Police Minis

General Chat with an emphasis on BMC Minis & Other iconic cars of the 1960's.
Post Reply
mk1
Site Admin
Posts: 19842
Joined: Thu Jun 24, 2010 11:30 am
Location: Away with the Faries
Has thanked: 2 times
Been thanked: 4 times

Re: Police Minis

Post by mk1 »

One of the very few cars that I have ever made a crushing loss on was a Police car.

It was an ex Met Moggie Minor that was absolutely cracking, I bought it at "the right price" but could I shift it, could I buggery!

I reckon that Police Cars are a very specialised area of collecting & a car being an ex police car doesn't necessarily mean that most collectors / enthusiasts will consider them to be more desirable than a basic model.

They may be "rarer" than a Works Mini or one with competition history, this does not however make them more, or even as desirable to most people.

If you look at sites like Car & Classic or past auction results, then the above would appear to be correct.
User avatar
Peter Laidler
1275 Cooper S
Posts: 6136
Joined: Sat Jul 15, 2017 5:35 pm
Location: Abingdon Oxfordshire
Has thanked: 27 times
Been thanked: 29 times

Re: Police Minis

Post by Peter Laidler »

I agree that rarity doesn't mean value. But it's just nice to be able to have something to throw back at them. And nice blokes that they are, it's something to wind them up a bit
User avatar
snoopy64
1275 Cooper S
Posts: 1281
Joined: Sat Mar 07, 2015 7:40 pm
Location: North Cotswolds , UK
Has thanked: 16 times
Been thanked: 3 times

Re: Police Minis

Post by snoopy64 »

But more desirable for film or tv shoots than a works car :D

I know a guy with a worthless cortina that’s a nice earner...
Cheers

Kevin
User avatar
Costafortune
1275 Cooper S
Posts: 2020
Joined: Thu Feb 16, 2017 9:26 am
Location: Sheffield On Thames
Has thanked: 9 times
Been thanked: 18 times

Re: Police Minis

Post by Costafortune »

Peter Laidler wrote:I dropped it down the back Costa! It went into the hole where the cranked lever thinggy goes. I also found a brass exhaust manifold nut in there too, But ain't got a clue about that!
Aaaaahh......
User avatar
iain1967s
1275 Cooper S
Posts: 1839
Joined: Sat Jun 10, 2017 12:46 am
Location: Cambridge, MA, USA
Been thanked: 4 times

Re: Police Minis

Post by iain1967s »

coopersean wrote:As mentioned on the eBay thread, it would be interesting to see what pictures and information exists on the Police minis. I will start off with a famous one of the OKD Liverpool cars, many of which still exist, but please add any pictures or info on any cars you have seen...
Police mini in the background of this photo from 2014. Location is Larz Anderson auto museum near Boston Massachusetts, USA. Photo taken during the British Car lawn event that year.

I haven’t seem the car myself. But I’m told by a fellow NEMO club member that the owner had documentation showing it was one of the Liverpool police Minis.

Image
User avatar
iain1967s
1275 Cooper S
Posts: 1839
Joined: Sat Jun 10, 2017 12:46 am
Location: Cambridge, MA, USA
Been thanked: 4 times

Re: Police Minis

Post by iain1967s »

Ok, here is a much better photo from a NEMO club member who was at the same show.

It had MA registration plate 1BN914 in 2014 but that is no longer active, so it may have moved on. Underneath you can see V.....H which if VKA would match the Liverpool police story.

I wonder could it be VKA303H ? That was discussed elsewhere on the forum as being for sale by a forum member in Virginia about a year later.

(CooperTune: PM sent)
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
Time Bandit
850 Super
Posts: 186
Joined: Sat Jul 01, 2017 12:34 am
Location: Cumbria

Re: Police Minis

Post by Time Bandit »

VKA 303H back in mid/late '80s
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
Mike
Time Bandit
850 Super
Posts: 186
Joined: Sat Jul 01, 2017 12:34 am
Location: Cumbria

Re: Police Minis

Post by Time Bandit »

And whilst on about plod mini's...this was in the local paper a coiuple of weeks ago...
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
Mike
1071 S
1275 Cooper S
Posts: 916
Joined: Sun Jun 27, 2010 8:44 am
Location: Southern Tablelands (Oz)

Re: Police Minis

Post by 1071 S »

Costafortune wrote:
Peter Laidler wrote:I dropped it down the back Costa! It went into the hole where the cranked lever thinggy goes. I also found a brass exhaust manifold nut in there too, But ain't got a clue about that!
Aaaaahh......
Both my S boxes (3 and 4 synchro) have a little metal plate riveted (I think haven't looked for a while) over this hole to prevent such misadventures.

