At last...

[GHOSTHUNTER]

At last I have secured myself the Dinky Toys Ford Escort with a Black interior. The particular model is number 270, the 'Police' car version, the only other version I know to be fitted with the hard to find Black interior seats moulding. The other version is normally the road car in dark Metallic Blue.

Because I have not unpacked my Cameras yet, I have borrowed a picture from 'Global Diecast Direct'.

#270 'Police' Ford Escort..JPG (35.05 KiB) Viewed 2116 times

Found this at Today's (21st May), Kempton Park toy fair for £25 and is still in it's sealed at factory shallow plynth blister packaging and despite some handling ware to the plynth, it displays well.

Ghosthunter.

[motorman]

Very unusual colour combination for a Police vehicle.

[GHOSTHUNTER]

Very unusual colour combination for a Police vehicle.

For mild Policing duties the cars were not that far removed from standard road cars and somewhere along the line, they became known as Panda Cars presumably because some were white with Black doors.

I don't know the origin of the colour scheme as shown on the Dinky above, but it is a common finish in my 'Neck of the Woods'...

Ghosty.

[YYS4BOB]

Panda cars got their name simply because of the resemblance to the markings on that animal, nothing to do with the colour. Mostly used for low level police work, Morris Minors were the usual examples round my neck of the woods, but Ford Anglias were popular as well. There were many other makes so painted.

[zBret]

Congrats on your find Ghosty
Found a pic of the real-deal.
That does seem to be an unusual color for a patrol vehicle, to me what is even more odd that they, used two door models.


zBret

[GHOSTHUNTER]

Almost the real deal. The Dinky is a Mk1 Escort while the car in zBret's picture is a Mk2.

Ghosthunter.

[zBret]

Ah yes such a small but yet important detail, I shall have to beg pardon for leading anyone astray.

zBret

[RSSierra]

Well done, a good price too!

Cheers

Dave

[YYS4BOB]

[Fred7A]

I still don't have an Escort with black interior. My blue car has white seats, which looks rather less realistic!