Hamish Kirkwoods Consul

Read about it here . . .
A brief history of my Ford Consul JKO918L, built in Dagenham UK, 7 April 1972. To see more pictures visit the Granada Galleries.
History . . . .

One of the first new model Consul supplied as a base model in Pearl Grey metallic paint, Ruby Red stripped Police spec interior. A 2.5 litre V6 Essex engine with automatic gearbox, steel wheels and conical hub caps.
Has marks on roof (light box for siren on front windscreen top of roof and two marks either side).

The vehicle was not registered but on a government block scheme, so the car did not exist on the Swansea database whilst on military police work because no evidence of decals. I think Services Investiagtion Bureau, like CID in civilian police.

 

The vehicle was registered and auctioned to Parkway Trucks of Erith, Kent. They may have supplied it in the first place, such is the way nowadays. April 1973, log book 2nd owner, first owner left blank ! 3rd owner, Mr Dodds of Erith, Kent in 1976. He rebuilt the engine probably after automatic choke washed the bores after 8 years of short journeys as the vehicle still only had 90000 miles in 1982. I think it was parked up in the sun for years as the paint was sun bleached and the back light reflectors were nearly clear. When I bought it from Bradley James in Basingstoke in Oct 2006 it was the first time it had been back on the road and I drove it for 18 hours back to Glasgow.

Now . . . .

 

 
Painted with B&Q exterior paint and applied with a Stanley paint pad ! Cost £70

 

 

 

Military police cars tracking Russian trucks. White paint, red interiors. Nicknamed white mice. This one crept up at Halloween !

 

 

 
Car now re-painted with orange decals like Lancashire traffic patrol wideload convoy car.
Note sunlight on back quarter panel, Scottish light makes everything look different !

 

     

If you have a Consul or Mk1 Granada that has seen service as a Police or Military Police vehicle, or if it has white paintwork and a red interior (and/or twin tanks), please get in touch, it may have an interesting history.
Got work on an STV documentary film about a butler serial killer from Glasgow who got caught in 1978 in North Berwick with a body in the boot of a Mk1 Granada. I know you could not make it up ! They were all alkies as well as Scottish stereotypes and I must say it would be nice for a Mk1 Granada to do a wedding story or elopement for once !

Photo's taken at STV Gaelic Alba studio at Goven Glasgow . . .

        

  

 Hamish Kirkwood