Police Cars Extravaganza – Part 2: Better Not Mess Around on British Highways

After discovering last week all the Porsches that were part of the Dutch police force known as the Rijkspolitie, this week Roarington’s journey to uncover the most unusual and high-performance police vehicles stops in the United Kingdom. Over the years, several extraordinary models have been used, sometimes more as a deterrent than for actual high-speed chases worthy of the very British secret agent James Bond.

In the 1960s, one of the most popular cars in England was undoubtedly the Jaguar MK2, which quickly became a favorite among British criminals for high-speed getaways. To counter this, the British police decided to stay ahead of the game by “enlisting” this model for highway patrol. Many still remember it, and today it remains one of the most iconic police cars in the UK.

The British police Jaguar MK2, which entered service in the 1960s for highway patrol.

During the same period — and we’re sure it’s not a legend — Lotus pulled off a brilliant marketing move when presenting the Cortina, modified for Ford by Colin Chapman’s company. The car was unveiled in a police version with sirens and flashing lights, catching the interest of British law enforcement. They found this model attractive due to its high performance and significantly lower cost compared to the Jaguars in use at the time. As a result, both the Ford Cortina Lotus MK1 and MK2 were “recruited”. Sometimes marketing really hits the mark!

The Ford Cortina Lotus was used by the British police in both MK1 and MK2 versions, shown here in the picture, thanks to its excellent performance and lower cost compared to the Jaguar.

In 1970, Land Rover introduced the world to the first Range Rover, a rugged four-wheel-drive vehicle powered by a 3.5-liter V8 engine, immediately catching the attention of the police. It was the perfect vehicle for the role of Accident Tender, offering ample space for carrying additional emergency equipment. The decision to “enlist” this powerful British off-roader was made at the end of 1970, and it officially entered service in 1971.

What’s more British than a police Range Rover? It debuted in 1971 as an Accident Tender, allowing officers to provide first aid.

A decade later, in the early 1980s, Ford teamed up with the Essex Police for a clever publicity stunt. The RS200, developed for Group B rally racing, was given a police livery to promote road safety awareness, highlighting the "four fatal driving offenses": speeding, failure to use seat belts, driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, and using mobile devices while driving. The campaign made headlines, and just parking the vehicle in strategic locations was enough to serve as a convincing warning.

A Group B rally car “dressed” as a police vehicle to promote road safety in the UK during the 1980s.

In the 1990s, another rally car joined the ranks of the British police: the Ford Escort RS Cosworth. Used in Humberside, it was equipped with the most advanced speed detection and video recording systems, allowing officers from the Vehicle Crime Unit to gather evidence of reckless drivers and issue fines accordingly. With such a car in police hands, escaping was nearly impossible!

Another rally-bred car that served in the British police during the 1990s was the Ford Escort RS Cosworth.

In more recent history, specifically in 2007, during the Around the World Tour celebrating Ferrari’s 60th anniversary, the UK had a surprise in store. Ferrari UK prepared a 612 Scaglietti HGTS in full British police livery to lead the convoy of Ferrari owners along the 1,500-mile UK leg of the global celebration from Belfast to London. The event was also used to promote the UK government’s "Think!" road safety campaign.

The 612 Scaglietti HGTS, prepared by Ferrari in police livery, led the Ferrari convoy during the UK leg of the Around the World Tour for Ferrari’s 60th anniversary.

In 2015, reality surpassed fiction. At the Autosport International show at NEC Birmingham, a Caparo T1 police car was unveiled. For those unfamiliar with it, this is essentially a race car designed for “theoretical” road use, weighing just over 500 kg and boasting over 500 hp. This “monster” was never actually used for patrols but was displayed at the police stand during the event to attract as many motorists as possible. The message: to emphasize the importance of road safety education and the dangers of excessive speed and distracted driving.

When reality surpasses fiction: a Caparo T1 in British police colors. It never served as a patrol car but was used to raise awareness about road safety.