POLICE CARS ON PARADE

We look back on the day when the Metropolitan Police’s historic vehicle fleet brought London streets to a halt

Police cars aren’t exactly rare in Britain’s capital, but the bunch that threaded their way through the city’s centre in February 2014 caused even world-weary Londoners to stop and stare.

The closure of the 1930s-built Hampton traffic garage in south-west London meant that the Metropolitan Police had to relocate its fleet of historic vehicles to a new home at Hendon, north London. Of course, they could have been moved one-by-one, on trailers and in lorries, but why do that when there was the option to stop traffic and drive them all through the streets they used to patrol? The 14 cars and motorcycles – ranging from a 1948 Wolseley 18/85 to the obligatory 1980s Rover SD1 3500 and a 1990s Rover 827 – took a high-profile route via landmarks such as Buckingham Palace, Trafalgar Square and Whitehall. There were stops at the National Police Memorial near Horse Guards Parade and New Scotland Yard, where then-Commissioner Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe came out to review these superb blasts from London’s past.

CCW’s Richard Gunn had arguably the best seat in the house – the passenger seat of the jam sandwichliveried 1983 SD1 V8 that, for many, represents the definitive police patrol vehicle and still commands respect and not a little fear even today. But all of the vehicles caused pedestrians to stop, stare and smile as they passed by; not usually the reaction to a sudden mass arrival of police vehicles. Still, it’s been a while since Austin 1100 and Morris Minor panda cars have presented the friendlier face of policing, while one of the Wolseley’s most high-profile jobs was serving at the Queen’s 1953 Coronation.

The fleet continues to be used for events, but such a special parade again through London is unlikely. We’ll have to make do with modern Vauxhall Astras and BMWs instead. Shame…

The fleet approaches New scotland yard, led by the 1972 armour-plated rover P6 3500 that was once used by special Branch for transporting royalty and senior politicians.

The Queen of the fleet; the 1948 wolseley 18/85 leaves its old Hampton home for the last time. it would have been in service in london during the 1953 coronation.

The Mall was closed by police outriders so the convoy had a clear run to Buckingham Palace, and made a (usually illegal) right turn at the memorial to Queen Victoria.

One of the two stops during the run was at the National Police Memorial near Horse Guards Parade, where there was an opportunity for the police cars to line up in chronological order, flanked by their drivers.

Jim Selby-Weatherley threads the Rover SD1 through London’s streets behind a 1980 Series III Land Rover.

1996 Rover 827 poses alongside its 1987 SD1 predecessor, with drivers John Murray (left) and Jim Selby-Weatherley (right).