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Ireland - did they have Mk1 Police cars?
Posted: Fri 25th Apr 2014 8:12 pm
by Keith Halstead
Posted: Fri 25th Apr 2014 10:38 pm
by tommy
I can ask my friend, who used to be "in that line of work", but his time would have been the 70s and 80s, so maybe he won't know of it. He once told me that he had to assess the original 2wd Sierra Cosworth for police use and deemed it as unsuitable.
Looks like a 1964 Belfast reg (2886 GZ) anyway Keith.
I do remember the R.U.C. traffic branch using unmarked RS2000s and 3litre capris as Q cars, so it is a possibility.
Tommy
Posted: Sat 26th Apr 2014 5:29 pm
by tommy
Having spoken to my friend, he has a contact who owns an ex Royal Ulster Constabulary mini cooper S and access to some period fleet records Keith, so he will check and get back to me. He personally remembers cooper S, MGB, TR6 and Escort Twin Cam, being used as police Q cars in Belfast.
Tommy
Posted: Sat 26th Apr 2014 6:07 pm
by GoLotus
Never did understand why the police used any of the TR models, they are all so small! Same goes for MGs and Cooper Ss too I guess
Posted: Sat 26th Apr 2014 10:56 pm
by tommy
Yes I think 2 large policemen squeezing in and out of a mini would be quite comical to watch.
Tommy
Re: Ireland - did they have Mk1 Police cars?
Posted: Sun 27th Jan 2019 2:59 pm
by Trident team
I know this is an old post, but I must relate this story for those who are interested.
I was at a show in Australia a few years ago and noticed a very ''dapper'' gentleman tweed cap and all,was taking particular interest in my Mk 1. As I approached he turned to me and made a comment about how he had a lot of great memories of working in Lotus Cortinas.
Naturally I asked...working? How would that be? and in his strong Irish accent he said he used to drive in the Highway Patrol in and around Belfast.
He said that they were great fun to drive actually particularly when going fast.
If they spotted a ''villain'' they pull in front of the offending vehicle. Then under the dash was a string attached to a cloth sign which was loosely hanging and attached to the internal headlining.
By pulling the string the sign would drop down inside the rear windscreen and the word ''POLICE'' would be displayed.
He related a few experiences he had had, but wouldn't elaborate too much and when I asked if I could speak to him at another time about his time in the ''force'' and in particular his time in Lotus Cortinas, he refused and I didn't ask why.
Re: Ireland - did they have Mk1 Police cars?
Posted: Sun 27th Jan 2019 6:01 pm
by Keith Halstead
To my knowledge they didn't have Lotus Mk1s but may have had other models of Cortinas.
Re: Ireland - did they have Mk1 Police cars?
Posted: Sun 3rd Feb 2019 12:02 am
by tommy
10432539_750290955048278_3846703386784450962_n.jpg
This is a copy of the picture that was for sale on ebay, it's definitely a 1964 Belfast reg Lotus Cortina.
Re: Ireland - did they have Mk1 Police cars?
Posted: Sun 3rd Feb 2019 9:37 am
by Keith Halstead
tommy wrote: ↑Sun 3rd Feb 2019 12:02 am
10432539_750290955048278_3846703386784450962_n.jpg
This is a copy of the picture that was for sale on ebay, it's definitely a 1964 Belfast reg Lotus Cortina.
Anyone ever seen a photo of one in service? None of the books I have show one sadly.
