Ford VHK Press cars

[autofive]

 

VHK 11W CAPRI MARK III 3.0S

 

Used in the Professionals Season 5

rediscovered by Alan Jarvis in 1994, having been resprayed white, The car (now restored to original spec.) was reunited with Martin Shaw, who signed the inner wing, at shepherds bush BBC studios in July 2010

 

Date of Liability 01 01 2006

Date of First Registration 01 03 1981

Year of Manufacture 1981

Cylinder Capacity (cc) 2994CC

CO2 Emissions Not Available

Fuel Type Petrol

Export Marker Export

Vehicle Status Unlicensed

Vehicle Colour GOLD

 

 

 

VHK 12W CAPRI MARK III 3.1 S V6

Used in the Professionals Season 5

Similarly it is rumoured that this car is a re-registration of OWC 827V

dvla: Vehicle details could not be found

 

 

VHK 47S 1978 FORD ESCORT MK2 RS 1800

WORKS RALLY CAR – 1979 MONTE CARLO RALLY

 

Date of Liability 01 02 2014

Date of First Registration 09 08 1977

Year of Manufacture 1977

Cylinder Capacity (cc) 1997cc

CO2 Emissions Not Available

Fuel Type PETROL

Export Marker N

Vehicle Status SORN Not Due

Vehicle Colour WHITE

 

VHK 47S & VHK 74S: these were the only works RS1800 ever fitted with an injection system rather than the twin carbs.

They were used by Hannu Mikkola and Björn Waldegaard in Monte Carlo 1979 and although these cars had improved the power to 272BHP, by Sweden 1979 the Ford works team returned to the traditional layout.

 

 

VHK 74S 1978 FORD ESCORT MK2 RS 1800

WORKS RALLY CAR – RUSSELL BROOKES / 1979 MONTE CARLO RALLY

 

Date of Liability 01 12 2013

Date of First Registration 27 09 1977

Year of Manufacture 1977

Cylinder Capacity (cc) 1834cc

CO2 Emissions Not Available

Fuel Type PETROL

Export Marker N

Vehicle Status Licence Not Due

Vehicle Colour WHITE

Vehicle Type Approval Not Available

 

VHK 99S ESCORT L

Date of Liability 01 04 1991

Date of First Registration 01 08 1977

Year of Manufacture 1977

Cylinder Capacity (cc) 1298CC

CO2 Emissions Not Available

Fuel Type Petrol

Export Marker Not Applicable

Vehicle Status Unlicensed

Vehicle Colour GOLD

 

 

VHK137S 1978 FORD GRANADA MK2 ESTATE BEIGE

IN THE FILM THE SWEENEY 2

Date of Liability 01 09 1991

Date of First Registration 18 08 1977

Year of Manufacture 1977

Cylinder Capacity (cc) 1998CC

CO2 Emissions Not Available

Fuel Type Petrol

Export Marker Not Applicable

Vehicle Status Unlicensed

Vehicle Colour GOLD

 

VHK 143S

Vehicle details could not be found

 

VHK 144S GRANADA 2.8 GHIA AUTO

Date of Liability 01 11 1989

Date of First Registration 18 08 1977

Year of Manufacture 1977

Cylinder Capacity (cc) 2792CC

CO2 Emissions Not Available

Fuel Type Petrol

Export Marker Not Applicable

Vehicle Status Unlicensed

Vehicle Colour WHITE

 

VHK 147S GRANADA GHIA COUPE AUTO

Date of Liability 01 04 1987

Date of First Registration 25 08 1977

Year of Manufacture 1977

Cylinder Capacity (cc) 2994CC

CO2 Emissions Not Available

Fuel Type Petrol

Export Marker Not Applicable

Vehicle Status Unlicensed

Vehicle Colour BLUE

 

VHK 184S CORTINA GHIA

Date of Liability 15 06 1992

Date of First Registration 10 08 1977

Year of Manufacture 1977

Cylinder Capacity (cc) 1993CC

CO2 Emissions Not Available

Fuel Type Petrol

Export Marker Not Applicable

Vehicle Status Unlicensed

Vehicle Colour GOLD

 

VHK 185S GRANADA GL FI AUTO

Date of Liability 01 03 1992

Date of First Registration 02 06 1978

Year of Manufacture 1978

Cylinder Capacity (cc) 2792CC

CO2 Emissions Not Available

Fuel Type Petrol

Export Marker Not Applicable

Vehicle Status Unlicensed

Vehicle Colour WHITE

 

