A police car which was the staple of the Grampian Police force’s traffic officers during the 1980s is back on home turf after being sold at a world-record breaking auction.
The rare 1985 Rover SD1 Vitesse, or “jam sandwich” as it was known for its red and white pattern, sold for £9,750 to the Grampian Transport Museum, Alford.
The 3.5 litre V8had been restored to its former glory for Channel 4 series For The Love of Cars, which follows actor Philip Glenister and a crew of mechanics as they hunt down and restore vintage classic cars.
The former high-speed pursuit motor received a full respray with its Grampian Police livery, stop signs, sirens and flashing blue lights lovingly restored.
Mike Ward, the curator of the Grampian Transport Museum, snapped up the car at auction in Birmingham on Saturday.
He said: “We’ve been aware of this particular vehicle for some time now, it’s no stranger to our museum and in fact has appeared here before.
“When we found out that it was up for sale, it was always our intention to try and bring this rare example back home.
“The hammer went down at £9,750 which is a new world record for a Rover SD1 at auction.
“It’s sure to be a fantastic addition to our collection, and we’ll also make sure it’s put to good use at our very popular Emergency Vehicle Rides session which takes place on April 10.”