Description
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 Mk2
Escort 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.
