Topic: Project Polac (Read 5887 times)

Omega VT3000 · « **on:** 25 March 2007, 23:31:16 »

As some of you may know, I bought an ex-Herts armed response Omega with the intention of restoring it back to its' in-use state for shows and possibly TV work.

I have finally pulled my finger out and got the finances together to get the ball rolling with some paintwork so last weekend, the car went to the bodyshop.

I did a test fitting of the livery some time ago but the car is now getting sorted out for the livery to be permanently applied.

I plan to put a few more pictures up as the project progresses. The plan is to cosmetically restore the car and then sort out the electrics as I go along.

Jim · « **Reply #1 on:** 26 March 2007, 10:47:31 »

Looks Great Mate, Look forward to seeing the end result

TheBoy · « **Reply #2 on:** 26 March 2007, 12:48:03 »

Do you have to compromise to make it legal?

hotel21 · « **Reply #3 on:** 26 March 2007, 14:45:25 »

Not sure what you are asking TB but if its the legality of using it on the road once complete, then all thats required (as far as I know) is that all Police insignia is covered such as the blue lights and any 'Police' wording. The battenburg is OK to drive with.

HtH

B

Omega VT3000 · « **Reply #4 on:** 26 March 2007, 16:57:43 »

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Not sure what you are asking TB but if its the legality of using it on the road once complete, then all thats required (as far as I know) is that all Police insignia is covered such as the blue lights and any 'Police' wording. The battenburg is OK to drive with.

HtH

B

Sort of correct. As you can imagine I have looked in to this in some detail. As mentioned, the POLICE lettering has to be either removed or completely covered not just striped through with tape.

Everything else pertains to vehicle lighting regulations. Technically, the blue lights cannot be fitted, working or not and you cannot fit reflective material to the side of a vehicle unless you have a good reason to do so so I could still get done on a number of things but I think discretion has to be exercised and you do as much as you can to make it obvious that it is not in service.

hotel21 · « **Reply #5 on:** 26 March 2007, 18:49:50 »

I based my comments on my experiences of how demonstrator and similar vehicles are transported throughout the UK other than on a transporter.

If you get a chance to see, for instance, a Ford demonstrator vehicle it is fully battenburged with police markings and operational blue lights. The crest on the door, however, is the standard Englandshire Police badge surrounded with 'Ford Demonstration Vehicle' or similar, rather than 'Somewhere Constabulary'.

These vehicles have the roof bars covered with a tailor made white bag and the Police on bonnet and rear covered with a flexy magnetic blank when driven bt Ford employees and not in active police use.

Similar has also been done when police vehicles have been driven from their home constabulary to shows in the south of England or back to BMW for warranty replair.

Just my tuppence...

Good looking project, by the way. Theres always a market for working (ex) police vehicles for film and similar use, apparently.

jimbo · « **Reply #6 on:** 27 March 2007, 00:29:30 »

What's it like in the inside? Fitted with radios and light controls etc?

Kev · « **Reply #7 on:** 31 March 2007, 10:58:20 »

Looking good James.

I see the old Lotus Carlton is still lurking about in your garage.

I wish i had a spin in it that time i was down there a few years back.

Omega VT3000 · « **Reply #8 on:** 01 April 2007, 21:38:02 »

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What's it like in the inside? Fitted with radios and light controls etc?

At some point it will be as ad when I get the time and the parts.

Omega VT3000 · « **Reply #9 on:** 01 April 2007, 21:40:32 »

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Looking good James.

I see the old Lotus Carlton is still lurking about in your garage.

I wish i had a spin in it that time i was down there a few years back.

Sadly not, the makeover pics were taken back in 2005 and a lot has passed since then. The LC is still in the family but I now have a BMW that is almost as quick.

jimbo · « **Reply #10 on:** 02 April 2007, 01:57:44 »

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Quote
What's it like in the inside? Fitted with radios and light controls etc?

At some point it will be as ad when I get the time and the parts.

Pics please!

I'm trying to work out how to fit a CB radio into my 52 plate CDX without making the interior look like a complete dog's dinner...

amigov6 · « **Reply #11 on:** 02 April 2007, 22:37:42 »

Fun car. Did police spec come with alloys or did you put 'em on?

Omega VT3000 · « **Reply #12 on:** 03 April 2007, 15:23:44 »

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Pics please!

I'm trying to work out how to fit a CB radio into my 52 plate CDX without making the interior look like a complete dog's dinner...

On my Polac, the radio was installed where the normal radio would be fitted. Plod don't have a lot of use for in car entertainment

Omega VT3000 · « **Reply #13 on:** 03 April 2007, 15:25:10 »

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Fun car. Did police spec come with alloys or did you put 'em on?

Originally (starting in 94) they had steels with hub caps but latterly they had alloys. Most had the 16" CDX rims although this has the pre-facelift CD wheels.

Omega VT3000 · « **Reply #14 on:** 03 April 2007, 21:57:53 »

I spoke to the bodyshop today. They have painted the bumpers and the bonnet. One of the holes been welded up and the broken check strap mount on the A-pillar has been welded up. I should be getting it back Saturday week

Jim · « **Reply #15 on:** 04 April 2007, 14:29:47 »

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I spoke to the bodyshop today. They have painted the bumpers and the bonnet. One of the holes been welded up and the broken check strap mount on the A-pillar has been welded up. I should be getting it back Saturday week

Look forward to seeing the finished item

Omega VT3000 · « **Reply #16 on:** 12 April 2007, 21:49:40 »

It's coming back on Saturday and the livery goes on next Thursday. I'l post pics at the weekend.

