Volvo 121 Amazon news - Classic Volvo is back on the beat - 2006

We're all too familiar with seeing police traffic officers piloting Volvo estates, but this 39-year old Volvo 121 Amazon caused a stir back in 1966.

It was the first non-British car to be adopted by a UK police force when Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary took it on.

The Volvo was chosen over a British Humber and a Citroen DS because it was the only car capable of carrying all of the necessary equipment while still handling well.

That didn't stop the police having a little tuning work carried out by Ruddspeed, based in Arundel, to give a 112mph top speed.

Now, the 121 Amazon estate is back on the beat as part of the Police History Society after being restored by Steve Woodward, a traffic officer with Hampshire Police.