 

 

VHK186S 1978 FORD TRANSIT SWB VAN WHITE PEPSI CUSTOM VAN

Date of Liability 01 03 1992

Date of First Registration 08 08 1977

Year of Manufacture Not Available

Cylinder Capacity (cc) 9999CC

CO2 Emissions Not Available

Fuel Type Petrol

Export Marker Not Applicable

Vehicle Status Unlicensed

Vehicle Colour BLACK

Vehicle Type Approval null

[autofive]

VHK407S 1978 FORD GRANADA MK2 ESTATE GL AUTO BEIGE

FORD DEMONSTRATOR

appeared on ebay a couple of times in 2008 & 2009 but did not sell.

Date of Liability 01 02 2014

Date of First Registration 05 09 1977

Year of Manufacture 1977

Cylinder Capacity (cc) 2792cc

CO2 Emissions Not Available

Fuel Type PETROL

Export Marker N

Vehicle Status SORN Not Due

Vehicle Colour BEIGE

 

VHK 409S GRANADA GL AUTO

Date of Liability 01 11 1990

Date of First Registration 05 09 1977

Year of Manufacture 1977

Cylinder Capacity (cc) 2792CC

CO2 Emissions Not Available

Fuel Type Petrol

Export Marker Not Applicable

Vehicle Status Unlicensed

Vehicle Colour RED

 

VHK447V FORD CAPRI 3.0 S

dvla has no trace

 

VHK450S 1978 FORD FIESTA 1.3 S, black

Date of Liability 08 07 1987

Date of First Registration 22 08 1977

Year of Manufacture 1977

Cylinder Capacity (cc) 1298CC

CO2 Emissions Not Available

Fuel Type Petrol

Export Marker Not Applicable

Vehicle Status Unlicensed

Vehicle Colour BLACK

 

 

VHK452S 1978 FORD CORTINA MK4 2.3 GHIA BEIGE

PRESS FLEET VEHICLE

Date of Liability 01 11 1987

Date of First Registration 16 08 1977

Year of Manufacture 1977

Cylinder Capacity (cc) 2293CC

CO2 Emissions Not Available

Fuel Type Petrol

Export Marker Not Applicable

Vehicle Status Unlicensed

Vehicle Colour BEIGE

Vehicle Type Approval null

 

 

 

VHK453S 1979 FORD CORTINA MK4 2.3 L BLUE

used in THE SWEENEY

Date of Liability 27 03 1987

Date of First Registration 22 08 1977

Year of Manufacture 1977

Cylinder Capacity (cc) 2293CC

CO2 Emissions Not Available

Fuel Type Petrol

Export Marker Not Applicable

Vehicle Status Unlicensed

Vehicle Colour BLUE

 

VHK454S 1979 FORD CORTINA MK4 2.0 GHIA SILVER

used in the ITV series OUT 1979/80

Date of Liability 01 04 1984

Date of First Registration 01 08 1977

Year of Manufacture 1977

Cylinder Capacity (cc) 2293CC

CO2 Emissions Not Available

Fuel Type Petrol

Export Marker Not Applicable

Vehicle Status Unlicensed

Vehicle Colour SILVER

Vehicle Type Approval null

 

 

 

VHK456S 1978 FORD GRANADA MK2 2.0 L SAHARA BEIGE

COWLEY’S CAR IN “THE PROFESSIONALSâ€Â

'Heroes', 'Close Quarters', 'Stakeout', 'Look After Annie'

maybe used in Sweeney episode 'One of Your Own'

Date of Liability 30 08 1991

Date of First Registration 09 08 1977

Year of Manufacture 1977

Cylinder Capacity (cc) 1998CC

CO2 Emissions Not Available

Fuel Type Petrol

Export Marker Not Applicable

Vehicle Status Unlicensed

Vehicle Colour BEIGE

 

VHK457S 1978 FORD GRANADA MK2

Date of Liability 01 04 1993

Date of First Registration 01 08 1977

Year of Manufacture 1977

Cylinder Capacity (cc) 1998CC

CO2 Emissions Not Available

Fuel Type Petrol

Export Marker Not Applicable

Vehicle Status Unlicensed

Vehicle Colour RED

 

