they were so bastard hard-looking and cooler than anything else.
[img] 
[/img]
[img] 
[/img]
[img] 
[/img]
Maccruisekeen . Theres one of them up the road from me. Looks so dated its unreal
The RNLI don't just have boats:
[url= http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8141/7693766532_6e09698c00_z.jp g" target="_blank">
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/cycleologist/7693766532/ ]Wales Holiday 1[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/cycleologist/ ]Ben Cooper[/url], on Flickr
Armoured submersible tank FTW...
Ha! I'll see your fire tender, maccruiskeen, and I'll raise you this puppy:
[img] 
[/img]
I've always wanted one of these!
The Simon Super-Snorkel SS600.
[img]
my uncle had one of those about 15 years ago. he converted it and turned it into a market stall on wheels...
Always had a soft spot for airport ground support vehicles.
[img] 
[/img]
Reminds me of the episode of Thunderbirds where they land the supersonic airliner on three flat topped trucks after the undercarriage is sabotaged.
Always had a soft spot for airport ground support vehicles.[img]
Reminds me of the episode of Thunderbirds where they land the supersonic airliner on three flat topped trucks after the undercarriage is sabotaged.
I believe that, or something similar, was the basis of this from Aliens
[img] 
[/img]
[img] 
[/img]
i thought this is the sort of thing you were meaning. oh well
A few that I think would be a great laugh....
[IMG] 
[/IMG]
[IMG] 
[/IMG]
[IMG] 
[/IMG]
[img] 
[/img]
Bonus points for being a cycling themed photo too I think!
Rover SD1
I had a Scaletrix version (still have it) with flashing lights and everything - the pride of the fleet
[img] 
[/img]
Airport fire engines, just fantastic.
Airport fire engines, just fantastic.
That's where I first saw a Super Snorkel:
[img] 
[/img]
@ brakes, so did I! Think it's in the loft somewhere, that's tonight's mission for me!
Is it true that those airport fire engines are that shape so that they can mow down fences and gates to get to surrounding fields?
A seasonal one:
[img] 
[/img]
Is it true that those airport fire engines are that shape so that they can mow down fences and gates to get to surrounding fields?
Airfields perimeter fences are interspersed with "crash gates". Essentially, emergency vehicles can simply ram them open to get access to / from any part of the airfield.
I used to drive these occasionally when I worked at a MAN dealer.
[img] 
[/img]
Alvis Salamander is the coolest.
[img] 
[/img]
[img] 
?m=1298596164[/img]
[url= http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5299/5473680604_c6c962f4a3.jp g" target="_blank">
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/antsphoto/5473680604/ ]Ecurie Ecosse Jaguar Racing Transporter. Coys Historic Festival at Silverstone 1993.[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/antsphoto/ ]Antsphoto[/url], on Flickr
I was just thinking along those lines LoCo 🙂
[img] 
[/img]
[img] 
[/img]
[img] 
[/img]
Not so much a service vehicle but something in me wants to drive one of these..
[img] 
[/img]
As an alterntive I would like a new life as the captain of one of these...
[img] 
[/img]
I had rides on tugs sometimes. The one with steerable props at centre and stern could almost do ballet moves.
@ klumpy - and jump ditches as well?
[url= http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8373/8408344864_d118860758.jp g" target="_blank">
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/55204994@N03/8408344864/ ]snow van[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/55204994@N03/ ]Loco Tuning[/url], on Flickr
😳
would be fun trying to park one of these at the Sainsbury's car park...
[url= http://static.commercialmotor.com/big-lorry-blog/bigdump.jp g" target="_blank">http://static.commercialmotor.com/big-lorry-blog/bigdump.jp g"/> [/img][/url]
as the saying goes..i wouldn't be seen dead in one of these...
[url= http://stwot.motortrend.com/files/2012/03/Biemme-Rolls-Royce-Phantom-B12-Hearse-front-three-quarter.jp g" target="_blank">http://stwot.motortrend.com/files/2012/03/Biemme-Rolls-Royce-Phantom-B12-Hearse-front-three-quarter.jp g"/> [/img][/url]
Either one of these
[img] 
[/img]
@ Northwind
Or...?
[img] 
[/img]
Not quite a service vehicle but a friend of mine's dad used to own this
[img] 
[/img]
Used it for racing (Alpha's IIRC).
or staying with the nautical theme we stared with....
[img] 
[/img]
This thread reminds me of that really old PC game carmageddon. Especially that massive dumper.
They should re-make that.
dogbert - MemberAlways had a soft spot for airport ground support vehicles.
Reminds me of the episode of Thunderbirds where they land the supersonic airliner on three flat topped trucks after the undercarriage is sabotaged.
I believe that, or something similar, was the basis of this from Aliens
It was indeed, a mate of mine built it, said it was properly scary once they had shed a load of weight out of it, as they dont have brakes as such.
They also crashed it into a concrete block putting some mud splashes down it ready for another shot, so Bruce had to go in and repair it at vast cost 😀
He Also built all the lockers for the scene where they all wake up and get freshened up, and a load of other bits for the film too
Still rates it as his best earning job ever 😆
[i]or staying with the nautical theme we stared with....[/i]
Err.. is that ship carrying the oil rig called what I think it is?
Greater Manchester Police
[img] 
[/img]
Err.. is that ship carrying the oil rig called what I think it is?
