The Volvo 850 and UK Police with PC Woodward from TV's Traffic Cops

🎥🎥 I first used this content in Jan 2022 but never liked the edit...
So I revisited it and did it again. 🎥🎥
In early 2022 I sold a blue Volvo 850 to PC Steve Woodward, from TV's Traffic Cops, so he could use the interior in his own Volvo 850 Police Car Rebuild.
In this video Steve and I chat about his time in the Police, talking about the cars he used and the story of the Volvo 850 and how it came to be a Police car... including the famous brake upgrade and some hairy moments!
Although I originally uploaded some of this content in 2022, I never liked the edit, so went back to it with this revised version, which I think is better.... Mostly because it cuts out my test drive and review of the car, and focuses more on the Police side of the story.
If you want to see the original version which shows more of the blue Volvo 850, it's here • Police, Camera Action!...
Geoff's Police Car Videos
Part 1 - No more BMW Police cars in the UK
• No more BMW Police Car...
Part 2 - Holy Engines and Clocked Cars
• The Clocked Up Holy En...
Bonus - The History of the Volvo 850 and UK Police
• The Volvo 850 and UK P...
#Police #PoliceCar #TrafficCops #Volvo850 #UKPolice #UKPoliceCars #PoliceCars

[@GeoffBuysCars]

Geoff's Police Car Videos
 Part 1 - No more BMW Police cars in the UK kzbin.info/www/bejne/lZitd3eao7KLgck Part 2 - Holy Engines and Clocked Cars kzbin.info/www/bejne/j3bVqn2bd8iaY5o Bonus - The History of the Volvo 850 and UK Police kzbin.info/www/bejne/h5CZeKFnp7CBoNE

[@Dunkelzeitgeist]

Love this so much, I fell in love with both the 850 and the Impreza as a kid in the late 90s or early 00s. I loved the BTCC 850 but tbh, it was when I sat in the 850s or V70s as a kid in police trim, absolute icons, just like PC Woodward

[@drankfrebin]

Fun fact..... Alistair Stewart who used to present police camera action was actually nicked for drink driving. What a great role model

[@alexrobinson2281]

Twice ! !

[@GeoffBuysCars]

I remember this!

[@murphychris9811]

isnt that anyone who is famous tho they want you to believe one thing when really there more messed up then me and you

[@glennpowell3444]

In the 80,s just about everyone drank and drove.You just played on your luck.

[@volt8684]

No one gives a fig in 2023 imo

[@stevenkiel6452]

Nice video mate, Steve is a legend! I had a 2000 V70 T5 Ex Surrey police and it was quick car for sure. I've still got the PDF brochure from the special vehicle preperations dept at Volvo which details the standard changes they make and what other options you can get. The 2000 onward cars had uprated lower suspension arms and bigger brakes as standard 340mm I believe and the pads were made from a material which produced less dust, other options did include engine ECU upgrades but this obviously a factory upgrade so no issues around warranties etc.

[@ikonuk]

This video is so warming. The connection this guy has with old police cars is pure heart warming. A true petrol head. In fact from now on I'm calling petrol heads "Woodward's" from this point forward.

[@GeoffBuysCars]

Love this.

[@thesandero2454]

The Dutch Rijkspolitie drove the same 850 T5 for many years,from the first model year right upto the last. Always flat out on the motorways. Fantastic cars.

[@levelcrossing150]

Great, I'm looking forward to seeing the progress being made on it. 👍

[@mitchellhulston6706]

woodward was on traffic cops 18 years ago, he's hardly changed

[@RichieRouge206]

What a great interview with Steve! A long history of Volvos in the forces indeed. Liverpool Tunnel Police replaced their long run of sh*tbox BMWs with Volvos again a few years back (XC70s) and now have XC90s! A program about the storm that hit the south coast in 1987 featured prominently a Police 240 at the beginning. Can’t wait to see the progress on the T5! Fab video Geoff!

[@GeoffBuysCars]

Thank you, glad you liked it!

[@volvo480]

I have one of the tamest versions, a 2.5 10V manual saloon with 144 bhp, and it still feels like nothing is going to stop it, ever. At 200,000 miles they have just been run in.

