The Sweeney

[grifterkid]

As an obsessive of all things 1970's it is only natural that one of my favourite television shows is 'The Sweeney'... I love everything about it especially the cars which is probably why I do love a P6... The P6 always seems to turn up as a squad car, or a Met' police car, in the show and it's great to see them being driven in anger... What I would love to know though is did the Flying Squad actually use P6 V8's back in the 1970's as squad cars...?! I'd love to know if any still exist if so...!

 

[JVY]

The Sweeney - possibly the best TV series ever. Anymore news on when a remake might be shown?

I had a quick search for any references to real Fylying Squad using P6's but no luck. Found references to P6s used by Met as area and traffic cars. Though, did find one news report talking about a Triumph (2000 I assume) being used as a sqaud car and being mistaken for a P6.

http://www.express.co.uk/comments/view/213758

If Jack had more sense he would have been driven around in a V8 instead of a Ford Granada. Think I remember one early episode where he is sitting in the back of a V8 chatting to a senior officer? Then again, I think Ford were pretty good a product placement in 70s TV shows. The good guys usually had Fords and the BL cars got wrecked before the end of the episode.

 

[SydneyRoverP6B]

DCS Maynon was driven around in a Rover 3500 and in one episode Jack was indeed sitting in the back talking with him. DCI Haskins was also driven around in a Rover, so the top brass travelled in style!

In "The Professionals" another one of my favourite shows, Doyle (Martin Shaw) was driving a brown Rover 2000, but unforunately it broke down all the time, so they got rid of it and he got to drive a Ford Escort instead.

I have always liked the 3.0 litre V6 Ford Capri that Bodie (Lewis Collins) was driving. The V6 models were as rare as the proverbial hen's teeth here in Australia. Must admit I would love to have one.

Ron.

 

[grifterkid]

It does appear that the top cops in The Sweeney got the Rover 3500 but the lesser members of the squad got them too...! In fact there is a blue S2 used that has the V8 front valance and 3500S wheel trims but is actually a 2000SC (the strip speedo being the giveaway)...!

 

[chrisyork]

Not easy for a 4 pot to wear a V8 valance - the holes for the bumper irons are in the wrong place! More likely an S1 V8 wearing S2 trim on the outside.

Chris

 

[grifterkid]

Not easy for a 4 pot to wear a V8 valance - the holes for the bumper irons are in the wrong place! More likely an S1 V8 wearing S2 trim on the outside.

Chris

I'm convinced it's a 4-cylinder S2 dressed up to look like a V8 as it sounds puny (no offense to all you 2000 owners!) and has the strip speedo with no rev' counter... I'm surprised Euston (the people who made The Sweeney) would bother to change one up at all as they used V8 P6's quite often in the show...?!?!

 

[hermione149]

Ron wrote,

In "The Professionals" another one of my favourite shows, Doyle (Martin Shaw) was driving a brown Rover 2000, but unforunately it broke down all the time,

It was an auto, i remember a particular scene where Doyle is thrashing the nuts off it,and as it passes the camera,you can hear the gear change up,

EMK 760J went on to be abused again in the Sweeny 2 The Movie, this time by Reagan

http://www.imcdb.org/vehicle_94295-Rove ... -1971.html

http://www.imcdb.org/vehicle_32672-Rove ... -1971.html

 

[darth sidious]

I think the 'worst' part in one of "The Sweeney" episodes was an almond 2000TC going on its side (and ripping open a fence!) during a car chase! I cannot remember what the episode was called, though!

It does appear that the top cops in The Sweeney got the Rover 3500 but the lesser members of the squad got them too...! In fact there is a blue S2 used that has the V8 front valance and 3500S wheel trims but is actually a 2000SC (the strip speedo being the giveaway)...!

In which episode was this? I have the complete Sweeney DVD collection here somewhere!

 

[PeterB76]

Watched a good episode tonight featuring a tobacco leaf Three Thousand Five (on a 'J' plate) with 'S' trims. I'm sure it was in at least one other episode too iirc.

