Dennis Sabre

The Dennis Sabre was a purpose-built fire engine produced by Dennis Specialist Vehicles of Guildford, Surrey, from 1995 to 2007, the last full-size fire appliance the company made before closing. It was a lower-cost alternative to the Rapier with a larger equipment load and came in Sabre, Sabre ML and Sabre XL sizes, most bodied by John Dennis Coachbuilders. Like the Rapier it used a turbocharged Cummins C Series six-cylinder diesel with an Allison MD five-speed automatic, double-wishbone suspension and a governed top speed of 72 miles per hour, with a 1,800 litre water tank and a stainless steel tilting cab seating six. Operators included brigades in the West Midlands, North East England, Nottinghamshire, Hereford and Worcester, Dublin and Hong Kong, and the Sabre HD was popular with Singapore's Civil Defence Force.