[@frenchenstein]

Really enjoyed the interview 👌🏽

[@AlexLancashirePersonalView]

Saw a video once where someone modified a T5 and got 700 bhp out of it. Used in an off roader for climbing sand dunes. They had to put supports down the sides of the pots and b big turbo on it.

[@robincunningham529]

a great video, thanks for sharing

[@sonicstep]

I saw this last year. It's a repost. I thought it was an update on his progress thus far. Anyhow, reading through many of the comments, many seemed not to have seen it so well done.

[@GeoffBuysCars]

It’s edited differently and as you say, newer subscribers hasn’t seen it :)

[@oliverxvi4373]

Love the older Volos 850 and earlier models. Everything after that is like not Swedish anymore. Yes im a Swede :)

[@tatianarhodes2702]

Brilliant! I drive a purple 1996 Volvo 850 saloon auto. Cost me £300 8 years ago. Got 196,500 on the clock (but only know that as the garage checked at my last MOT in November - the dial hasn't worked since I bought it 🤣). My favourite car that I have ever had - I'm 60 so had a few different ones. It's got a sport mode that eats petrol but it goes like 💩 off a shovel! 😊

[@GeoffBuysCars]

Purple?! Lovely!!! If you decide to sell...

[@barryrathbone]

I had a 240GLT and that certainly could surpass a few at the traffic light Grand Prix! Never realised the T5 were front wheel drive

[@AndreaPick]

Nice one. Enjoyed that, never owned or driven a Volvo car. As a lorry driver driven plenty of Volvo lorries, starting from the F86 and through the series. My favorite would be the F88.

[@GeoffBuysCars]

I love that people who don't own or drive Volvos can still enjoy my videos :)

[@damiantaylor7993]

I can tell you that most police spec cars were tweaked a little but not from the police and aftermarket tuners but from the factory, for instance Vauxhall specced cars used to go to Courtney, Yes that well known Vauxhall Tuners, and they mapped the ecu’s, but VAUXHALL, took the decision to map the ecu’s themselves, so in theory yes Vauxhall only gave the police factory specced cars full warranty etc etc but what was kept quiet was before they left the factory they left with mapped ecu’s which was different from retail delivered cars, and I know that all the manufacturers at the time were all at this, mainly because of the hot hatch, max power scene at the time 🕰️

[@adamwort7160]

I live in Portsmouth past my test in 89, and was always buzzing around in my dad's truck always getting stopped haha remember all the police cars at the time, the 240s driving on side lights ( they stayed on with car running) bmw 528s and the mk4 escorts under cover cars, Mk3 transits, lwb were V6,

[@GeoffBuysCars]

V6 LWB Transit?!

[@adamwort7160]

@@GeoffBuysCars yes remember mk3 lwb transit V6, it especially on football days loaded up, we lived near fratton Park then

[@micksroversmg558]

I had a V6 mk4 ex ambulance transit was not fast but the soundtrack was immense much nicer than Di! Mind was not cheap too run sold it too fund tax exempt Range Rover Classic!

[@adamwort7160]

@@micksroversmg558 I worked for wadham stringer in about 90/91 next door workshop was ambulance shop remember new V8 Leyland daf 400 sherpas lined up waiting for conversion they sounded lovely all V8 manual

[@843thebear]

I used to have a 1997 'R' reg Volvo S70 T5 ex police traffic car, lovely car it as, great at pulling away from 70MPH+

[@procta2343]

class!! Where i am i think the traffic cops now use the BMWs and the Audis, As i have had a follow from both, on my way home at night in my old defender.

[@glennpowell3444]

Back in the later 70,s and early 80,s the police SD1,s were tuned specifically for the police.All had manual boxes and were very quick.The stock rover V8,s were actually detuned for the normal buyers.The police SD1,s ran a hotter cam and fuelling as far as I know.They could do 140.

