British police vehicles

Two Metropolitan Police Rover SD1's Series1 1978 2600 Auto. Series2 1984 3500 Auto

[@robbierobson3251]

From what I remember, the Series 1 SD1, had the rather useless Bosch electric beeper sirens, not as effective as the Fiamm airhorns they replaced. When you turned the siren on, on the Series 1, it certainly did not sound like a proper airhorn.

[@Dept_HomelandSecurity]

His voice is so british when i was eating my breakfast and sippin my water my breakfest turned into a great London breakfest and my water turned into tea

[@1jxjytgamedeveloper289]

water turned into tea 😭😭😭😭😭😭

[@SimStream]

Very nice pair of SD1's. Very rare on UK roads now. I have owned 9 SD1's over the years and one of them was ex police, a series 1, registration YUU205T if my memory is correct. It was a 2600 and totally de-comissioned, had 3 black plugs in the roof covering holes for blue light and aerials and a zip in the headlining. It did have the original police spec speedometer mounted in the center of the dash...it was really rapid too..

[@KCAZYT]

I loved driving these throughout the 1980's whilst based at Ilford police station. These vehicles can be driven to classic meetings etc as long as the blue lights are covered and the word POLICE is covered or a NOT IN SERVICE sign placed over them.

[@richardclarke376]

I'd leave the POLICE signs uncovered, have the blue lights flashing and shout "Out of the way!" though the PA system!

[@samanli-tw3id]

Richard Clarke that would be illegal

[@parmjitsingh2329]

Crazy storys you must have sir I can only imagine

[@Butlerwillesden]

Hi it was a Sterling Automatic Met Sound system, black box which sat on the passenger side of the car dash. It had 3 rotary knobs 1. For three pitch volume setting called Low, town and then country. Knob2 were the three different types of siren, yelp, wale and hi-lo and the 3rd was the on/off, standby and P/A knob.

[@al28041966fitton]

An absolute joy! Love the T reg - beautiful! Good luck with your restoration. I have a 75 connoisseur SE salted away for the future - if she can make the spine tingle anything like those SD1's I'll be happy. Sheer nostalgia!!!

[@sh-ig9fm]

The second one sounds like the bill siren

[@alteredbeast67]

The SD1 was always a beautiful looking car. Styled loosely on the Ferrari Daytona. It was the best car Rover ever made. especially the late model 3.5 V8.....

[@nkt1]

Altered Beast The series 1 is so much better looking. I think the changes to the headlights, grille and bumpers really spoiled the styling.

[@BlackieFoxxless]

The Stirling met sound is the same siren that was used on the essex police and the Ford Focus IRV

[@Butlerwillesden]

In fact the 2600 was so underpowered as a Traffic car with a full load of Accident equipment and other paraphernalia the Auto box was no addition when kickdown was used, it was just too sluggish. The Met took on the series 2 in 1984 and advisors pleaded with the fleet managers to take on the 3500, Compromise led to Traffic using 3500 and Area/RT cars remained as 2600. The 2600 sported minilight alloys to aid venting to the discs and pads as they were prone to overheat under heavy breaking.

[@wobblybobbly9456]

Top notch work there Officer Butler.

[@Bellringercameron]

I love the rotating blue becons

[@SuperJUPP1]

Hi, I bought the series 2 SD1 from Dave Butler in March 2013, and it is now in South East London as part of a collection of 5 police cars. I drove the SD1 2600 while serving in the Met, at Woolwich, and found it 'adequate' in terms of power, while the old school, blue Triumph 2500, which we still had at Woolwich, gave it a good run for it's money, I totally agree with Dave that they should have gone for the V8 cars only.

[@MrGodsking]

they should have only built v8 and straight 4 i done years working on sd1s in ireland when no other mechanics would touch them

[@splitters2477]

SD1 V8 rover is my favourite car...I'd love one...

[@Butlerwillesden]

Thanks. When the Met took on the SD1 in 1978 they tryled the European style two-tones. They were meant to be more reliable but in fact were more temprementle, blowing fuses and overheating if left on for any length of time. They used them for about 18 months and decided to take the plunge and adopt the Met Sound. I actually prefer them, they remind me of my childhood, watching the new SD1's flying up and down the Edgware Road on a shout. It's a very rare car indeed, and all original.

[@samanli-tw3id]

The two tones must be Hella Starktonhorns cause they sound like them.

[@BlackieFoxxless]

@@samanli-tw3id no it's actually Bosch

[@richardclarke376]

gorgeous cars. the V8 still on the road, the straight 6 on SORN.

[@Ravaniscool]

These cars were used in the film An American Werewolf in London, right outside the cinema scene. Loved it!

[@Mbard333]

Ravaniscool only one of them was

[@Someloke8895]

Lovely Vehicles, it's a shame there aren't many Met-Sound sirens knocking about, love those powerful yelps.

[@BlackieFoxxless]

There's a landie in tonypandy using that siren

[@simonandrew8268]

Lovely looking cars. Be nice if there where still in use 🙂

[@Fbo194]

Great cars, great video!

