1/43 1981 Ford Escort Mk2 RS2000 - British Police - Merseyside - Corgi Vanguards | Model Car

Limited Edition - 1 of 1200

As more motorways were built in the 1960s Police traffic patrol cars diverged into two distinct types; large 6-cylinder cars were used to patrol motorways while rapid, powerful but compact cars, often vehicles initially developed for rallying, were used in urban areas.  The Escort modelled was supplied by local Ford RS dealers Blakes, one of a second batch of 15, and entered service with Merseyside Police in January 1981 based at Smithdown Lane Police Station.  Merseyside had a serious problem with vehicle crime in this era and needed urban patrol cars that could be used in pursuits but also perform more mundane duties successfully.  Their fleet of over 25 RS2000s fitted the bill perfectly.  Merseyside Police initially used Mk1 Escort Mexicos in this role before replacing them with Mk2Escort RS2000s and may have been influenced in this choice by local politics as Ford had a plant at Halewood and were a major employer.

The example modelled was used for road rallying after being sold by the police in 1983 but since 2015 has been owned by former Humberside Police Traffic Patrol Officer, Graham Carter.  He spotted the car for sale on the internet, recognised its number plate and realised its historical significance.  It was in reasonably good condition and,unusually, still featured its original steel wheels.  Graham spent a year restoring it to its original police specification fitting the correct brown interior and recreating the original livery.