Rover P6 police spec...?

[justanotherhigh]

A friend has put me onto a police-spec P6 which apparently has lain in the back garden of one of his relatives for the past 30 years.
Now, I fully expect it to be rotted to b*ggery, but I have no idea what it looks like, or indeed how it might be spec'd. All my friend knows is that it 'looks like' my P6 (He's obviously not a car person!)
Now, I'm assuming it's a series 1 car, particularly with it being laid up in approx. 1978. I wasn't around in 1978, let alone the late sixties so I wondered if anyone knows any more than me - or indeed, has any photos?
Were they all the 3500cc V8? Manual, auto? Colour scheme? And what about any other equipment that came with them?
I know my grandfather drove an ex-police Zephyr six for many years, which had a round speedo and rev-counter fitted next to the CB radio, along with extra spotlights and a 'super-fast' crankshaft, which led him to hit 110mph on numerous occasions.

Have some photos of mid-seventies police P6's as consolation ;D





Oh, anyone know the legalities on driving an ex-police car? Inc. flashing lights, sirens and markings?

[dollywobbler]

I'm not sure I've ever seen a Series 1 P6 police car - doesn't mean they never existed though!

The front spoiler on that first one was apparently to combat light steering at speed - due to so much stuff in the boot. Colour scheme - most were white, some were dark blue.

[chevazon]

I know the Met used them and they would have been autos for working the city. Earliest I can recall in Durham was the SD1 but I believe they may have used a P6.

[tofufi]

I've never seen a series 1 Police P6 either.

I think the Police spec ones had some chassis stiffeners too.

I love my series 1 V8 though, I can see why they were so popular.

[accord83]

Dependant on which force owned it it could be in any spec/colour. Some forces also had plain coloured cars for driver training, if it has been a traffic/motor patrol car look for zips in the headlining, (to get to the wiring for lights etc.) Some forces had base spec trim, some more luxurious, some would be used as senior officers cars. Some also left service with delivery mileage only, the speedos were disconnected on fitting out and a calibrated one mounted on the dash, original one connected back up on sale. spurious holes for radio, handset etc, extra fuseboxes etc, and remember it will have been driven by guys who caught the cars which were being driven like they were stolen!! (so probably tired when retired!)

[justanotherhigh]

Cheers for the info, fellers.
I don't know how much truth was in it, but I heard the patrol cars of the sixties and seventies were rarely allowed to get cold, and as such the engines didn't wear out at normal mileages. Correct me if I'm wrong, anyway.
That would certainly account for the 350,000 miles on the previously mentioned Zephyr before its original engine blew up in spectacular fashion on the motorway...

[chevazon]

It`s the same today. Remember most patrol and beat vehicles are on the road 24/7 so are always warm. It is not unknown for motor patrol vehicles to finish up with starship miles.
Most beat/pandas are hammered to hell and I would never buy a second hand one as I know the torture they can endure ! (been there and wore the T shirt and wrote a couple off in my time)

[BenzBoy]

I'm sure I was told that Police-spec P6's had uprated dampers.

I do know that they are one of the coolest looking cop cars around! Those and SD1's.

[jayps]

The Met used to have a mix of dark blue p6s and normal white patrols ,i saw a proper sdi the day still in service attending a school fete .Here some I took at 999 day recently




Heres some P6 pics

[murran]

p6's are the coolest rovers. p5's being a very close second!

[Autofive]

I asked a friend in the know about this, after a lengthy phone call the gist of it seems to be, as others have already said, a lot of spec changes to a P6 depended on which force ordered it, and for what task. I.e motorway pursuit, driver training, royal protection, government work (MOD 'assist' or home office work - read secret and prisoner escorts), unmarked CID, special branch work (either here or in the north of Ireland) or simple city woodentop work.

a lot of spec details are also dependent on the year of the car

pre-1973 cars were very basic interior, special order models with infinate additions possible, depending on individual force and task requirements.

most post-73 cars, and especially post 74, were usually 3500S models with manual box, cut dashboards with extra holes everywhere, they could also have chubb locks, uprated springs, shocks, wiring loom, larger fuel tank (or duel tanks) extra chassis mods. and/or anti roll bars and high compression heads, tubular manifolds, uprated camshafts, larger S.U's, maybe a firearms safe in or under the rear seat or in the boot and ammunition safe under pasenger seat.

in conclusion: more details of the car, and its original useage (and subsequent history) would be required before attempting to guess its original spec. while in active service.

If you have a P6 factory workshop manual and illustrated parts list, you should find various uprated parts are listed as 'Police spec'

PS the zephyr/zodiac Mk4 not only had an uprated camshaft for police issue, it also would have had high compression 3 litre essex, single or twin 40Dfav carb (factory manual also lists the treble carb manifold as police spec), uprated suspension/brakes, side impact bars (although crude ones) and strengthened rear axle fixings, a couple of Ferguson 4X4 Zeds were also used, but only on test, as far as I'm aware.

[nomad]

Jan 8, 2010 21:43:31 GMT justanotherhigh said:

Oh, anyone know the legalities on driving an ex-police car? Inc. flashing lights, sirens and markings?

Have a look around - it's been mentioned a few times here :
( Not for those of nervous disposition - it just confirms they ARE out to get us ;D )
www.policespecials.com/forum/index.php?showforum=8
The site includes gives info about a LOT of technicalities that you don't know about...

I think blue lamps - if still fitted - have to be removed or covered
sirens not allowed
I guess you'll have to remove ECILOP stickers before the MOT
Hi-viz jackets are a sensible safety aid that can be worn anytime and don't forget a warm hat in this cold weather


Have fun

[nomad]

Jan 9, 2010 1:35:23 GMT Autofive said:

....a couple of Ferguson 4X4 Zeds were also used, but only on test, as far as I'm aware.

There was a 4x4 Zed parked up around here 20 years ago, owner called it a factory prototype. Might have been one of the ones you know about...

[Autofive]

Jan 9, 2010 1:43:06 GMT nomad said:

Jan 9, 2010 1:35:23 GMT Autofive said:

....a couple of Ferguson 4X4 Zeds were also used, but only on test, as far as I'm aware.

There was a 4x4 Zed parked up around here 20 years ago, owner called it a factory prototype. Might have been one of the ones you know about...

there was one on ebay last year - the owner said it was valued at 35K

it didnt sell ;D

[accord83]

There used to be a 4x4 mk4 on the skid pan at Lancs Police driving school in the late 70's, the other cars were knackered Triumph 2000's, the instructors used to try and take beer money off unsuspecting students betting you they could stay on your tail in a Dagenham Dustbin. (I noticed it's front diff and declined) There was a green P6 2.2 on the standard B (intermediate) course. I prefered the Triumph 2.5tc, and on b class roads the Holbay Hunter was pretty good fun.