Met Police Jaguar S Types
Discussion
I thought I would share the story of the met police Jaguar s types my dad and I own. My dad has always been into jags since he was a kid. When he joined the met police in 1979 he always wanted to find an ex met s type. But assumed there wouldn’t be any left. He has owned many jags over the years. Mainly mk2s. He saw WGK 448G at a show about 20 years ago and was told by the then owner that it was the only survivor.
About 15 years ago he found one for sale in a classic car magazine, he agreed to go and view the car (I think it was £1500 at the time but needed restoration). Anyway as he was about the leave he got a phone call saying the owner had swapped the car for an e type bonnet.
I was about 15 at the time, we started researching the cars and finding what limited information we could. Then that was it really. About 18 months ago we started looking into the cars again, found out some more information and then stopped. We were an able to find any cars for sale.
When COVID kicked off last March, I got put on furlough. I had nothing better to do so decided to start looking into the cars again. By this time my dad had long given up on finding a car. But still had a keen interest in them so together we set about finding more info.
This time I had a lot more luck. I was finding more period photos. Searching dvla databases etc. Finding cars we didn’t know still existed. I stumbled across a forum thread of a chap who had an ex met car (KYU 362D) who also informed us he knew that KYU 364D still existed and was sat in a garage untouched for near 30 years. We have since seen both of these cars and met both owners. Neither cars were for sale though.
We managed to get in contact with all but one of the owners of 6 cars which are restored to service condition. They were very helpful and we gained more information on the cars.
We were still yet to find one for sale though.
Then my dad was contacted by a chap who was not far from San Fransisco. Who believed he had an ex met s type. We were sent photos and it was definitely an ex met car. Still with the original number plate on the car.
The met police s types were registered
KYU ***D
NVB ***E
SUU ***F
WGK ***G
This car was NVB 269E. We made an offer on the car which was declined.
In the meantime we spoke to a chap called Brian who owned a fully restored, beautiful black area car SUU 441F. This had a bare shell restoration over the course of 17 years. And was built back to exact police spec, how it was when it left the factory.
We went to look at this car purely to see what a totally original one was like. A lot of money and years had gone into this car and it wasn’t for sale.
In the meantime we had an email from California saying that if our offer for NVB 269E still stood then we could have it. Neither of us had imported a car before so I rang a friend who has and got the details of a shipping agent. I stored everything out with the agent, made all the payments and the car was collected. Put onto the ship and on its way to us.
In the meantime we wanted to go and have another look at the restored area car SUU 441F. My dad had some conversations with him, about wether he would sell. We didn’t think he would. We went over there and amazingly we managed to strike a deal for the car.
Now after 40 years of waiting we have two cars, this was never the plan. But seeing as NVB was already on ship it was too late.
NVB turned up from America fine. It wasn’t on the dvla system so we spoke to the JEC who helped us with registration. We put together the best case possible proving this was the original reg number. To us it was imperative it retained the original number. We got the logbook back fine. And it shows on the dvla system now as untaxed since 1998. Which is when it must have gone to America. We still don’t know why it went over there or who took it over.
So anyway here are some pictures of the cars
NVB 269E
We now know that this was never a marked car and was used for driver training at Hendon. It is a manual non overdrive
SUU 441F
![](https://thumbsnap.com/sc/FQk6Z1Nd.jpg[/img]</a> <a href="https://thumbsnap.com/FfyYjq45" Target="_blank" rel="nofollow">[img]https://thumbsnap.com/sc/FfyYjq45.jpg[/img]</a> <a href="https://thumbsnap.com/FfyYjq45" Target="_blank" rel="nofollow">[img]https://thumbsnap.com/sc/FfyYjq45.jpg)
As the plan was never to have two of these cars. We will probably be selling NVB in the spring. Hopefully someone restores her to her former glory. Being a driving school car it’s the rarest of the lot.
Any information or pictures people have on these cars would be great to hear/see. We know a lot about these cars but we don’t know everything.
