Ice Cold In Alex

[David_Hayward (RIP)]

In VINTAGE ROADSCENE issue 87

http://www.ianallanpublishing.com/ca..._roadscene.htm

[Note this may be the old issue 86]

there is a letter from Australian RUPERT CONDICK which referred to K2Y ambulance A121370, the number being carried by K2Y A1211558 for some scenes in ICE COLD IN ALEX, now in the ambulance museum. The ambulance that featured in most of the film, he said, also numbered A121370 was a 'Canadian Military Pattern Chevrolet C30 (it could have been a C60S, but I think that this was unlikely) which was fitted with an Austin/Mann Egerton body. From what little I know CMP Chev's never had ambulance bodies, only CMP F60L (Fords had ambulance bodies, but there was a shortage of four-wheel drive ambulance bodies towardds the end of the war. I have heard that KATY was a stock vehicle from the motor pool at Aelexandria but someone went to some trouble to move the controls around. Such conversion would make sense, being smaller than the Ford version!...'

The British had C60L ambulances with Lindsay-style 'house' bodies and there were indeed similar F60Ls but there were no domestic Chev C30/C60S ambulances.

[Richard Farrant]

Originally posted by David_Hayward
The ambulance that featured in most of the film, he said, also numbered A121370 was a 'Canadian Military Pattern Chevrolet C30 (it could have been a C360S, but I think that this was unlikely) which was fitted with an Austin/Mann Egerton body.

David,

The K2 featured in the film did have a driven CMP front axle and apparantly it was because of mobility problems during the making of the film that this was done. Not an army mod. I think it more likely that the axles were changed, possibly rear as well to keep the ratios correct. A transfer box could be fitted. Much more likely to do this than swap the body, because wheelbase would have to be the same. Anyway, it sounded definitly like an Austin and in those days they would not have bothered to dub the correct engine noise on. Don't forget the "German" armour was not authentic either!


Back in the W&T days Bart made some comments on this.

Richard

Originally posted by Richard Farrant
Don't forget the "German" armour was not authentic either!

As well as the Land-Rover and Champ across the square from the bar.

R.

[cmperry4]

One of my favourite war movies - in spite of that Land Rover at the end (Never spotted the Champ. It's been a long time since I saw it, so I'll look for it next time I have a chance to view it.)

I'd wondered what make that ambulance was, figured it was some sort of Morris or Austin - now I know. One of these? http://www.o5m6.de/austin_k2.html (This is a great site, by the way - look around)

I always get a kick out of the bit with the SOE/SAS guys at the petrol dump.

Sylvia Sims is just *gorgeous* in this pic, too. Too bad she takes the rap for letting go of the crank up the sand dune.

[rupert condick]

hi just an update,
the austin k2ys in the film as i think there where 2 4x2, and one 4x4 which featured in most of the film,
the 4x4 is a standard k2y, with C8A transmission ( drive train ).

[David_Hayward (RIP)]

I kept looking at the film to see if I could i.d. the front diff design and it looked smaller than a Chevrolet one. The rear system looked unlike a Chevy one as well...but what the heck do I know? Others have suggested it was off a British truck...does that make sense?

[Ian McCallum]

Originally Posted by David_Hayward

I kept looking at the film to see if I could i.d. the front diff design and it looked smaller than a Chevrolet one. The rear system looked unlike a Chevy one as well...but what the heck do I know? Others have suggested it was off a British truck...does that make sense?

My understanding was as previously stated: 2 standard 4x2 units plus one modified 4x4 unit during the filming. I also thought the front axle was from the later Austin K9?? Would assume 'mate and match' issues would also be easier.

Ian

[Brian Gough]

Hi Rupert, David & Ian,

There are some stills from "Ice Cold" here:

http://www.tech-designz.com/k2ambulance.htm

Enjoy.

Brian

[David_Hayward (RIP)]

The top right 'Film Still' photo clearly shows the non-CMP (I would suggest) fwd system. Note the straight driveshafts etc. I keep thinking that it's an Austin-sourced drivetrain.