1951 FORD V8 PILOT “ORIGINAL POLICE CAR”

3622cc petrol, manual. This Ford Pilot V8 is believed to be a genuine police pursuit vehicle, originally stationed in the Manchester area where Manchester City Police upgraded their fleet of Wolseley patrol cars in the late 1940s and early '50s. It is also thought to have been one of the last in service, and still carries its original registration, LVR 526. The vendor reckons it is “probably the last remaining example you can buy today”.

The car is in lovely overall condition with a smart brown leather interior, and we're told it is driving well. It retains most of its original equipment, including the Winkfield bell, siren, police radio and aerial, front tannoy and 12v heavy-duty dynamo. The 3.6-litre flathead V8 idles quietly and the whole vehicle presents beautifully, so it's no surprise that it has previously been invited to take part in the police car parade at several Goodwood Revivals. The vendor believes that a restoration was carried out some time ago, including a full mechanical rebuild, new fuel system and petrol tank, and that under 7000 miles have been covered since. Although none of the restoration paperwork survives, the car is a credit to its previous owners.

It comes with its V5C showing 4 former keepers, MoT certificates from 1994 onwards and a collection of tax discs. The last MoT was passed with no advisories in 2012, and the odometer shows 4630 miles, understood to represent 104,630 miles. First registration was in April 1951.

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