1988 Rapid response

1988 News report on the introduction of the RIV (rapid intervention vehicle) fire appliance's to Gloucestershire rural stations.
Controlling them at speed took some getting used to as the crew who were nicknamed the "Pet shop Boys" can attest to whilst attending a shout one night on the way to Lydney harbour industrial estate.
From memory they were very light on the front without the the power assisted steering, not enough water on board from what we had been used to with the regular appliances.
I seem to remember that we still had one in 1993 when I left but were withdrawn shortly after.

[@RHTeebs]

The Brits made that GMC look quite good! Love the red and white wheels.

[@JohnEnnisEyeInTheSky]

👍

[@jcJones02]

A good number of them GMC's were sold second hand to different fire services around Ireland and some survived in service until the 2010s, one of them was in service up until last year too on an airfield. The crews that operated them that I know of in County Cork said they were great vehicles to have, great appliances. I Believe the Cork ones were Ex South Yorkshire, there's some images somewhere online

[@xaviert.123]

Good old days of Wool Tunics and PVC leggings that would melt to your knees.... Looked very sharp!

[@JohnEnnisEyeInTheSky]

Ah yes, especially on forest fires in late spring, happy days...

[@MattTrakker350]

Would have loved to have seen what the interior and dash arrangement was with the RHD, as a first vehicle I had a 1988 GMC similar to that here in Boston, MA USA, that was unfortunately stolen and crashed into a house! It still ran and drove, but I wound up selling it to a firefighter oddly enough, he repaired it and drove it for years after

[@WildWildWeasel]

I almost smacked my monitor at 0:05 like I used to when I was a kid and the tape would skip like that 🤣

[@JohnEnnisEyeInTheSky]

You can't beat authenticity😁

[@WildWildWeasel]

@@JohnEnnisEyeInTheSky miss that stuff so bad man, those were the days haha

[@IamLorvinP]

The prototype is just the Fire Chief's truck in the US.

[@JohnEnnisEyeInTheSky]

🤣

[@roaklin]

what became of this program and the prototype I wonder?

[@JohnEnnisEyeInTheSky]

Hi They were introduced to all 2 pump stations (about 10) in Gloucestershire in 1988/89, I believe that they had all been withdrawn by 1995 in favour of regular water tenders albeit on a smaller chassis than the Dodge featured in the clip.
Where the prototype or any of the others ended up I haven't a clue.

[@UlveHalldorsson]

​@JohnEnnisEyeInTheSky they were sold to africa

[@traingameiacs]

@@JohnEnnisEyeInTheSky At least one of them has ended up in private hands (F509 WAD) and it can be seen at the South Cerney Steam fair, as well as other shows i'm sure.

[@JohnEnnisEyeInTheSky]

@@traingameiacs That's nice to know thanks 👍

[@aviationwales3021]

Worcester had 1, believe was used as a crash tender for RTA’s

[@tylermacconnell217]

The gas V8 (454?) in the GMC won’t last for sustained high RPM pumping work. And the 6.2L diesel option these had was total garbage.

[@JohnEnnisEyeInTheSky]

Yes I agree, they used the 6.2L Diesel engine version which seemed a bit under powered on occasions, coupled with being an automatic which gave the impression of free wheeling when taking your foot off the gas and braking, made for a very hairy ride at speed down country roads.

[@donovansavage2445]

I used to have a 6.2 in a k20 single cab. I can't imagine it in a k30 crew cab with all that weight in the back.

[@JohnEnnisEyeInTheSky]

@@donovansavage2445 It gave for an hairy ride that's for sure

[@stephenburns2550]

I wonder if they had the same brake problems as the prototypes they built in Melbourne, they didn’t like stopping with all the gear on the back!

[@JohnEnnisEyeInTheSky]

Yes they did, I can contest to that having driven them under "Blues & Twos".
Horrible feeling when you stopped accelerating, no engine braking due to being an automatic all on the brakes, hairy ride.

[@michaelearith781]

Cheshire had 3 of these, as did East Sussex.

[@milkypirateuk]

East Sussex used them as rescue tenders I think, with a huge telescopic flood light on top. Pretty sure I’ve got a post card of Brighton’s one somewhere.

[@JohnEnnisEyeInTheSky]

Do you know who supplied them, for them?

[@michaelearith781]

@@JohnEnnisEyeInTheSky All the East Sussex examples were bodied and supplied by Macclesfield Motor Bodies, Brighton used a Jeep Cherokee , new in 1979 or 80 (V Registered) which was likely substituted by the GMC a decade later. Bodywork on the Jeep was by Pilcher-Greene BTW

[@JohnEnnisEyeInTheSky]

@@michaelearith781 Thanks for the info.👍

[@simonsupersi2225]

Buckinghamshire had 1 too

[@dukenukem8381]

Not really compact. That hood is longer than a miata.

[@JohnEnnisEyeInTheSky]

😁