Essex Police X Scalextric
The RS200
In 2023 Scalextric asked Essex Police to collaborate and produce a version of the Essex Police liveried RS200. The Force agreed, using the collaboration to promote Vision Zero, a multi-agency campaign to reduce death and serious injury on Essex roads to zero by 2040. This article tells the story behind the iconic Essex Police RS200.
Ford’s Original Concept
One of the managers at Ford thought that it would be good for publicity to get a photo with ‘his’ RS200 having stopped a Cosworth Sierra. The theme was ‘To catch one of these you will need one of these’.
A project was set up with Essex Police Transport Section who had close links to Ford. The force were using many Fords on their police vehicle fleet and had assisted Ford Development with testing components due to the high mileage and high stress environment of police driving. Fords European HQ was in Brentwood and it also had large premises at Dunton and Dagenham.
The RS200 is Delivered
A little known fact is that two RS200’s were delivered to Essex Police. The first example was a rally version delivered to Essex Police HQ in Chelmsford by a member of Ford Motorsport staff.
The then Workshops Manager drove the RS200 back to Boreham Motorsport to drop off the Ford employee. He left Boreham on what was a police technicians road test route known as the ‘Boreham Grand Prix Circuit’ and gave the RS a thrash back to Police HQ. However, on a greasy wet piece of road past some gravel pits the RS really got going and in a moment of high speed wheel spinning panic it over revved in third gear which meant it then ran roughly. The Workshop Manager remembers that it had a tiny 0-60mph speedo, that looked like one from a small motorcycle and had tyres that looked like cut slicks. Ford engineers thought something had let go in the upper valve train, possibly the valve collets.
The first car was taken back to Boreham and another one delivered to Police HQ in Chelmsford.
The replacement car was of a lower state of tune and was easier to drive. It had basic Essex Police livery applied as well as a police lightbar. The blue flashing lights were never wired up so didn’t work. It was described by officers who drove it as uncomfortable, noisy inside with lots of turbo lag before a white knuckle ride!
The Famous Photographs
The RS200 was taken out onto a stretch of pre-opened dual carriageway known as the A12. The A12 runs alongside the Boreham site in one direction into London, the other towards Ipswich.
The famous photographs were taken on the Chelmsford bypass between Junction 16 Stock/Galleywood and Junction 17 Howe Green in a layby on the northbound carriageway. The officer in the photographs was Police Sergeant 353 Ed Cross posing as if he had carried out a stop check on the Cosworth Sierra. It is said that several other police officers and vehicle technicians enjoyed a thrill ride in the car. The RS200 ended up returning to Boreham on a trailer after it had an engine problem following a vehicle technician’s heavy right foot!
What Happened to the RS200?
The loan of the RS was short lived as the Chief Constable of the day got to hear there was a police marked RS200 being ‘used’ and the then officer in charge of the Transport Section was called up to see the Chief and bring the car with him.
When the Inspector met with the Chief Constable he was told off as it wasn’t considered the right thing to have done. The RS200 was returned to Boreham Ford Motorsport immediately.
When it came to researching online about the current whereabouts of the car it was difficult to know what had happened to it. Online records show it hadn’t been taxed since the 29th of October 1990 and the V5C logbook was last issued on the 22nd of April 2016. Thanks to a Facebook post the owner of the car has been found, below is information provided by his son:
Mr Price purchased the car somewhere around 1986/87 direct from Ford UK (Chassis no ending 0122). It was put back to a standard road car spec prior to purchase and has been in the family ever since. It was involved in a crash at an early RS200 Owners club event in Pembrey Wales which needed substantial repairs. During this rebuild it has been brought up to modern standards or what is often referred to as a restomod. Around three years ago the owner emigrated to Australia and the RS200 made the journey with them so it now resides on the Gold Coast, Queensland. There are a few parts to finish it off and it will be back on the road.
The RS200 x 2016 Ford Focus Photographs
In 2016 Ford released a Focus RS police demonstrator vehicle which was lent to police forces around the UK for evaluation, including Essex Police. When Superintendent Justin Smith heard of this it was too much of a good opportunity to miss. It is said that he owned the RS200 in the photo. Superintendent Smith was the police officer in the 2016 image.
The 2023 Remake
Scalextric contacted Essex Police to request permission to produce a model of the RS200 publicity car, which the Force agreed to. Scalextric invited Essex Police to be a part of its launch at the UK Slot Car Festival, and the Force held a viewing event for employees.
The Force have worked with Ford UK Heritage who have two RS200s in their collection. They have kindly loaned one of these for the exhibition. PVL who produce the police battenburg markings on the current day fleet have designed a special temporary retro 1980s livery which is an exact match of the original. Essex Police vehicle technicians have found an original code 3 lightbar which is the same as the one that was fitted to the RS200. This is thought to have been in storage for many years and only been recently rediscovered. It is from 1993 and a couple of officers completely refurbished it in their spare time, meaning the 2023 car is the first one to have a functional lightbar!
The Scalextric model is now available to purchase on their website.
The museum has a new display on the RS200, featuring one of the new Scalextric models and more information on Vision Zero. We anticipate the display will close at the end of 2023.