About 15 years ago he found one for sale in a classic car magazine, he agreed to go and view the car (I think it was £1500 at the time but needed restoration). Anyway as he was about the leave he got a phone call saying the owner had swapped the car for an e type bonnet.
I was about 15 at the time, we started researching the cars and finding what limited information we could. Then that was it really. About 18 months ago we started looking into the cars again, found out some more information and then stopped. We were an able to find any cars for sale.
When COVID kicked off last March, I got put on furlough. I had nothing better to do so decided to start looking into the cars again. By this time my dad had long given up on finding a car. But still had a keen interest in them so together we set about finding more info.
This time I had a lot more luck. I was finding more period photos. Searching dvla databases etc. Finding cars we didn’t know still existed. I stumbled across a forum thread of a chap who had an ex met car (KYU 362D) who also informed us he knew that KYU 364D still existed and was sat in a garage untouched for near 30 years. We have since seen both of these cars and met both owners. Neither cars were for sale though.
We managed to get in contact with all but one of the owners of 6 cars which are restored to service condition. They were very helpful and we gained more information on the cars.
We were still yet to find one for sale though.
Then my dad was contacted by a chap who was not far from San Fransisco. Who believed he had an ex met s type. We were sent photos and it was definitely an ex met car. Still with the original number plate on the car.
The met police s types were registered
KYU ***D
NVB ***E
SUU ***F
WGK ***G
This car was NVB 269E. We made an offer on the car which was declined.
In the meantime we spoke to a chap called Brian who owned a fully restored, beautiful black area car SUU 441F. This had a bare shell restoration over the course of 17 years. And was built back to exact police spec, how it was when it left the factory.
We went to look at this car purely to see what a totally original one was like. A lot of money and years had gone into this car and it wasn’t for sale.
In the meantime we had an email from California saying that if our offer for NVB 269E still stood then we could have it. Neither of us had imported a car before so I rang a friend who has and got the details of a shipping agent. I stored everything out with the agent, made all the payments and the car was collected. Put onto the ship and on its way to us.
In the meantime we wanted to go and have another look at the restored area car SUU 441F. My dad had some conversations with him, about wether he would sell. We didn’t think he would. We went over there and amazingly we managed to strike a deal for the car.
Now after 40 years of waiting we have two cars, this was never the plan. But seeing as NVB was already on ship it was too late.
NVB turned up from America fine. It wasn’t on the dvla system so we spoke to the JEC who helped us with registration. We put together the best case possible proving this was the original reg number. To us it was imperative it retained the original number. We got the logbook back fine. And it shows on the dvla system now as untaxed since 1998. Which is when it must have gone to America. We still don’t know why it went over there or who took it over.
So anyway here are some pictures of the cars
NVB 269E
We now know that this was never a marked car and was used for driver training at Hendon. It is a manual non overdrive
SUU 441F
As the plan was never to have two of these cars. We will probably be selling NVB in the spring. Hopefully someone restores her to her former glory. Being a driving school car it’s the rarest of the lot.
Any information or pictures people have on these cars would be great to hear/see. We know a lot about these cars but we don’t know everything.
Nice story, thnx for sharing.
My Dad had a mk10 finished in black registered from Glasgow JYS D Reg. He had a car phone fitted in the late seventies with the aerial mounted on the rear above the filler cap. Because we lived in the North East we often used to venture north of the border at which time we often used to get "instant respect" which was quite noticeable even to a very young lad perched over Dad's shoulder.
I drove miles in that Jag before I was legally able to if you get my drift.
I see that there's a thread of Police cars on the forum but seem to be Met centric; be interested in the Northern contingent.
My Dad had a mk10 finished in black registered from Glasgow JYS D Reg. He had a car phone fitted in the late seventies with the aerial mounted on the rear above the filler cap. Because we lived in the North East we often used to venture north of the border at which time we often used to get "instant respect" which was quite noticeable even to a very young lad perched over Dad's shoulder.
I drove miles in that Jag before I was legally able to if you get my drift.