Would this be factory or the well thought out addition by a PO????

Cheers, Ian
User avatar
Peter Laidler
1275 Cooper S
Posts: 6136
Joined: Sat Jul 15, 2017 5:35 pm
Location: Abingdon Oxfordshire
Has thanked: 27 times
Been thanked: 29 times

Re: Police Minis

Post by Peter Laidler »

I think that the plate idea is from a pr owner. There's been a few simple mods mentioned previously. Bluddy good idea too if my experiences is anything to go by.

Re your pic TImeBandit. Any idea what the year is or what the registration number series might be? While I was up in those desolate parts of the world, it was the Carlisle, Cumberland and Westmorland police and you'd need more than a mini to get around in the icy snowy winters and monsoon summers!
Seamist Green 1100
Basic 850
Posts: 45
Joined: Fri Dec 09, 2016 6:25 am

Re: Police Minis

Post by Seamist Green 1100 »

The plate over the hole is a BMC Australia idea.
Time Bandit
850 Super
Posts: 186
Joined: Sat Jul 01, 2017 12:34 am
Location: Cumbria

Re: Police Minis

Post by Time Bandit »

Peter Laidler wrote:
Re your pic TImeBandit. Any idea what the year is or what the registration number series might be? While I was up in those desolate parts of the world, it was the Carlisle, Cumberland and Westmorland police and you'd need more than a mini to get around in the icy snowy winters and monsoon summers!
Image is from May 1968. I've tried blowing the pic up etc but I can't make out any of the numbers unfortunately.
Mike
User avatar
iain1967s
1275 Cooper S
Posts: 1839
Joined: Sat Jun 10, 2017 12:46 am
Location: Cambridge, MA, USA
Been thanked: 4 times

Re: Police Minis

Post by iain1967s »

Wrexham, ‘67 moke and ‘68 van

Others here: https://www.wrexham-history.com/wrexham ... -vehicles/
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
User avatar
Peter Laidler
1275 Cooper S
Posts: 6136
Joined: Sat Jul 15, 2017 5:35 pm
Location: Abingdon Oxfordshire
Has thanked: 27 times
Been thanked: 29 times

Re: Police Minis

Post by Peter Laidler »

This whole thread shows just how common police minis really were, Not necessarily Coopers and S's but all sorts. Except the pick-ups and estates of course. The survival rate is pretty poor though
9330FN
850 Super
Posts: 137
Joined: Mon Apr 11, 2011 12:21 pm
Location: Midlands

Re: Police Minis

Post by 9330FN »

Photo taken in Shrewsbury
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
coopersean
850 Super
Posts: 176
Joined: Thu Feb 03, 2011 9:41 pm
Location: Derbyshire

Re: Police Minis

Post by coopersean »

Old English White
1275 Cooper S
Posts: 2606
Joined: Wed Oct 19, 2011 5:07 pm
Location: Southern England
Been thanked: 4 times

Re: Police Minis

Post by Old English White »

Or not! I think the asking price was just under £30,000.
nick@dunsdale
1275 Cooper S
Posts: 874
Joined: Fri Jun 25, 2010 3:30 pm
Location: Scottish Borders
Has thanked: 5 times
Been thanked: 1 time

Re: Police Minis

Post by nick@dunsdale »

Panel wise looks like it was a decent resto on that one, nice gaps bonnet in particular fits very well, bonnets often stick out at the front on a lot of cars i have seen
The best repairs go un-noticed
User avatar
Pandora
1275 Cooper S
Posts: 3105
Joined: Thu Jun 24, 2010 8:01 pm
Location: Dunfermline, Fife

Re: Police Minis

Post by Pandora »

iain1967s wrote:Wrexham, ‘67 moke and ‘68 van

Others here: https://www.wrexham-history.com/wrexham ... -vehicles/
This is my dream garage (ah well, I'm half of half way there! :lol: )

Not sure about the uniform, though.

Al
User avatar
mk1coopers
1275 Cooper S
Posts: 2002
Joined: Thu Jun 24, 2010 2:14 pm
Has thanked: 2 times
Been thanked: 1 time

Re: Police Minis

Post by mk1coopers »

Pandora wrote:
iain1967s wrote:Wrexham, ‘67 moke and ‘68 van

Others here: https://www.wrexham-history.com/wrexham ... -vehicles/
This is my dream garage (ah well, I'm half of half way there! :lol: )

Not sure about the uniform, though.

Al
You are only half way there as Kev hasn't finished your Moke yet :lol:
Post Reply