[@longhotsummer7307]

Now, that's one unsmiling ex-Copper. :-)

[@ianfrost3529]

Not on the Volvo t5 but I brought a Honda Blackbird from BCA Newport it was an ex police bike I kept it 8 years loads of great adventures, I did 20,000miles on that bike. But the person I sold it to was the police officer who use to ride it

[@AlexLancashirePersonalView]

Used to have a Red Volvo 850 2.5 with cream leather interior Jeff last century.

[@JohnnyPaton]

The T5s used by Strathclyde Police in the 90s were known locally as the Exocet squad because when the car thieves had dumped the car in a field the German Shepherd police dog burst out of the back like an Exocet missile.

[@GeoffBuysCars]

Brilliant anecdote

[@Ayrshore]

Yes, N505 GFC was one of them. Cut car crime dramatically in the areas they operated.

[@JohnnyPaton]

@@Ayrshore I believe it featured in a documentary about Strathclyde police and car crime in Glasgow from the 90s.

[@Ayrshore]

@@JohnnyPaton Probably. That's on here - I looked for it for years - it definitely features the Omega of the same era.

[@residentelect]

@@Ayrshore Similar thing happened in Humberside during the early 90s, when the Road Crime Section took to the streets. They ran Escort Cosworths in tandem with 3.0L Senators, the latter having the added bonus of a 40kg German Shepherd in the back. Within the first year they'd taken out most of the ringleaders of the "TWOC" crews who plagued Hull, Scunthorpe and Grimsby at the time. Edit: The unit featured on an episode (aptly named "TWOC") of "Blues & Twos" which was on ITV during the 90s. It had been uploaded to KZbin, but it seems to have disappeared.

[@scotty6346]

The police 850's just had 302mm front discs instead of the standard 280mm front discs, Slightly longer brake hoses but the Calipers and pads were standard size. I've done the 302mm disc mod and slightly longer hoses on my 850 T5. Great video mate and reinforces to me why my 850 T5 wagon is such a great car! 👍

[@matthewwiddows6319]

Again, not all of them look at the stills, 280mm with columba's, 302mm with perfo's.

[@GeoffBuysCars]

@@matthewwiddows6319 Great point.

[@scotty6346]

@@matthewwiddows6319 I stand corrected mate 👍

[@matthewwiddows6319]

@@scotty6346 the geek in me would like to know, if as we can see some 850's had 280mm and some 302mm, did volvo design the 302mm carrier and perfo for the police and then offer as standard on s/v70 t5, or did they from the feedback of 850 owners inc police, design them for the 1997 s/v70 and retro fit them to police 850's. The stills show lots of 1996 (n reg) 850's on 280mm. Police 850's then got the upgrade in 1997. Also the autos suffered more due to lack of engine braking compared to a manual.

[@scotty6346]

@@matthewwiddows6319 All i know is the 302's are referred to as Police spec, Why are you asking me? Your the expert mate 👍

[@lloyd.8272]

I must be the luckiest Bmw owner, Iv had 11 over the years and never had a mechanical problem, only issue I’ve had was last year with condensation in the rear light cluster on a f87.

[@geoffdundee]

FUD prefix numberplate was very common locally here in Dundee

[@GeoffBuysCars]

I did think it was a Scotland car.

[@paulie-Gualtieri.]

Great to see, they didn't see, getting a lot of attention on T witter, well done 👏

[@matthewwiddows6319]

I can confirm that a std 225bhp 850 t5 will do 150mph (eventually). Remapped will easily do 150mph. Those blue interiors are so retro, like the red interiors in the 740.

[@GeoffBuysCars]

Yeah it was SUCH a clean interior too. Lovely find.

[@matthewwiddows6319]

@@GeoffBuysCars also to add to this video, I don't think the police 850 cars were mapped. I have read some ex police 850 ecu's and they were std. The top speed quoted in this video would have been on a calibrated speedo, and 148mph ish is what my first std 1995 t5 auto saloon would hit. Volvo never had any approved mappers back then like polestar, and to be honest any good police mechanic would have just put a few turns on the actuator to give a bit more psi if the police wanted them faster.

