Police Cars Extravaganza – Part 5: Germany Über Alles

From the tiny Isetta to the powerful Porsche 911, the German Polizei has used an incredibly varied range of vehicles over the years. Some were practical choices, others were experiments that helped make the German police fleet one of the most diverse — and in some cases, most curious — in the world. Whether patrolling rural areas or the autobahn, let’s enjoy discovering this unexpected mix.

The Volkswagen Beetle was the most widely used police vehicle in Germany until the late 1970s. Its mechanical simplicity, robustness, and low cost made it an ideal choice for law enforcement. Used since the 1950s for a wide variety of tasks, from urban patrols to highway duty, the Beetle Polizei was equipped with sirens, radios, and blue lights. One wonders how the officers’ bulky hats didn’t fly off at the first chase.

The Volkswagen Beetle was widely used by the German Polizei, both in convertible and coupé versions.

The Volkswagen Transporter T2 also saw extensive use by German authorities during the 1950s and ’60s. This do-it-all van served various purposes: support for investigations, prisoner transport, and recovery or accident scene services.

The legendary VW van, known as the Bulli, wore the Polizei uniform in its first T1 series and second T2 series as pictured here.

During the same period, the tiny BMW Isettas were adopted by various rural police stations. They replaced motorcycles and allowed officers to travel under cover, protected from rain and snow. An interesting detail is the sunroof, necessary for evacuation in case of an accident if the front door got jammed.

The small Isetta 250 and 300 models were chosen for patrols in rural villages, perfect for the Landespolizei.

A true rarity, the Porsche 356B Cabriolet was chosen for its agility and speed. Only a few units were built for the Autobahn Polizei. Equipped with a special engine, long-ratio transmission, radio, and blue flashing light, it was perfect for high-speed chases in a country with no speed limits.

The first Porsche to serve on the German Autobahn was the 356B 1600 Cabriolet Polizei, custom-built by coachbuilder Reutter.

The elegant BMW 501 and 502 were used mainly in Bavaria and Lower Saxony. Known for their sleek shapes, these large sedans represented luxury and power in the service of the law. The police version, extremely rare, was in use between 1958 and 1964.

The BMW 501 and 502 served the Polizei; the latter became famous thanks to the TV series “Funkstreife Isar 12”.

In 1996, Porsche celebrated the production of its one-millionth vehicle with a 911 Carrera gifted to the Autobahn Police in Baden-Württemberg. This model was used for special patrols and was officially handed over in an event attended by Ferry Porsche, the brand’s founder.

The millionth Porsche produced in Zuffenhausen, a 993 Carrera, was donated to the Polizei for autobahn patrols by Ferry Porsche himself.

Another exclusive model was the BMW M3 used by the Biebelried Autobahn Police. It was the 50,000th M3 produced and was donated to the Bavarian state in 1997. With its power and speed, it became one of the fastest police cars in Germany, though maintenance costs proved particularly high.

Likely inspired by Porsche’s gesture, BMW also capitalized on its cooperation with the Polizei by donating the 50,000th M3 E36 produced.

The “Tune It! Safe!” initiative to raise awareness among young people about road safety and legal car tuning led to the creation of a Porsche 911 Carrera S modified by TechArt. With 370 hp and a top speed of over 300 km/h, it was presented as a model of safe and legal tuning at the Essen Motor Show. Equipped with flashing lights and police livery, this 911 remains one of the fastest vehicles ever used by German law enforcement.

The TechArt Porsche 911 Carrera S “Tune it! Safe!” concept car from 2005 was part of the awareness campaign promoting safe and legal car tuning.