1976 Rover P6 V8 | Monmouth, Monmouthshire

A Rover P6 3500, the V8 executive saloon that won the first European Car of the Year award in 1964. Its aluminium 3.5-litre engine gave brisk performance. This one is Scarab blue with a black interior, in excellent condition. It served as a Metropolitan Police area car between 1976 and 1979, crewed by a driver and observer: Victor 1 at Merton-Wimbledon, then Juliet 5 at Redbridge and finally Barkingside. Its police specification includes unassisted steering, an uprated Borg Warner 66 automatic, S type wheel trims, extra mirrors and spotlights on widened overriders. Two-tone horns, a Winkworth bell and a Storno radio with a long rear aerial complete the kit. A briefcase of period equipment sits in the boot, and the interior lights are disconnected so officers could slip out unseen. As an inner division car, it has no roof light. Period police and government scenes suit it directly, and its restrained executive shape works in film, television and photography. It also makes a quiet formal arrival for a wedding. The car is based in Monmouthshire.