METROPOLITAN POLICE SEG, 1986 ROVER SD1 3500 V8, C307 BYO, IN RESTORATION, PRESERVATION AND SERVICE

In the early 1970s, Leyland combined the design teams of the Rover and Triumph brands into one group called the Specialist Division to work on the single replacement for the Rover P6 and the Triumph 2000/2500 

Their project became known as “SD1” the first project for the Specialist Division. 

At its launch in the middle of 1976, the car was a quick and favourably priced competitor in the market and quickly saw orders for the modern mid sector hatchback soar. But due to production problems, both technical and labour related, supply was initially well below demand. 

Police forces across the UK were keen to take on the car with its 3500cc V8 engine and cost effective price. The Metropolitan Police used the 2.3 and 2.6 litre variants mainly as Area Cars with the 3.5 litre being mainly reserved for Traffic patrol and specialist work. 

The car was quite long lived and at the end of its life in the early 1990s, the Met were renowned for buying old stocks of the car and gradually bringing them into service for several years after production had ceased. 

C307 BYO seen here in a classic Police parade in London.