AFAIK, no TR5 or TR6PI cars were used for regular police work. The police in
London did try some injection cars but they proved to be unsuitable because of
plug fouling and consequent misfire in slow-moving traffic. They were also too
small in that they had innsufficiennt space in the boot for all the kit the
police carried then. They carry even more now - and were would you put te
people you'd arrested?
GT6's were used by several forces but mainly crewed by women and used for
general patrol work in mixed traffic conditions. While the girls certainly
liked them, their uniforms caused problems. Those were the days when
policewomen wore skirts (unlike trousers today) and exiting from a GT6 in a
hurry wearing your cap and doing it with decorum, proved impossible!
The Triumph saloon wiith the injection engine (2.5PI) was used by many forces
and was extremely popular as a motorway patrol car. The boot easily swallowed
the kit they needed and te engines were performance modified for extra vehicle
weight and extra speed. A typical Triumph police car was putting out about
160bhp (132bhp for the production version) and was good for 120mph max speed.
Thirty odd years ago, there weren't too many mass produced cars capable of
more.
It is still said by many (now retired) traffic police that the later transfer
to Volvos was based largely on the ovlovs similarities in terms of having a
solid steel structure which made them feel safe at speed in the event of an
accident. This is probably confirmed by the fact that 'Big Six' Triumphs (2000
and 2.5PI saloon and wagon) were popular in much later years as 'banger
racers' - which is the fate so many had and why so few are now left. Two
however, are safe at home with me and very pleased with life, thank you!
Jonmac
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