[@davemooney7415]

that geoff was a brill interview remember watching him as a kid we need all the ex coppers to come out of retierment to sort all the corruption out genuine to the core that lovely bloke and so passionate think he might of lost the plot though lol

[@kawakuru]

Awesom video👍👍🇸🇪🏆🏁

[@martinclapton2724]

The ex police officer mentioned the police cars weren’t tweaked or breathed upon , when Jo Public including myself , always presumed they were. I remember an old Top Gear episode ( it’s on you tube somewhere ) when Quentin Wilson tested the Ford Granadas ( You’re Nicked Mate! , yes those) , they stated they were breathed upon to the tune of 135mph , the standard V6 Granny’s would only do about 110mph .

[@GeoffBuysCars]

Yes I always thought that too...

[@energymc22]

Interesting - I remember one of the very first issues of Top Gear magazine they had an article about police cars where a police officer stated that the engines aren't tuned, although in years gone by they used to modify them heavily. They said that apart from electrical/charging system improvements and occasionally changes to the rear suspension to cope with a boot full of stuff at high speed they were mostly untouched. That said, there was supposedly a so called "police spec" brake pad available as a popular upgrade when I owned a Saab which shared braking system with the Senator

[@crf80fdarkdays]

Would love a 850 t5, g'day from Australia

[@matthewwiddows6319]

The early t-5 for those who know them, had different intercooler pipework and turbo design, they came on boost hard and would go through tyres.

[@scotty6346]

The Turbo was standard mate, 15G, The early T5's had what is now known as an RIP (Reverse intercooler pipework) An up and over the engine pipework to the intercooler, This design caused throttle body freezing in harsh swedish winter conditions so they re designed it with a subpar solution of dragging the pipework around the rear side of the engine etc, I sourced an early, Genuine T5 RIP kit and fitted it to my 95 T5, The Turbo spool is so much better especially with the 16T!

[@matthewwiddows6319]

@@scotty6346 not true, exhuast housing different on 94/95 15g's. Different ecu part number and software (from when I used map then).

[@scotty6346]

@@matthewwiddows6319 What's not true? Only manifold differences i know of were standard and Japanifold.

[@matthewwiddows6319]

@@scotty6346 different 15g's

[@GeoffBuysCars]

@@matthewwiddows6319 I just want to stand here with some popcorn and shout HAVE A FIGHT, SEE WHO'S BEST! over and over until you both work it out.

[@Mike_5]

Woodward loves his Skoda Vrs pursuit vehicle that's a fact!

[@hoof2001]

My dad was the first ever civilian police fleet manager in the country and was responsible for introducing the first ever foreign cars (Volvos) into any British force. That was Hampshire

[@GeoffBuysCars]

Tell me more?! GeoffBuysCars at gmail dot com

[@richardclarke376]

first thing I thought when I saw this.... Alistair Stewart usually sees cop cars in his rear view mirror when he's getting pulled over for DUI !

[@richardclarke376]

As the surrey road policing unit used to refer to him on their "big board": "six pack stewart"

[@KarlHamilton]

I have his book. It's brilliant. Only a small section about the 850 though unfortunately.

[@GeoffBuysCars]

I need to give it a read!

[@KarlHamilton]

@@GeoffBuysCars he says the initial T-5s the police were given as testers were extremely quick, but the ones they actually received didn't seem as quick as the testers. He's sure nothing untoward happened lol.

[@JohnSmith-sl1my]

My friend used to buy ex volvo police cars they had holes cut out everywhere inside for all there bits and bobs.

[@matthewwiddows6319]

The wheels tell you what brakes they have, look at the stills in this video, car with the perfo's (more sharper blade on the wheel) have the bigger 302mm front brakes. 850 brakes are pretty bad compared to modern, due to lack of disc diameter and servo assistance.

[@GeoffBuysCars]

Love the geeky comment but of course you're spot on.

[@Ezz800]

Might be a shed in its current state, but I’m glad Steve got his old girl back. Bet that first drive is going to bring back some fond memories.

[@GeoffBuysCars]

Yeah! He's stoked to get it done.