I see that there's a thread of Police cars on the forum but seem to be Met centric; be interested in the Northern contingent.
Edited by Carsie on Wednesday 17th February 19:34
neutral 3 said:
Nice story !
I well recall, seeing a Plod S Type, as I got off of the bus @ the top of Chingford Mount, in early 73.
I suspect it might have been a year or more earlier than that, as all the Met Pol S-Type's had long gone by then. Some of the outer divisions would be getting their replacements for their first P6's by end of '73, these being the cars that replaced their S-Types by mid/end of '71. Area cars lasted about 2 to 2.5 years in service in outer divs.I well recall, seeing a Plod S Type, as I got off of the bus @ the top of Chingford Mount, in early 73.
[q
(We managed to get in contact with all but one of the owners of 6 cars which are restored to service condition. They were very helpful and we gained more information on the cars. )
Did you get in contact with Ernie J ? He owns the Jag in this picture and had just bought back the P6 which is currently being restored.
(We managed to get in contact with all but one of the owners of 6 cars which are restored to service condition. They were very helpful and we gained more information on the cars. )
Did you get in contact with Ernie J ? He owns the Jag in this picture and had just bought back the P6 which is currently being restored.
Bob the Cop said:
[q
(We managed to get in contact with all but one of the owners of 6 cars which are restored to service condition. They were very helpful and we gained more information on the cars. )
Did you get in contact with Ernie J ? He owns the Jag in this picture and had just bought back the P6 which is currently being restored.
Yes we have spoken to Ernie multiple times. Very helpful
(We managed to get in contact with all but one of the owners of 6 cars which are restored to service condition. They were very helpful and we gained more information on the cars. )
Did you get in contact with Ernie J ? He owns the Jag in this picture and had just bought back the P6 which is currently being restored.
Yes we have spoken to Ernie multiple times. Very helpful
Good morning from Charlotte, North Carolina. I happened across this thread. In 2000, I purchased a 1967 420 drivable and a 1967 3.4S for parts for the 420. In researching both cars, I discovered my S-type was a former Metropolitan police S-type. I confirmed this with Jaguar and received the build certificate from them. My car is SUU 491F It was built 5 October 1967 Delivered 2 weeks later. I still have the original front and rear factory license tags. In discovering the pedigree of this car, I have done a complete restoration from ground up back to factory specs with some small modifications. This car was not running and had rotted from the ground to midway up the doors. It had been in two accidents over the years with serious damage to the right front fender. I pulled it from the weeds in a field in Florida.
I have been working on this car for 20 years off and on. The entire underside has been bead blasted and painted with anti-rust paint. Both suspensions were disassembled and powder-coated semi -gloss black Both were completely re-built including the differential. All damaged sheet metal has been replaced including the inner and outer sills. The wire harness is new. All chrome bits including bumpers and grill have been stripped and re-chromed.
In stripping the body of paint, we discovered there had been no punctures to the roof, thus there had been no roof lights, (blue or Micky Mouse.) One of the previous owners had attempted to change the interior timber from the black to wood grain. This was all stripped and returned to black.. The Amblahyde had become brittle from the Florida sun I found a roll of original in a warehouse in California.and had an aircraft certified upholsterer restore the seats to original. The head liner in the back was impregnated by the grease and dirt of the prisoners transferred over the years of service. Unlike most Metpol cars, this one had some of the original carpet in it. This was not a Herndon car from what I can determine, but a car used by a higher official. One other distinctive mark is the antenna is on the left rear unlike pictures of other s-types where it is on the right.