Jim · « **Reply #17 on:** 12 April 2007, 22:15:48 »

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It's coming back on Saturday and the livery goes on next Thursday. I'l post pics at the weekend.

Can't wait to see it

Markie · « **Reply #18 on:** 14 April 2007, 22:24:52 »

yes its looking good - will be keen to see your pics at weekend

Omega VT3000 · « **Reply #19 on:** 14 April 2007, 23:37:05 »

I have been busy today. Got up super early and headed over to Hertford (40+ miles) for 8am to start putting the beasty back together again. When I got there everything was shiny white instead of faded white and bits of silver.

Having spent the best part of four hours rebuilding, this is what I took home.

I spent the afternoon putting the newly painted front bumper on (I came home with the old one on the car) and started installing the light bar and some aerials. The livery goes on towards the back of next week

Jim · « **Reply #20 on:** 14 April 2007, 23:39:54 »

Looks good mate, very clean

TheBoy · « **Reply #21 on:** 15 April 2007, 10:33:32 »

Looking good

tunnie · « **Reply #22 on:** 15 April 2007, 10:52:08 »

Looking great

Whats the legal suitation on driving it? Does it have to be towed everyware on a low-loader?

TheBoy · « **Reply #23 on:** 15 April 2007, 13:38:11 »

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Whats the legal suitation on driving it? Does it have to be towed everyware on a low-loader?

Been covered a number of times before - do a search

tunnie · « **Reply #24 on:** 15 April 2007, 14:03:08 »

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Quote
Whats the legal suitation on driving it? Does it have to be towed everyware on a low-loader?
Been covered a number of times before - do a search

Sorry missed out on a number of threads

Omega VT3000 · « **Reply #25 on:** 19 April 2007, 22:58:15 »

The guy came out to fit the livery for me today. So the car is now largely cosmetically restored but there are a few things still to be done. The next major task will be the electrics!!

Jim · « **Reply #26 on:** 20 April 2007, 05:21:04 »

Looks Fantastic Mate

Are you putting the police county badges on to.

Omega VT3000 · « **Reply #27 on:** 20 April 2007, 05:49:12 »

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Looks Fantastic Mate

Are you putting the police county badges on to.

No. All Police crests are subject to Crown Copyright and you would require the relevant Force's permission to use it. I have asked but, as you can understand, due to the security climate, I was not given permission. The point was that restoring a Police vehicle is one thing but having 'sponsorship' from the relevant Force is another.

Big Rod · « **Reply #28 on:** 20 April 2007, 10:24:35 »

Very good Jimmy boy!!

BTW, was the rest of the world up at that time this morning too?

I got a call out!! Wish I'd known we could've had a party!!

Jim · « **Reply #29 on:** 20 April 2007, 10:24:46 »

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Looks Fantastic Mate

Are you putting the police county badges on to.

No. All Police crests are subject to Crown Copyright and you would require the relevant Force's permission to use it. I have asked but, as you can understand, due to the security climate, I was not given permission. The point was that restoring a Police vehicle is one thing but having 'sponsorship' from the relevant Force is another.

Ok mate's cheers
Pity, It looks great tho!

hotel21 · « **Reply #30 on:** 20 April 2007, 11:20:32 »

Car looks good.

Wondering about the red asterix on the rear and on the bonnet? I am unfamiliar with this - whats it for?

As regards the door crest - I am unaware to what extent you have researched the door crest situation (no doubt quite thoroughly, I would guess!! ) but have you seen or considered a crest similar to that one which Ford use for their demonstrator vehicles?

It is simply the standard English police crest with the wording 'Ford Police Demonstrator (Vehicle?) around the central part of the crest where the 'Anyshire Constabulary' wording would normally go. It looks convincing enough from a few feet away, but that is a double jeopardy, I suppose!

I have tried a quick google to find an example but thus far, without luck.

HtH

B

Jim · « **Reply #31 on:** 20 April 2007, 23:46:52 »

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Car looks good.

Wondering about the red asterix on the rear and on the bonnet? I am unfamiliar with this - whats it for?

As regards the door crest - I am unaware to what extent you have researched the door crest situation (no doubt quite thoroughly, I would guess!! ) but have you seen or considered a crest similar to that one which Ford use for their demonstrator vehicles?

It is simply the standard English police crest with the wording 'Ford Police Demonstrator (Vehicle?) around the central part of the crest where the 'Anyshire Constabulary' wording would normally go. It looks convincing enough from a few feet away, but that is a double jeopardy, I suppose!

I have tried a quick google to find an example but thus far, without luck.

HtH

B

I think the red asterix's are to show it's armed responce unit, I think

T-E-P-V-R · « **Reply #32 on:** 10 May 2007, 20:47:30 »

The astrerix do indeed indicate its an ARV.

James, Looks fantastic!

I may have to look at the kit as we spoke of today for my'n perhaps??

Good to meet you today! Small world!

Appologies about the naff response you initially got in the office.

I tried to explain our hobby but it fell on deaf ears...

regards

Paul

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Author Topic: Project Polac (Read 5887 times)

amigov6