► Most auctions have arrangements with local scrap dealers to take away unsaleable stock, though at what point this actually kicks in depends on the prevailing scrap value at the time. At present, with the scrap metal price high, quite a few cars are being caught because, quite simply, the system favours the speed of disposal as scrap. Pretty-much anything is worth at least £200 as scrap, so that’s now the minimum bid, even though action charges may add at least 50% to that.
Here’s a classic – and for me rather sad – example. Some of you will, I’m sure, recognise the first picture (right) as having the background for BCA online auctions. I’m also sure that a lot of you will recognise the 2004 Volvo T5 as an ex-police traffic car. It also had all the classic ex-plod features elsewhere; plugged holes in roof, non-original sound system, and the classic rectangular cut-out section in the passenger side sunvisor. Oh, and no sunroof and the usual low-spec trim.
It was ex-South Wales Police – a bit of research confirmed that it had been new to Gwent Police, and a date of last V5C issue in 2011 suggests one owner for the past twelve years. The T5 was a UKCGR (aka webuyanycar.com) entry, with an online description highlighting numerous cosmetic and mechanical defects including a slipping clutch.
In short it read like a car that had reached the end of its life as an everyday car and was no longer economical to repair. However, for an ex-police car to have lasted 19 years is no mean feat. And that’s significant, because ex-police cars of this age are now of interest to emergency vehicle preservationists because genuine ex-police cars of this age are now rather rare.
And my second photo (below left), which was taken at this year’s NEC Classic Car & Restoration Show at the end of March, rather proves this point. The nowpreser
