CITY OF BRISTOL/METROPOLITAN POLICE, WOLSELEY 6/80, TAE 700, IN RESTORATION, Preservation AND SERVICE.

The Wolseley Car Company was associated with British Police forces from 1922 to 1964, and during its long and distinguished period of service many forces throughout the entire country used the Marque. 

The Wolseley 6-80 is considered to be the "Iconic Police Car" of the later 1940s and 1950s. Its 2.2 litre overhead camshaft engine and 4-speed gearbox was quite efficient in its dealings with everyday policing requirements. The model was well loved by Police officers of the time. 

The film industry also loved the 6-80 and its regular appearances in films increased its profile.  Many of the detective films of the 1950s and 60s starred the 6-80 and in more modern times the car has been seen in many TV Series including Miss Marple, Father Brown and Call The Midwife. 

Prior to the 6-80 a lot of Police forces had used the 18/85 just after WWII as their first ever Traffic patrol car. Post 6-80 they used the 6-90, 4/44, 6-99 and 6-110 but times were changing and by the early 1970s the Wolseley plant had closed down. 

TAE 700 was originally purchased by the Deputy Chief Constable of the former City of Bristol Police as his own private car. It was never a serving police car, but in later years the owner loaned the car to the Metropolitan Police Training School at Hendon for their museum and it was here where the vehicle was put into the formal Metropolitan Police livery. 

Surprisingly although the Metropolitan Police ran more than 1,300 Wolseley 6-80s during their period of manufacture not one original Met car has survived.