Ice Cold In Alex

[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.

[Richard Farrant]

Originally Posted by David_Hayward

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.

David,

The "straight driveshafts" are only due to the position of the transfer box output in relation to the axle drive flanges. If you watch the film and freeze frame it when they wind the K2 up the hill, you can plainly see CMP hubs. The only transfer boxes that Austin had produced at that time were the K5 and K9 types.

[Keith Orpin]

Richard,
Definately, a Chevy front axle.
You also see the front axle and caps from a C30 when they are going though the minefield. My understanding was that several Katies were used in various confiqurations in this film. Early on, they show the beam of the front axle, whilst they are checking the sump plug. Another shot clearly shows an Austin banjo rear axle, when they are changing the rear spring and slowly crushing the german/ african chap, (van derpole, I think that's how it's spelt !)
Still a great film !
Regards
Keith

[David_Hayward (RIP)]

It now appears that I was indeed wrong as I have read a small item that mentioned that they did indeed use a CMP system...from someone who was there during fliming. It seems that there were also RAMC K2/Ys featured, apparently based in Libya around the time of the Suez crisis. I had no idea that the Army continued so long with them!

[malcolm erik bogaert]

David we have been down this road before...however despite the experts.Ian is quite right ..army workshops in Libya converted 3 austin K9's for the film...this has ben noted before in Windscreen magazine...and I b elieve there was an article in Soldier magazine at the time the film was released...keep up the good work...hope you have some good titles for sale for Xmas...best regards malcolm

[Alan McGuinness]

There are plenty of stills from the film in Classic & Vintage Commercials magazine (July 2008) including a head-on shot where the diff is clearly off-set (to the driver's right) like a CMP but not like the K9. You can also see CMP style hubs in some of the photographs and six-stud wheels in another, so the C8A analysis seems spot on to me.

This said, the article says:
The standard item was a 4x2 Austin K2 but for some scenes the film's technicians seemed to have used a Canadian Military Pattern 4x4 chassis and mounted the Austin's coachowrk on top of it. There were also stories of the British Motor Corporation lending the production a hand via a 4x4 Austin K9 disguised as a K2 (just look at the front axle in certain shots).

So there you go. Watch the film and take your choice.

One oddity, the article starts by quoting what appears to be an extract from the book:
My official name is A1079654, ambulance, Austin, K2. I have a six-cylinder overhead valve 29.8HP engine, four gears, and I weigh about two and a half tons. But I have always been called KATY.

Did they get the number wrong in the film! (Now there's a little known fact.) Anyone got the book?

[Richard Farrant]

Originally Posted by Alan McGuinness

[I]My official name is A1079654, ambulance, Austin, K2.
Did they get the number wrong in the film! (Now there's a little known fact.)

Alan,

That number was in a batch that was never issued.....and the census number in Radek's post from a film clip was also ficticious.

[Radek]

a few pictures