[@adamwort7160]

Needs to buy a mk3 astra with ignition barrel hanging out with a couple of hoodies driving it, so he can chase it

[@GeoffBuysCars]

@@adamwort7160 Love that idea. And if they get pulled over by the real police they could pretend to be time travellers.

[@robertfish4052]

Many nostalgic folks told me of the sad disappearance of Dr Who Police Boxes.. GOOD NEWS, they're back, and they've got wheels.

[@chevchelios8582]

That reminds me, I really want a C70 T5 - if such a beast still exists! Something about the weird warble sound a 5 makes. I’m too suave and sophisticated for an estate so that can’t happen.

[@robbanks50]

It took me years to realise the 5pot engines in these also went in the focus rs, they sound sooo good

[@stanionman8178]

There a two versions of the C70, the earlier version (1990s) wasn't so hot in the handling stakes as it was literally a 850 with the roof cut off, leaving the body stiffness compromised, plus it was a soft top, but the Mk 2 version 2006-2014 was a much better car, designed from the outset as a open tourer, so the body was made much stiffer than the previous incarnation, and also equipped with a hard top that folded down at the push of a button, and handles brilliantly with no skuttle shake that the earlier version dished up !

[@zolfyl8816]

Dam,im looking at buying im a 850 type R i live in france,its immaculate,its got in equivalent 30k miles on it and they want 18 grand for it,which equates to about 50k km,any advice on it please its original,what do you think

[@truthfulremedy_aka_lennybee]

Still think the sight of a Vauxhall Senator in your rear view mirror ready to blue light you was way more scary than the T5 😎

[@joecarrolljnr]

Until you arrived at the first bend 😉

[@truthfulremedy_aka_lennybee]

@@joecarrolljnr when you know… you know 😁

[@GentilsGarage]

You should do a 850/V70 in police livery

[@guy4469]

Vauxhall senitor 3ltr 24 valve manual, Mad crazyiest car on the planet they are so powerfull 0,to 60 in 7 seconds top speed 160mph ive done it in my dark green one ex CID car And just as mad volvo 850r is just as mad car .

[@alexselby349]

Saw a new Met Police Volvo today...

[@kurtsteiner8384]

I had a volvo once nice car renault engine gearbox was in the wheel arch and clitch. It was 480 es. Some idiot ran into it in a van, it got written off.

[@thedetailingdoctor5746]

Watch out for the video coming up on my channel it’s the sister car to Steve’s e28 police car. Only 2 have survived which is Steve’s and this one

[@GeoffBuysCars]

Ah you’re kidding...! That’s awesome!

[@chrisevans1731]

I have a later model ex M6 patrol car; a v70 t5 2.4 petrol in white....the volvos in Scotland after my car where all silver then badged up, although they did run a couple of dark blue and black unmarked cars on the A9. It is a 6 speed manual car utilising the focus st170 gearbox...in fact a lot of the mechanicals of the 2006 era volvos ran ford dirty bits. Being white It does get a few looks and those in the know realise it's ex-police because of the absence of roof bars. I swapped out the cheap cloth interior for the full black leather package. It has a bigger turbo, intercooler and been lowered 40mm plus 18 inch alloys and police fitted xc90 big brakes front and rear. The rear shocks needed changed as unloaded the car had a nose down rake to the point that the headlight alignment ran out of adjustment. 300bhp on the dyno and I ran out of courage at 145mph...the front end started getting all a bit floaty....but there was a bit more to go. I have front and rear lights but can't get hold of a roof light bar. 195k on the clock and still running strong. It really is a beast...super-car performance for very little money.

[@trevorockwell8764]

Didn’t you already upload this?

[@GeoffBuysCars]

Yeah, I said this in the description I was never happy with the first edit :) they’re different

[@trevorockwell8764]

@@GeoffBuysCars oh right cool, I thought I was having deja vu!

[@granadaman7339]

“ we were using 525s when North wales police were using Maestros “ … forgets to mention the Met were using Austin Metros …. What were North Wales Police area / Zulu / traffic / ARV cars then ? Let’s compare dept to dept ….. the Met didn’t use 525s as beat / UBV vehicles ….

[@derekmcfadyen127]

Bmw toming chain ?