[@Butlerwillesden]

Back in 1977 The Met fleet managers went up to Longbridge and tested the SD1 to see if it was fit for purpose as a Traffic/Area car. They were told that the New 2600 engine could compete with the 3500 P6 and was also a Cheeper option for the Met!! The Met drove one of their 2600 and were so impressed that they signed on the dotted line. What they didn't know was that the 2600 they drove had been tweaked and gave a false sense of power and handling.

[@Butlerwillesden]

Very kind, thanks

[@mikehumble1120]

Would be an honour and privilege to have a collar feel by either of those

[@tabsntoot]

very nice car the rover it’s kept it’s cool factor love to own one

[@calum1741]

Your a very lucky guy! How did you acquire those two beauties?

[@garthqueen]

Hey was that T reg used to escort the Yorkshire Ripper to court in 1981?

[@dmfub2348]

There is another video posted on KZbin claiming to show the "liver run" camera car.

[@policeblue999]

What siren model is that on the SD2?

[@policeblue999]

Brilliant, cheers.

[@christineayres7199]

3.5 was a v8 I think ?

[@BlackieFoxxless]

Did any Rover use redtronic sirens?

[@thegoodbadmusic]

Is that Ernest Jupp’s car on the right?

[@PolizeiPaul]

Why does 1 of the blue lights always turn faster than the other? I thought they each had individual motors so they should rotate at the same speed should they not?

[@Kromaatikse]

It's because they have separate motors that they desynchronise. But that's a good thing, because it makes the pattern more noticeable.

[@MrGoneTroppo]

Wonderful. Put the blues on! Nee naw nee naw

[@86501freightliner]

Would you be able to give us a proper demo of the Met-Sound siren in it's different settings (Town, Country etc)?

[@j.s.h6980]

I would love to see these cars on the streets 2017

[@andrewneeds1414]

Used these on the M4 in South Wales, decent enough cars until you wanted to stop!

[@wobblybobbly9456]

Lol, leyland duty brakes matey. You had to heat them up a bit, then enjoy the thrill of fade.

[@michaelearith3184]

I don't suppose that an Ex- Cheshire Constabulary SD1 is still around anywhere is there? These had a lemon yellow sidestripe.

[@wobblybobbly9456]

Lemon jam sandwich?

[@BlackieFoxxless]

@@wobblybobbly9456 no it's called "marmalade sandwhich"

[@BlackieFoxxless]

Marmalade sandwhich and jam sandwhich are not different

[@highvoltageswitcher6256]

Greater Manchester Police had 2.8L V6 Capri traffic cars. They had a red stripe down the side like these Met cars. Locals called them ‘Jam butty cars’.

[@gunitfor]

i love these old cars, though they did have problems even the rover v8 sliped liners bloody yanks selling us crap

[@rubber-johnny4577]

Can you legally drive these on public roads?

[@nyb2.027]

Rubber-Johnny As long as the blue lights are covered and there's a "NOT IN SERVICE" sign placed on the roof, you won't have any troubles with the police.

[@samanli-tw3id]

3:38 sounds more like a Hella Starktonhorn than a Fiamm

[@JimLem]

I think they were Bosch

[@samanli-tw3id]

@@JimLem some German emergency vehicles still use that siren

[@balsingh1]

They both look awesome! Love the 3.5 V8. For those that haven't seen it, the mentioned 'Liver Run' can be seen at kzbin.info/www/bejne/p4WxZotqf795oLc

[@Butlerwillesden]

On private land showing off their equipment

[@didzee002]

When I was put in the back of a SDI, I Sat down straight on the coppers hat..I thought it was funny...he didn't.!!!

[@wobblybobbly9456]

Was it a proper Bobby helmet or an officer cap?

[@didzee002]

@@wobblybobbly9456 .....cap...that day was mad .I'm nicked and my brother wakes up with a copper driving my xr3i into Harlow Nick..

[@Class380Fan]

I prefer the modern day siren tbh ☺️

[@paulsimpson6899]

@Flap Jack Fan actually no, the wail and yelp sound better, and that's from someone old enough to remember the hi-lo in action

[@richardclarke376]

Wonder what Bill McIntyre is doing these days!

[@nycffbbyoungtop]

geez what year was this video taken? they still use these cars? let us pray those doors won't fall off in a chase

[@contactacb]

+Taluen Er no......These are preserved/museum vehicles that were retired 25-35 years ago from active service which is strangely why you don't see them zipping around to jobs everyday...

[@TheAlllseeeingFish]

Why are they both here with the lights flashing? What was the incident?

[@Mbard333]

USER67 they’re ex met police cars and they were just on show

[@paulsimpson6899]

Have you actually watched the clip?

[@BlackieFoxxless]

I don't see a huge difference sadly

[@nkt1]

Foxy The Pirate Fox That’s because the original looked so good. They still managed to change the headlights, bumpers, rear window, wheels, added a grille and revised the interiors.