Category: POLICE

Here is a police officer and cycle from yesteryear. Notice the white bands on the ends of the sleeve that are used to show that he is on duty.

K244 EYT is preserved Rover Metro from the Metropolitan Police. The wheel trims were removed by the force to reduce the chance of them causing injury or damage if they came off during high speed driving.



The rear view of the immaculate looking Rover.

VBF 594 This classic police car is a Jaguar Mk.II, the epitome of the 1960s police car. It has a small ‘police’ plate on the front and a single blue rotating beacon on the roof. Some forces mounted the ‘police’ plate on the roof.

PTD 975M is a Ford Consul of the Lancashire Constabulary. It is actually a Ford Granada but the smaller-engined versions were given the Consul name for the first few years of production. Notice the large black police sign on the roof and the black markings on the rear of the sides.

D676 FBP This is a 1987 BMW 528i that was in service with Hampshire Constabulary. It is now privately preserved as a police vehicle by a Hampshire police officer.

C307 BYO is a very well preserved example of a Metropolitan Police Rover SD1 3500. Notice the two siren units mounted below the bumper and the ‘police’ sign mounted on the tip of the bonnet.

A431 PTP This is a 1983 Jaguar 4.2 XJ6 police car. It was used by Hampshire police and is now preserved.

MWA 721P This icon of the 1970s is a Rover P6 3500. Popular with police forces across the country, this example was with South Yorkshire Police. The ‘3500’ in its name refers to the 3500 cc V8 engine that powered this car. Notice the police roof box, with blue rotating beacon on the top and two rear-facing red lights attached to the sides.

YYX 315T is a Land Rover 109 that was used in the late 70s and early 80s by South Yorkshire Police as an armoured vehicle. You can see the toughened windscreen and small windows on the sides. It has a small crest and ‘police’ wording on the side.

H217 YUC This is a Metropolitan Police BMW R80 motorcycle which is currently in preservation. Despite the fact that it is no longer in used, the vehicle has been kept fully operational.



The rear view of the bike showing the illuminating police sign and mast mounted blue rotating beacon.

A152 SUW This is a Metropolitan Police Rover SD1 3500. This car was a common site throughout the UK in the late 1970s and 1980s. It has two rotating beacons on the roof, as well an an illuminable ‘police’ sign mounted on the bonnet, between the headlights. Up the sides are red and yellow stripes and the Met’s logo. This livery was used up until the late 1990s.



The rear view of the same SD1. Notice that a large ‘spolier’ sign that has been fitted which illuminates ‘police’ and optionally ‘stop’. The Rover SD1 is often regarded as the best traffic policing car of its era. The Met actually stockpiled them when they heard Rover were to stop making them.

AOD 443B is a preserved Austin ‘black maria’ police van from the early 1960s.

ECU 348E In the same colour as the Austin is this Ford Transit police van. Notice the flashing blue beacon and horns on the roof.



The rear view of the Ford. The police in the UK started using the Transit at its introduction in the 1960’s, and still use it today.

XAS 546 This black police Zepher is fitted with police wording signs in the same style as registration plates and a blue flashing light.

BAP 886K A MG B GT police car. Currently being privately preserved, this 1971 example is displaying an optional ‘wide load’ sign for escorting large vehicles. This type of car was used for traffic policing duties, but didn’t really have enough carrying capacity.



The rear view of the same car. Notice the illuminable stop sign on the rear bumper. When not on display, the police sign and blue light are removed to stay legal on the roads.

S644 SLB and PGW 834L A Metropolitan Police Ford Fiesta panda car and a far older panda being washed.

The rare sight of a pristine Austin Landcrab police car.