[@trevorockwell8764]

The 302mm discs are still rubbish. Getting a set of 6-pot callipers and 320mm discs made for mine 😊

[@GeoffBuysCars]

That’ll do the job! Which alloys do you need for 320mm...? Guess they don’t fit with Columbas?

[@trevorockwell8764]

@@GeoffBuysCars I’m getting them custom made to fit behind the Volans, but even that is going to be tight. :)

[@matthewwiddows6319]

I've got v50 t5 calipers and c70 mk2 320mm for my 850r to keep the volans. Shame there are no better options like the xc90 336mm discs I had on my s60. Ferodo ds2500 are a good upgrade for 850's with both 280 and 302.

[@trevorockwell8764]

@@matthewwiddows6319 still floating piston though. Which is why I’m having something made. The problem though is the space between the spokes and the disc, it is very tight with decent callipers.

[@micksroversmg558]

My brother has Tarox 6 pots behind the Rover 200 BRM cosmos Alloy wheels it has steel rods forged piston T16 Turbo motor in it not been out for long time now tho!

[@850glt]

Will it ever return to the road?

[@GeoffBuysCars]

Yes, Steve has been working hard on this car and posting occasional updates in the 850 owners UK facebook group :-)

[@robinforrest7680]

Hope the blue one doesn’t go for scrap!!! Maybe he’d be ok just to swap the interiors between the two cars?

[@bad-bunnyblogger8171]

Can someone explain why 5 cylinders don't provide very good engine breaking?

[@GeoffBuysCars]

I think it’s just the auto box.

[@bad-bunnyblogger8171]

@@GeoffBuysCars Ahh okay. Thanks

[@stanionman8178]

Yes I had a P2 Volvo V70 D5 and when the speed of the car dropped below 45 mph the gearbox would disengage itself, so below that speed no engine braking was available ! but here we are talking an 850, so back then no engine braking was available at any speed ! Scary or what 😅😅

[@bad-bunnyblogger8171]

@@stanionman8178 yeah that's pretty scary if you're not aware of it! Lol

[@hassyg4083]

those volvos were built like tanks

[@thomasshepard6030]

I can honestly say the volvo 240 GL was the worst car I've ever owned just everything about it was horrible it had an intermittent fault if you came to a stop at traffic lights and tried to turn left it would cut out my mate who was a fully qualified volvo mechanic in a main volvo dealership could not even fix it and told me get rid of it I traded it in for a ford granada 2.8 i X pack one of the best cars I've ever owned

[@andicog]

And now all forces will be buying Volvos as BMW UK has closed its specialist police sales unit, the police will no longer buy BMW due to a number of reasons, so its in with Swedish VOLVO, unfortunately they're now 82% Chinese owned....

[@A1DJPaul]

231,000 miles ? A Volvo should be " As New " With Correct Police Servicing & Repairs . 231,00 miles is NOTHING. Cars only go Wrong Due to Lack of Correct Servicing & Care.

[@mickymac6571]

I have a 02 Volvo C70 with 224000 miles on the clock, goes ok but things wear and age.

[@A1DJPaul]

@@mickymac6571 I Bought a Renault Master Van at 191,000 Just Before it's 1st M O T . It was as MINT as any other 3 yr old Commercial Van. To carry out Work for my secondary Business at the time. The New owner is Still VERY Happy with it. at 340,000 miles & Flew it's last MOT with NO ADVISORIES. Renault Master 3500kg work van, Hammering the Motorways Hour after Hour . London, Scotland, Wales, Kent, Bristol & everywhere from West Yorkshire. Do a VOSA Check on PN07VUP Supplied New by JDS Trucks ( Blackburn & Morley , Leeds ) 2.5 Turbo , 6 Speed, 150bhp.& will Hold a Constant 115 mph at 330,00 miles & 12 yrs old.

[@tomsurrey2252]

I've always hated Alister Stewart!

[@raymondo6665]

Always interesting to know how taxpayer's money is spent.

[@alexbegbie5073]

Just because he's on the TV HES STILL A MEMBER OF THE Gang 🤔