Discover the collection: Vehicles: Ambulance

Originally operated in Barnsley and is thought to be the UK's first ambulance. Built to look like a taxi.

Originally operated by the RSPCA during WWI to transport injoured horses from the front line.

Originally purchased as a works ambulance for Wolsingham Steel, this vehicle is currently in storage awaiting resturation.

Donated to the museum in 2025 by the National Army Museum. This vehicle will be on public display from December 2025 as part of the museum's new Blitz exhibition.

Originally served with the Civil Defence as a control unit and later with the West Midlands Ambulance Service.

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This vehicle is kindly on loan to the museum from the Ambulance Heritage Society and West Midlands Ambulance Service.

Purchased by the Felbridge & East Grinstead Division of the St John Ambulance Brigade providing front line cover to the local council. Later transferring to the voluntary side of SJA in 1967 when NHS ambulance services were set up.

As the Austin Shearline was used by the Sheffield Ambulance Service the vehicle was restored and painted into the livery of Sheffield by Yorkshire Ambulance Service.

​Starting its life in Birmingham and later becoming part of the West Midlands Ambulance Service. This vehicle was involved in the Birmingham Riots and later in a road traffic incident. These vehicles were well-loved, and the ones that needed repair were given a facelift to resemble a newer model.

Built by Wadham Stringer and originally with the Huntingdon and Peterborough Ambulance Service,  until it transferred to Leicester County Ambulance Service and finally, to the Spalding St John Ambulance.

Training is vital, and this ambulance was originally purchased by the Fire Service Technical College to be used for training purposes. Its extra-long body provided the much-needed space for training. The vehicle was donated to the museum after being used for several years as a private ambulance and was featured in the BBC's national celebrations for the 75th anniversary of the NHS.

Used by the West Yorkshire Ambulance Service, the Ford Transit was one of the most popular vehicles used by the ambulance service nationwide in the 1980s and 1990s.

The Chevrolet ambulance was widely used in the USA, featuring a large, box-shaped rear. It was one of the first styles of ambulance to provide much-needed space for paramedics to work, paving the way for the modern ambulance and marking the end of the days of grab-and-go. This ambulance was in service in Sussex.

This vehicle was formerly used by St John Ambulance in Solihull before being restored and upgraded for private medical use. This vehicle is currently kindly on loan to the museum.

​This Honda Pan European served its life with the Northumbria Blood Bikes and has been kindly donated to the museum at the end of its operational life to assist the museum in telling the wider story of emergency medical roles.

This Mercedes Ambulance is nicknamed 'Bear 2' and served the Sheffield Children's Hospital NHS and Charity, with the registration plate P999 SCH. It was retired in 2018 and donated to the museum with over half a million miles on the clock! This ambulance was specially designed for the Children's Hospital and equipped with specialised equipment for paediatric care.

Originally purchased by the South West Ambulance Service as a fast response paramedic bike. This bike continued its emergency medical role as part of the Blood Bike Service in South Yorkshire with the White Knights until its donation to the museum. The bike currently remains in its ‘Blood’ livery.