And Columbo was on earlier, were he was visiting London and being driven around by Scotland Yard in a white TT5 (with a white Webasto roof). And the villians were driven away in a white police 3500 at the end too.

Quite a P6 fest today!

 

[darth sidious]

I saw that episode of The Sweeney too! Got to love the grittiness of those 70's cop shows, not the diluted soft drama these days!

 

[grifterkid]

I think the 'worst' part in one of "The Sweeney" episodes was an almond 2000TC going on its side (and ripping open a fence!) during a car chase! I cannot remember what the episode was called, though!

In which episode was this? I have the complete Sweeney DVD collection here somewhere!

This episode is 'Drag Act' from Series 4 and it is a corker...!!!

 

[darth sidious]

This episode is 'Drag Act' from Series 4 and it is a corker...!!!

I will have to dig that out, then!

 

[grifterkid]

I think the 'worst' part in one of "The Sweeney" episodes was an almond 2000TC going on its side (and ripping open a fence!) during a car chase! I cannot remember what the episode was called, though!

It does appear that the top cops in The Sweeney got the Rover 3500 but the lesser members of the squad got them too...! In fact there is a blue S2 used that has the V8 front valance and 3500S wheel trims but is actually a 2000SC (the strip speedo being the giveaway)...!

In which episode was this? I have the complete Sweeney DVD collection here somewhere!

In the Series 2 episode 'I Want the Man' you can see the interior very clearly (at the end of the episode) and it does appear to be a 4-cylinder car...!

 

[darth sidious]

In the Series 2 episode 'I Want the Man' you can see the interior very clearly (at the end of the episode) and it does appear to be a 4-cylinder car...!

That's the episode with Russell Hunter (Popeye), Roy Kinnear (Francis 'Frankie' Little), and Michael Coles (Maynard), isn't it? That's a good episode! I say the Police should be shown the end of this episode as the correct way to deal with criminals!

 

[grifterkid]

In the Series 2 episode 'I Want the Man' you can see the interior very clearly (at the end of the episode) and it does appear to be a 4-cylinder car...!

That's the episode with Russell Hunter (Popeye), Roy Kinnear (Francis 'Frankie' Little), and Michael Coles (Maynard), isn't it? That's a good episode! I say the Police should be shown the end of this episode as the correct way to deal with criminals!

That's the one sir...! I agree that the 'Squad' certainly deal with those slags very well at the end...!!!

 

[Three Thousand Five]

Sweeney? What a load of old tosh..... only kidding! The best British TV drama series ever, and despite one or two weak episodes it still stands up to repeated viewing.

It's amazing just how many P6s turn up in it from start to finish..... and don't forget the squad car shown near the beginning of the pilot episode 'Regan' from 1974..... top stuff :wink:

"Get your trousers on, you're nicked!"

Nidge :wink:

 

[restojon]

I'm under the impression that the plod did use 2000TC's in the day but am not entirely sure about that, don't think it was force wide if they did though. Also I believe they were used for ferrying around the top brass rather than chasing crim's. Now the Sweeney? There's a show, I can watch it again and again....and I do much to the confusion of the missus. At least now we have the legend that is Gene Hunt, and although not a P6 there will be some SD1 action in the show. (Above all, it's a Rover.)

 

[grifterkid]

I just thought I would put up a few pictures of the Rover P6's used in The Sweeney to add to this thread... There are loads of pic's of these motors that were used by the Flying Squad, Rozzers and blaggers alike...!!! Here we go...

 

[The Rovering Member]

Only two 4-pots & they totalled the first one. :cry:

 

[darth sidious]

In reference to grifterkid's confirming I was talking about the right episode:-

They sure did! That's the correct way to treat criminals, not worry about their human rights and how unfortunate they are!

How come the XGN 219G car has Series 2 'makeup', seeing a G reg should make it a Series 1?

Did they use false plates during filiming?