Forgotten police car returns to action
James Wade has recently completed the long-term rebuild of a Rover SD1 police car. “I had owned an SD1 before,” he explains, “but due to an inability to weld – and no money – I scrapped it and always regretted it.” The car he bought in 2012 was first registered to Lancashire Constabulary in September 1986, making it possibly the last of the genuine V8 police SD1S.
It was sold at a public auction in 1989 to a Mrs Jan Knox of Broadstairs, then later went to an owner in Surrey who lent it to his brother. He continued to use it until the late ’90s, with the last tax disc – still in the window – being from 1998. It was then shut away in a councilowned lock-up.
The reason why the Rover was taken off the road is not known. “Unfortunately the roof of the council garage leaked, so water was pouring in over the car, particularly the driver’s door area,” says Wade. “Ultimately, the metal frame that held up the window rotted through and the glass dropped down. This allowed the water to get straight into the car, which rotted out the driver’s doorcard and seat base.
“The car had been advertised on ebay and failed to sell – which was not surprising because it was in such a bad state. It was relisted again and I bought it for £350.”
On the journey home, Wade stopped to check the ratchet straps on the trailer and noticed that the trailer bed had turned orange from all the rust that had fallen off the car. Many people who saw the Rover at the time thought it couldn’t be restored, but the finished car looks magnificent in its original police livery.