VHK460S 1978 FORD CORTINA MK4 2.3 S

Date of Liability 07 01 1988

Date of First Registration 16 08 1977

Year of Manufacture 1977

Cylinder Capacity (cc) 2293CC

CO2 Emissions Not Available

Fuel Type Petrol

Export Marker Not Applicable

Vehicle Status Unlicensed

Vehicle Colour RED

 

 

 

VHK461S 1978 FORD CORTINA MK4 2.3 S SILVER

PUBLICITY VEHICLE

Date of Liability 28 07 1988

Date of First Registration 05 08 1977

Year of Manufacture 1977

Cylinder Capacity (cc) 2293CC

CO2 Emissions Not Available

Fuel Type Petrol

Export Marker Not Applicable

Vehicle Status Unlicensed

Vehicle Colour SILVER

Vehicle Type Approval null

 

 

 

VHK462S 1978 FORD CORTINA MK4 2.3 S

Date of Liability 23 06 1988

Date of First Registration 22 08 1977

Year of Manufacture 1977

Cylinder Capacity (cc) 2293CC

CO2 Emissions Not Available

Fuel Type Petrol

Export Marker Not Applicable

Vehicle Status Unlicensed

Vehicle Colour GREEN

[autofive]

VHK463S 1978 FORD GRANADA MK2 2.8 GHIA

MOTOR SHOW REVIEW CAR

Date of Liability 01 12 1990

Date of First Registration 01 08 1977

Year of Manufacture 1977

Cylinder Capacity (cc) 2293CC

CO2 Emissions Not Available

Fuel Type Petrol

Export Marker Not Applicable

Vehicle Status Unlicensed

Vehicle Colour RED

 

VHK468S 1978 FORD ESCORT MK2 1.3 L

Date of Liability 06 06 1989

Date of First Registration 12 01 1978

Year of Manufacture 1978

Cylinder Capacity (cc) 1298CC

CO2 Emissions Not Available

Fuel Type Petrol

Export Marker Not Applicable

Vehicle Status Unlicensed

Vehicle Colour RED

 

 

 

VHK470S 1978 FORD CORTINA MK4 2.3 GHIA

ITV series OUT 1979/80

Date of Liability 23 11 1989

Date of First Registration 22 08 1977

Year of Manufacture 1977

Cylinder Capacity (cc) 2293CC

CO2 Emissions Not Available

Fuel Type Petrol

Export Marker Not Applicable

Vehicle Status Unlicensed

Vehicle Colour RED

 

 

VHK473S 1978 FORD CORTINA MK4 2.3 GHIA

FORD PUBLICITY CAR SAME REG “AS BELOW†Brown ?? , ITV series OUT 1979/80

VHK473S 1978 FORD CORTINA MK4 2.3 S

BLACK FEATURED IN TV’S “THE PROFESSIONALSâ€Â

 

Pete M scrapped it in 1988:

It ended up on a really dodgy Everton housing estate, with a bloke who thought the answer to V6 fuel economy was a 1.6 crossflow. I couldn't let him do that, but it needed a power steering rack, a radiator, the roof panel was rotten around the sunroof and it ended up with a Granada 2.8 engine, 5 speed box and Ghia alloys. One thing led to another and it got scrapped at MOT time. It only cost £80 or so to buy, but it was just another Cortina

 

Date of Liability 25 07 1988

Date of First Registration 16 08 1977

Year of Manufacture 1977

Cylinder Capacity (cc) 2293CC

CO2 Emissions Not Available

Fuel Type Petrol

Export Marker Not Applicable

Vehicle Status Unlicensed

Vehicle Colour BLACK

 

VHK475S 1978 FORD ESCORT MK2 1.3 L

Date of Liability 01 05 1991

Date of First Registration 16 01 1978

Year of Manufacture 1978

Cylinder Capacity (cc) 1593CC

CO2 Emissions Not Available

Fuel Type Petrol

Export Marker Not Applicable

Vehicle Status Unlicensed

Vehicle Colour BLUE

Vehicle Type Approval null

 

VHK476S 1978 FORD ESCORT MK2 1.3 L EST.

Date of Liability 01 10 1992

Date of First Registration 16 01 1978

Year of Manufacture 1978

Cylinder Capacity (cc) 1593CC

CO2 Emissions Not Available

Fuel Type Petrol

Export Marker Not Applicable

Vehicle Status Unlicensed

Vehicle Colour RED

 

VHK477S 1978 FORD CORTINA MK4 2.0 GHIA EST.

