The History of British Police Cars.

[ringway]

I have been browsing the Police Car UK website and it really is an interesting read. LINK.

The range of vehicles used is vast and different constabularies used different vehicles.


Nottinghamshire Constabulary. Wolseley 6/110.

West Mercia had this BMW 3.0Si was finished in a rather strange livery called ‘truck yellow’ which was a sort of pale orange.

Model: Talbot Sunbeam Lotus
Year: 1979
Force: Greater Manchester Police
History: GMP were the only force to use the Sunbeam Lotus and utilised it on the 'TASS Unit' (Traffic Area Support Services) to combat vehicle crime.

Model: Austin 1300
Year: 1970
Force: Metropolitan Police

Model: MK2 Lotus Cortina
Year: 1969
Force: Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary
History: LD-01 was based at Newport Police Station (L Div) and used as a joint traffic/area car.

Lancashire County Constabulary MK3 Ford Zephyr 6 estate.

Model: Rover SD1 3500SE V8
Year: 1986
Force: Metropolitan Police
History: Special Escort Group car, before being transferred to the Police Driving School at Hendon. This vehicle was used as a skid pan training car whilst at Hendon.

Sometimes thing didn't always Pan Out as intended.

Model: Honda ST1100 Pan European
Year: 1997
Force: City of London Police
History: This is the famous wet concrete bike, now owned and thoroughly cleaned by it's current owner
Owner: Bob Hennessy

One of the Hertfordshire cars written off on the M1.

Plane crash on the M27 at Southampton airport in 1993 thankfully only resulted in minor injuries to the car drivers involved.

Britain's first Motorway.

The M6 Experiment.

There are lots of images and information on different sections of the site and I think this will keep me busy for quite a while.


With many eras and the huge range of vehicles available, I have yet to decide on a favourite, but I'm sure I would have fun.

I couldn't see an S210 or S211 320CDI listed. I would have thought they would make excellent police cars. Plenty of room, reasonably quick and economical to boot.

 

[davidjpowell]

I've certainly seen W211 car's on the motorway - probably about 7/8 years ago.

From what I read they could not hack the mileage and were costing MB a fortune. They were largely replaced by E60's I think. This was on the M5 around Gloucestershire/Bristol/Somerset.

 

[ringway]

From what I read they could not hack the mileage and were costing MB a fortune.

Without doubting what you say, I would have thought mileage would be one of the last things to worry about on a 320CDI.

 

[davidjpowell]

Without doubting what you say, I would have thought mileage would be one of the last things to worry about on a 320CDI.

T'was the early W211's, and I suspect the electrical gremlins were out to play.

 

[ringway]

T'was the early W211's, and I suspect the electrical gremlins were out to play.

It's possible that the Valeo issue rocked the boat as well.

 

[Ted]

I remember being in Hastings and they had MGB GTs

How cool!!:bannana:

 

[Ant-toe-knee]

Sussex Police had C classes and 211's for a short while then changed to BMW.

 

[BTB 500]

I remember being in Hastings and they had MGB GTs

How cool!!:bannana:

I saw one of those on the A22 when driving down to Eastbourne (late 70s or early 80s), was in the traffic 'jam sandwich' livery

 

[jotter22]

My favourite would have to be the P5B! and i would still like the coupe now.And i dont really like old cars!

Tony.

 

[ringway]

I remember being in Hastings and they had MB GTGs

How cool!!:bannana:

There was one in Nuneaton on Sunday.

 

[Allen75]

Really interesting link, thank you for sharing. Looks like you could easily spend a few hours on that page!

 

[artyman]

My Dad used to be a Police patrol car driver, I think one of these was his chariot before they were changed to Austin Westminsters.

 

[LittleG]

This is the P.O.S I have to drive, all 85bhp of it. although it does get faster every time a rusty panel falls off.

 

[davidmi]

Unmarked MGB GT V8 was used around Banbury in my youth to persuade hapless motorists in front to speed up to prevent tailgating, according to the local rag's court reports. The locals all recognised it immediately but visitors were caught out. Well known photo also around of MGAs in police livery in Preston, I believe.

 

[Dieselman]

Without doubting what you say, I would have thought mileage would be one of the last things to worry about on a 320CDI.

T'was the early W211's, and I suspect the electrical gremlins were out to play.

Early W211 were terrible. I would regularly see one or more broken down on the same motorway trip.

 

[Satch]

Sussex Police had C classes and 211's for a short while then changed to BMW.

City of London Police at one point had some 211's, then some BMW's but now seem to favour VW Passats and Skoda Octavia

 

[ringway]

Early W211 were terrible. I would regularly see one or more broken down on the same motorway trip.

I had no idea they were poor early on.


I still think the 210 320CDI would be a great traffic car.


Trouble is, with a 210, it would be the old bill that would be arrusted.

 

[John]

I remember speaking to my granddad last year about what kind of cars they used as he was in the police in the middle of the last century. He mentioned the Wolseley and Allegro as well as various other Austins.

I find it all rather interesting.

Rover SD1 3500 V8 was the finest cop car IMO.

 

[Excognito]

I remember speaking to my granddad last year about what kind of cars they used as he was in the police in the middle of the last century. He mentioned the Wolseley and Allegro as well as various other Austins.

I find it all rather interesting.

Rover SD1 3500 V8 was the finest cop car IMO.

Some might not agree (although I did like my 3500 ...)

Ride Drive > Performance Car Magazine > Police Rover SD1

 

[John]

Some might not agree (although I did like my 3500 ...)

Ride Drive > Performance Car Magazine > Police Rover SD1

Only in looks - never driven one.

I still think I'd love one now but as Hammond once said - never drive your heros so I think I will be following that!