Daimler Darts famously gave villains a run for their money when they were on the Metropolitan Police’s fleet and now one is set to clean up Goodwood after being snapped up by three-times British Touring Car Champion Win Percy.
Percy paid a model record £43,450 to get the keys to the ex-Met 1962 example (670 ELL) , which had been expected to sell for £30-35,000 at Historics’ 22 October sale.
Bidding was boosted by its condition and because the V8-engined glassfibre sports car is the best-known example of the 26 original Met police SP 250s, having been the official course car (below) at 13 Goodwood Revival meetings.
Despite being disabled since 2003, 68-year old Percy now plans to have the car sympathetically adapted so he can continue the car's Goodwood legacy in his role as Driving Standards Officer.
The former Bathurst 1000 winner and Le Mans driver was delighted with his purchase: “Although my role at Goodwood is a labour of love, I am effectively there to police driving standards, so what better way to keep an eye on proceedings than from behind the dash of an ex- constabulary car?”
Goodwood’s Lord March was upbeat, too: “It’s great to see such a beautifully kept car, with such unique history, at the Goodwood Revival each year.”
670 ELL was part of the Met’s fleet for five years, before being retired to private ownership and still boasts an operational Winkworth bell, driving light, police radio, passenger footrest and radio interference suppression kit – along with a gear-hold device to improve acceleration while giving chase.
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