This M792 ambulance variant of the M561 Gama Goat made its first UK public appearance at the Capel Military Show last year
‘Off-road it is relatively comfortable to drive compared with some other vehicles I have driven’
Classic military vehicle collector Tony Knott likes unusual vehicles, as confirmed by his choice of Christmas present in 2020 –a 1971 US Marine Corps (USMC) M792 ambulance variant of the semiamphibious M561 Gama Goat 6x6.
“I saw an advert on the internet for it,” explained Tony. “It was driveable, but the paint was very tatty. It was painted in a faded USMC green, but it had been marked out for painting in the four-colour mobility equipment research and design command (MERDC) camouflage pattern.
The load bed at the back of the vehicle did not have any of the original ambulance equipment or fittings.”
To replace the missing ambulance fittings, Tony located a US Military S-250 radio communications shelter, which he strapped on the back of the cargo trailer.
Gama Goats were deemed obsolete stock by the US Military after they were replaced by ‘Humvees’ and a variety of commercial utility cargo vehicles.
Tony’s ‘new toy’ had been donated to a small town in Utah for use as a fire appliance, but …
