Traffic Police cars from 50's to 80's.

[stewy68]

I am currently researching this subject, with a view to compiling a second book. I would be interested in, not only photos, but also specs etc.
Any help would be much appreciated.

Thanks,
Stewy..

[rw774]

I can sought out some specifications on the Jaguar
S types and Mk 2s if its of any help.

[stewy68]

rw774 said:

I can sought out some specifications on the Jaguar S types and Mk 2s if its of any help.

That would be excellent thanks. I have quite a few pieces of info so far, with regard to Cooper S and Lotus Cortinas that were used on the M74 in the '60's., but a lot of ground to cover.

Stewy..

[rw774]

Hi Stew
For years various constabularies have used Jaguars
Records exist of SS saloons and Mk5s used during the 30sand 40s.Mk7s were used in Scotland,and for CID duties in London.The most popular was the Mk1, which was lotted to at least 20 forces after introduction in 55.(in 2.4 form,no motorways as yet). All were black with a chrome bell at the front, radio phone, two interior mirrors with Police signs either side at the rear bumper,aerial on the roof and a small police sign on the front screen.
Situation changed when Motorways and the 3.8 Mk2 arrived.Q cars were prepared specially by the various Police workshops, as were the high speed variant.
That should keep you going for the moment

[Alpineandy]

British Police only?

[williamp]

Most police forces have museums/ archives. Try them (Kent police, for example have a museum which shoes a line of MG TC's lined up. Must be fun, but not sure if they would keep up with much!

[Coco H]

In my mind the SD1 is the orginial jam sandwich.

MG have a book on MG police cars which is avaliable from the MG owners club

[stewy68]

Coco H said:

In my mind the SD1 is the orginial jam sandwich. MG have a book on MG police cars which is avaliable from the MG owners club

I've got the book on MG police cars. Quite a lot of info.

[stewy68]

rw774 said:

Hi Stew For years various constabularies have used Jaguars Records exist of SS saloons and Mk5s used during the 30sand 40s.Mk7s were used in Scotland,and for CID duties in London.The most popular was the Mk1, which was lotted to at least 20 forces after introduction in 55.(in 2.4 form,no motorways as yet). All were black with a chrome bell at the front, radio phone, two interior mirrors with Police signs either side at the rear bumper,aerial on the roof and a small police sign on the front screen. Situation changed when Motorways and the 3.8 Mk2 arrived.Q cars were prepared specially by the various Police workshops, as were the high speed variant. That should keep you going for the moment

Excellent thanks. I've also managed to obtain pictures of an XJC5.3 which I don't know much about. Trying to find out if this was real or some kind of one-off/promotional vehicle.

Stewy..

[aeropilot]

Manchester Police ordered 6 Sunbeam-Lotus back in about 1980. Intended for unmarked patrolling, they ordered two in red, two in green and I think two in white, memory is fading a little over the third colour.
Only 5 were delivered and all seem to have disappeared. The one car that wasn't delivered (one of the green ones) surfaced about 15 years ago. I did have a photo of it somewhere.
I personally don't know of it's status these days, but Sunbeam-Lotus OC may have current details.

I also remember Liverpool Police used a number of Escort Mexico's back in the early 70's, and Cooper S's in the '60's.

>> Edited by aeropilot on Friday 7th October 12:47

[yertis]

Neil at Revington TR owns an unrestored Police TR5PI. Unrestored as in a pile of bits in a shed, but he'll have all the gen you'd need.

[Hughesie2]

[yertis]

Hughesie2 said:

Ahh, the Jam-Sandwich. Now they're all chequerboardy, maybe we should call them Neopolitans...

[Pigeon]

We call them Battenburg, don't we?

I'm fairly sure that the XJC (as opposed to the saloon) police car was a one-off.

[Flat in Fifth]

Stewy, in covering the SD1 don't forget to include a comment on the (in)famous crap brakes on Met SD1 automatics which troubled the force for years.

Lot of effort went into solving that one, which in the end came down to brake cooling, and the wheels which gave the best effect were Minilites.

Now you know why Met SD1s sported the best looking alloy wheels ever.

FiF

[72twink]

aeropilot said:

Manchester Police ordered 6 Sunbeam-Lotus back in about 1980. Intended for unmarked patrolling, they ordered two in red, two in green and I think two in white, memory is fading a little over the third colour. Only 5 were delivered and all seem to have disappeared. The one car that wasn't delivered (one of the green ones) surfaced about 15 years ago. I did have a photo of it somewhere. I personally don't know of it's status these days, but Sunbeam-Lotus OC may have current details. I also remember Liverpool Police used a number of Escort Mexico's back in the early 70's, and Cooper S's in the '60's. >> Edited by aeropilot on Friday 7th October 12:47

Let me know if you need any info on the Sunbeams.

Tony Witt
Sunbeam Lotus Owners' CLub

[cotty]

stewy68 said:

I have quite a few pieces of info so far, with regard to Cooper S and Lotus Cortinas that were used on the M74 in the '60's., but a lot of ground to cover. Stewy..

I have always been a Cortina Mk1 fan


www.bullions.family.btinternet.co.uk/autoshow.html

[dinkel]