A closer look at
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The GLC's new ambulance
by Gibb Grace • Earlier this week I was able to examine the new Reeve/Sovam ambulance (CM,
February 2) just delivered to the GLC, and to discuss its significance with Mr Gale of the National Research Development Corporation; he has been responsible for seeing the project through to the prototype stage.
The French Sovam 3500 M4 chassis was chosen for its front-wheel-drive layout and its availability (with a total annual market of only 400 ambulances in the UK, no manufacturer is prepared to develop a special chassis), and it provides a wide track and long wheelbase within compact overall ditnensionS. Sovam supplies the chassis/cowl
and Reeve (Coachbuilders) Ltd builds the bodywork — in aluminium on the prototype, but glassffibre would be used for production runs. The GLC has one vehicle and has ordered two more so far.
For the first time in an accident ambulance, patients are carried within the wheelbase, there is ample (6ft 3in.) headroom and proper access to the body from the cab. Much time was spent studying the layout from a medical point of view and now, for example, all accident equipment is stowed in lockers at the rear, which can be curtained off from the patient area.
The crew's accident bag has a separate locker over their heads in the cab. Equipment is extensive, including breathing apparatus, while advanced radio aids have been styled into the cab. The cab is well laid out, has good visibility and easy entry.
The two stretcher trolleys which can be carried are of special lightweight type, with tilting backs to enable them to be carried up and down confined stairways. A novel feature is that the padded interior sides of the ambulance have armrests which can be pulled down to form, in conjunction with the base of the trolleys, inwards-facing seats for dazed or shocked walking cases to rest at the scene of an accident. The low floor with a ramp approach has made the use of trolleys very easy for the crew, and that much more comfortable for the patient.
So far as the chassis is concerned, tests have indicated that it lacks power compared with current two-litre CF-based ambulances (the Sovam has an 80 bhp 1.8-litre Peugeot engine) and a 150 bhp fuel-injection engine will probably be used on subsequent production versions. To do this, the engine will have to be tilted at &leg to the vertical and will probably call for ome modification to the engine mountings. / Automatic transmission is not yet available but the need s recognized and it will be offered as soon/ as a suitable model can be found.