This vehicle appears on the British government licensing database. There is no guarantee that data appearing there is correct, but it's a better source than some. Of particular interest:

First registered in UK 01 Oct 1952 (Likely to be shortly after month of manufacture)

Date UK Tax liability due 01 Oct 1996 (So most likely it was removed from UK somewhere round 1996)

Cylinder capacity 3519 cc (Someone probably knows if that sounds like a standard Bedford engine of the time: please edit here with more info if you do)

Fuel Type Petrol (so not a Perkins diesel engine, if that's right. Maybe a US originating GM unit? Or a Vauxhall unit from the 1930s?)

Vehicle status Unlicensed (Tish)

Vehicle colour Cream (Yup. As in ambulance of the period)

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This vehicle is an example of the 'bull nosed' Bedford which was introduced in 1939, replacing the earlier flat-rad model, with an altogether more curvaceous shape to the cab and bonnet. Several variants were produced, basically a full 'normal control',where the engine block did not impinge at all upon the cab floor, thus requiring a long bonnet, as seen here. This was known as the M-type. The O-type was a 'semi forward control' layout, in which the rear part of the engine block protruded into the cab between driver and passenger, restricting passenger space and allowing a shorter bonnet, producing a 'snub-nosed' appearance. The cooling vents on the bonnet sides wre different, the M-type had three full sets of vents, while the O-type had only two and two partial sets. This example appears to be an MLZ, where M represents M-type, L represents long wheel base (note three side windows in the body rather than two on the standard chassis length)and Z indicates a rolling engine and chassis, bonnet and windscreen supplied to be fitted with specialist coachwork by the purchaser. The engine was an inline ohv petrol six cylinder of 3.6 litres derived from the successful Chevrolet Stovebolt 6. I am the owner of a 1939 MLZ Bedford, very similar to this ambulance, but mine is fitted with a limousine fire-engine body complete with pump and wheeled escape ladder.

• 2008-12-11 13:52 Jaqian 1024×768× (549903 bytes) Old Bedford Ambulance spotted in Dublin, Ireland. May have been a prop for a film.