The engine has been brought back to original specs although the pistons had to be increased to +10 since I could not find zeros. The engine block number is not the original nor is the gearbox or head. This seems to be standard fare on theses cars. In fact the head is a "virgin" unit in that it was never painted and is plain aluminum It has no serial number stated into it either. This car has the standard Borg Warner DG250 gearbox. I had it completely re-built. The column selector has no Park or Low gear position which was standard. I have changed the electrical system from positive to negative ground keeping the original positive alternator. This will make traveling easier should the car break down The floodlight was replaced with a landing light f4rom a Cessna which is brighter with less heat and an exact replacement size. Not being able to find a PYE radio, I have installed a combination AM/FM weather band CB radio the looks very similar to the original
Obviously I have replaced regular parts like break servo, master, pads rotors. The heater box has been restored and improved with better motor and transfer radiator. The SU carburators are brand new. as are petrol tanks and pumps and senders. The only thing left to do is the wiring in the dash. Since suffering a brain injury in 2006 I have been unable to follow the schematic to do it myself. It should be done within the new couple of weeks. Needless to say I am excited to get it on the road.
One other note. North Carolina allows any car over 40 years old to drive on the original SUU 491F tags. A proud acknowlegement to those who served with the METPOL
Clark
I have been working on this car for 20 years off and on. The entire underside has been bead blasted and painted with anti-rust paint. Both suspensions were disassembled and powder-coated semi -gloss black Both were completely re-built including the differential. All damaged sheet metal has been replaced including the inner and outer sills. The wire harness is new. All chrome bits including bumpers and grill have been stripped and re-chromed.
In stripping the body of paint, we discovered there had been no punctures to the roof, thus there had been no roof lights, (blue or Micky Mouse.) One of the previous owners had attempted to change the interior timber from the black to wood grain. This was all stripped and returned to black.. The Amblahyde had become brittle from the Florida sun I found a roll of original in a warehouse in California.and had an aircraft certified upholsterer restore the seats to original. The head liner in the back was impregnated by the grease and dirt of the prisoners transferred over the years of service. Unlike most Metpol cars, this one had some of the original carpet in it. This was not a Herndon car from what I can determine, but a car used by a higher official. One other distinctive mark is the antenna is on the left rear unlike pictures of other s-types where it is on the right.
The engine has been brought back to original specs although the pistons had to be increased to +10 since I could not find zeros. The engine block number is not the original nor is the gearbox or head. This seems to be standard fare on theses cars. In fact the head is a "virgin" unit in that it was never painted and is plain aluminum It has no serial number stated into it either. This car has the standard Borg Warner DG250 gearbox. I had it completely re-built. The column selector has no Park or Low gear position which was standard. I have changed the electrical system from positive to negative ground keeping the original positive alternator. This will make traveling easier should the car break down The floodlight was replaced with a landing light f4rom a Cessna which is brighter with less heat and an exact replacement size. Not being able to find a PYE radio, I have installed a combination AM/FM weather band CB radio the looks very similar to the original
Obviously I have replaced regular parts like break servo, master, pads rotors. The heater box has been restored and improved with better motor and transfer radiator. The SU carburators are brand new. as are petrol tanks and pumps and senders. The only thing left to do is the wiring in the dash. Since suffering a brain injury in 2006 I have been unable to follow the schematic to do it myself. It should be done within the new couple of weeks. Needless to say I am excited to get it on the road.
One other note. North Carolina allows any car over 40 years old to drive on the original SUU 491F tags. A proud acknowlegement to those who served with the METPOL
Clark
Webserve00 said:
The head liner in the back was impregnated by the grease and dirt of the prisoners transferred over the years of service. Unlike most Metpol cars, this one had some of the original carpet in it. This was not a Herndon car from what I can determine, but a car used by a higher official. One other distinctive mark is the antenna is on the left rear unlike pictures of other s-types where it is on the right.
If it was a senior officer's car, its unlikely to have ever been used for chucking chummie in the back off once their collar has been felt.More like grease/brylcreem from copper's heads
Could have been an area Commander's car, although from memory they were usually driven around in Austin/Morris 1800's back in the day.
Q car's wouldn't have been black S-Type's either.
What makes you say it wasn't a Hendon car?
With no roof lights, it would be my first guess as to its use, and given they were always driven 3 or 4 up, that would explain the rear headlining as well.
Oh, and I bet lovely Charlotte has changed a bit since I visited there back in 1991...!
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