New tooling also brings a superb Daimler sports car from the 1959-1964
era to Oxford's 1:43 series in the unlikely livery of the Metropolitan
Police. Manufactured by the Daimler Company in Coventry, it was the
last car to be launched by Daimler before its parent company sold the
marque to Jaguar Cars in 1960. Originally described as a 2 + 2 sports
car, it came with a fibreglass body, either a 4-speed manual or 3-speed
automatic gearbox and fitted with a 2.5 litre iron-block V-8 140 hp
engine.
Around thirty black SP250s were used by the Traffic Department of
London's Metropolitan Police, primarily to catch speeding motorists.
The Police vehicles were fitted with the automatic gearbox option,
considered more suitable for round the clock urban use, which also
extended to some vehicles being used by the traffic police in other
major counties in the UK.
Our replica SP250 is painted in a gloss black with beige hood in the
upright position. The interior is dark orange with a beige floor and
the model is registered 550 CLU.
Several refinements from the standard vehicle were required for specific
Police use and they have all been incorporated into our authentic
model. They include bumpers without over-riders and single spotlight
mounted on the front bumper. Additional interior fittings include a
radio, speedometer, an additional mirror, raised roof component,
automatic transmission gear stick, printed interior door handles and
window winder handle and a single driver's side wing mounted mirror.
Traffic duties must never have felt so good for the Police team behind
the wheel of this little gem! It will also be an interesting addition
for those collectors specialising in this model category.