What??? the "Blue Marlin"
but i can see what you are getting at.... it's a "D" not a "C" 
Love this thread!!
[img] [/img]
Interestingly, in 1997 I bought one of the sister vehicles to this from Jack Fords which was a Sapphire cossie, it had 130K on the clock and had new engine in at 100K. Back then, the cossies were being dumped mercilessly by Northumbria Police because the new kid on the block was the mighty Volvo 850R/T5's..... they crashed better and were better at carrying kit. The escort cossie crashed really badly too and they were never out of the body shops...
Cash strapped Merseyside Fire Brigade have a fleet of these for patrolling the docks around Liverpool
[img] 
[/img]
Err.. is that ship carrying the oil rig called what I think it is?
No, but this is...
[img] 
[/img]
That GMP landy.....
looks awfully like the Hostage Rescue toys that "THEY" use... I'm wondering if the "KG52" above the door is actually part of it's army registration number and the civi plates are a disguise.
[img] 
[/img]
it will have removable front, rear & side steps - you can see the mounts and the hand holds on the roof.
Basically used for pilling a load of heavily armed plod (or .... "Them") on to the outside of it.. teararsing up to a building and "assaulting" the building... the height allows them to go in through a 1st floor window too....
Intersting toy though..
You get the win for the most sneaky beaky bit of kit.
for the rush hour commute
[img] 
[/img]
For plod to chase twoccers
[img] 
[/img]
What we really need to control crime on the streets
[img] https://encrypted-tbn3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcT_k5J37uDDpZ1Iix-W-L56B2kapjqfDptZC_n6li7ukR6n1PgzhA [/img]
edit: hoping pictures work now
I would have to say this
[url= http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8513/8597303559_1425e396ee.jp g" target="_blank">
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/90886684@N03/8597303559/ ]image[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/90886684@N03/ ]piemonster[/url], on Flickr
It's had a new paint job, but I'm not allowed to post pictures until the official launch day
Aargh, I used the wrong photo... Should have been this:
[img] 
[/img]
(though, I do like that when the crawler leaves, it's replaced with what amount to spaceshuttle axle stands)
[img] 
[/img]
does this count as a service vehicle.......always reminds me of spies like us
Back then, the cossies were being dumped mercilessly by Northumbria Police because the new kid on the block was the mighty Volvo 850R/T5's..... they crashed better and were better at carrying kit.
Can testify to the kit carrying capabilities of the Mighty T5
[IMG] 
[/IMG]
Ex North Yorks V70 T5 ARV.. 320Bhp fire breathing monster
Northumbria Police had a habit of using interesting/novel kit... seem to remember at times they had a 911 and a Vauxhall Nova Sport..
[img] 
[/img]
These were an interesting toy because they were a "Homologation Special" i.e. specifically build for motorsport I know cos I rallied one for 5 years 😉 and they were rather potent under that rather bland exterior.... 1300cc engine on Twin 40 DCOE webbers handled like they were on rails. Northmbria Police used theirs as a rapid response area car in the city center as it could carve through traffic like a hot knife..
Did they wear balaclavas in the Nova?
for hora...
[img] 
[/img]
I knew someone who was a Unigate milkman. They used the 3 wheelers as punishment if you damaged one of the 4 wheel ones.
[img] 
[/img]
The SBS' VSV (very slender vessel) boat. Superceded now I think, but ice cold IMHO.
Saw one on a trailer many many moons ago, i honestly thought it was a missile at first.
Sorry for the resurrection, but great thread! Loved the Cossie police car as a nipper.
Our morning commute; 2000hp, 25 knots, a coffee machine and a PS3.
[IMG] 
[/IMG]
Northumbria Police had a habit of using interesting/novel kit... seem to remember at times they had a 911 and a Vauxhall Nova Sport.
IIRC they had a Carlton Lotus too.
Cool thread! must've missed this one.
[img] http://www.mgownersclub.co.uk/mgupload/1163203869_6788 [/img]
I was fortunate to have the pleasure of driving this wee beastie in anger back in the day; It was somewhat of a revalation. We previously tooled around in diesel fiat punto vans as response cars...
As a coincidence, I have a feed from DRB everyday and there was a link to [url= http://mobile.darkroastedblend.com/26QM/news/2013/03/worlds-strangest-vehicles-part-1.html ]this[/url] blog about strange vehicles. Some service vehicles in there too.
[img] 
[/img]
Haha! like this actual one! Flickr is amazing/alittlebitscary... They were a lot more reliable than the MG, mind you...
Gloucestershire Police have got their hands on a fleet of blue X5s, awesome looking vehicles - I should have got a photo when three ARV X5s came past me the other day. Surprised there isn't a picture on here of an interceptor impreza or Evo.
Remember seeing one of these once.
I had a met blue one at the time.
Bit of a handful but quick until it came to a bend.
[img] 
[/img]
I was fortunate to have the pleasure of driving this wee beastie in anger back in the day; It was somewhat of a revalation. We previously tooled around in diesel fiat punto vans as response cars...
Is that the V8 version?
Most of these police cars from t he 80's, 90's and early 00's on here I've been in, at pace too 🙂
[img] 
[/img]
Is that the V8 version?
Ha! No, it's a 190hp V6, I think. Through the front wheels. Insane torque steer...