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The Royal Ulster Constabulary was the name of the police force in Northern Ireland from 1922 to 2001. At its peak the force had around 8,500 officers with a further 4,500 who ere members of the RUC Reserve. The RUC had long used armoured vehicles to provide protection to its officers. The first to be based on the Land Rover appeared in 1957, on a Series 1 109" wheelbase pick-up body (registration WZ 599, fleet number 233). This incorporated only a basic level of protection, designed to repel bricks and bottles in a public order situation.
This model is based on this first version and carries the authentic registration
1/76 Scale
The Land Rover, launched in 1948, was an instant hit and continues to be the workhorse for anyone involved in heavy duty, rural or off-road environment. Its use extended to public bodies as well.This model as used by the RAF from the late 1940s to the 1970s,is complete with RAF military number plate and the RAF roundel on the offside front wing. It looks particularly smart painted in RAF blue-grey with the striking contrast of chrome grille, bumpers, window surrounds and door hinges. The canvas back is in a realistic drab olive green.
Rover chief engineer Maurice Wilks was inspired by his army-surplus Willys-Overland Jeep to create a workhorse vehicle for military and agricultural use - and for export abroad to kick-start both Rover's fortunes and the national economy after World War II. Prototypes were up and running by late 1947, and production of the Series I began at Solihull in summer 1948. It had permanent four-wheel-drive with low-ratio gearing and a locking freewheel mechanism, and a 50bhp, 1.6-litre engine from the Rover P3 saloon. It was fitted with lightweight body panels made from surplus aircraft-grade aluminium - steel was in short supply post-war - and came with army-surplus green paint. The Land Rover price started from just £450. Supply to the British forces started in 1949, the Land Rover replacing the Austin Champ and later, the rust-prone Austin Gipsy. Deliveries to organisations such as the Red Cross soon followed. The 100,000th Land Rover was made in autumn 1954 and by 1958, production ran to around 200,000. The invasion of Egypt in 1956, was an attempt to capture the Suez Canal and was originally codenamed Operation Hamilcar, hence the 'H' on the side of this 88 inch canvas back Land Rover. Although the Anglo-French-Israeli plan was later renamed Operation Musketeer.