19/08/2026
This vehicle is a historically significant 1966 Volvo police car, believed to be the first non-British police car to enter service in the United Kingdom. It was originally supplied for use by Hampshire Police and represents an important part of both Volvo’s history in the UK and the development of British policing vehicles during the 1960s.
The vehicle is now owned by Volvo Car UK, who placed their trust in us to undertake its restoration.
Inspection also revealed evidence of numerous previous repairs. Some of these repairs are no longer considered satisfactory and had contributed to further deterioration or concealed the full extent of the corrosion.
A major part of the restoration has involved carefully removing the extensively corroded and previously repaired areas.
The original floor sections and affected chassis areas were found to be beyond economical repair. These sections have therefore been removed and new floor and chassis sections were renewed, fabricated and installed, restoring the structural integrity of the vehicle.
We are now cutting away the corroded metal to the rear corners and will be fabricating repair sections to be welded in place.
The extensive corrosion and previous repairs make the work particularly challenging, requiring careful assessment as each area needs opening up. The restoration is approached with the aim of producing a structurally sound vehicle while respecting its original construction and history.
We are proud that Volvo Car UK entrusted us with the restoration of such an important vehicle, and that we have been able to play a part in preserving this unique piece of British policing and Volvo history for future generations!