PUBLICITY VEHICLE

Date of Liability 02 08 1983

Date of First Registration 16 01 1978

Year of Manufacture 1978

Cylinder Capacity (cc) 1593CC

CO2 Emissions Not Available

Fuel Type Petrol

Export Marker Not Applicable

Vehicle Status Unlicensed

Vehicle Colour RED

 

VHK480S 1978 FORD CORTINA MK4 1.6 GL

1980 MOTOR SHOW REVIEW CAR

Date of Liability 01 01 1990

Date of First Registration 16 01 1978

Year of Manufacture 1978

Cylinder Capacity (cc) 1993CC

CO2 Emissions Not Available

Fuel Type Petrol

Export Marker Not Applicable

Vehicle Status Unlicensed

Vehicle Colour WHITE

 

 

 

VHK481S 1978 FORD GRANADA MK2 2.8I S

Date of Liability 01 12 1986

Date of First Registration 01 08 1977

Year of Manufacture 1977

Cylinder Capacity (cc) 2792CC

CO2 Emissions Not Available

Fuel Type Petrol

Export Marker Not Applicable

Vehicle Status Unlicensed

Vehicle Colour GREEN

 

VHK484S 1978 FORD CAPRI MK3 2.0 S

Date of Liability 01 02 1993

Date of First Registration 26 01 1978

Year of Manufacture 1978

Cylinder Capacity (cc) 1593CC

CO2 Emissions Not Available

Fuel Type Petrol

Export Marker Not Applicable

Vehicle Status Unlicensed

Vehicle Colour YELLOW

[autofive]

 

VHK491S 1978 FORD GRANADA MK2 2.8I S STRATO SILVER

7 episodes of series 4 & Sweeney 2 film

Exported out of UK June 1978

 

 

 

VHK493S 1978 FORD CAPRI MK3 3.0 S

Date of Liability 01 03 2014

Date of First Registration 12 01 1978

Year of Manufacture 1978

Cylinder Capacity (cc) 2994cc

CO2 Emissions Not Available

Fuel Type PETROL

Export Marker N

Vehicle Status Licence Not Due

Vehicle Colour WHITE

 

 

 

VHK494S 1978 FORD CAPRI MK3 3.0 S PEP.GREEN

PRESS FLEET VEHICLE. RESTORED

Date of Liability 01 11 2013

Date of First Registration 20 01 1978

Year of Manufacture 1978

Cylinder Capacity (cc) 3196cc

CO2 Emissions Not Available

Fuel Type PETROL

Export Marker N

Vehicle Status SORN Not Due

Vehicle Colour GREEN

Vehicle Type Approval Not Available

 

 

 

VHK495S 1978 Ford Capri Mk3 3.0S White

PRESS FLEET VEHICLE . USED FAKE PLATES IN “THE PROFESSIONALSâ€Â

RESTORED INTO NEW SHELL

Car is now in Tamworth. Still looking mint, still white but owner is planning on doing another full resto job on it & returning it to silver.

Date of Liability 01 10 2013

Date of First Registration 10 01 1978

Year of Manufacture 1978

Cylinder Capacity (cc) 2994cc

CO2 Emissions Not Available

Fuel Type PETROL

Export Marker N

Vehicle Status SORN Not Due

Vehicle Colour SILVER

Vehicle Type Approval Not Available

 

 

VHK497S 1978 CAPRI Mk3 X PACK, WHITE

PRESS CAR AND PACE CAR FOR RACE SERIES

Date of Liability 01 02 2014

Date of First Registration 26 01 1978

Year of Manufacture 1978

Cylinder Capacity (cc) 3200cc

CO2 Emissions Not Available

Fuel Type PETROL

Export Marker N

Vehicle Status SORN Not Due

Vehicle Colour WHITE

 

 

VHK 507S CAPRI BURGUNDY

Date of Liability 01 11 1989

Date of First Registration 13 01 1978

Year of Manufacture 1978

Cylinder Capacity (cc) 2994CC

CO2 Emissions Not Available

Fuel Type Petrol

Export Marker Not Applicable

Vehicle Status Unlicensed

Vehicle Colour RED

 

 

VHK518S 1978 FORD GRANADA 2.8 GHIA JUPITER RED

REAL REG FOR YHJ766T

Two identical cars were used here in the 1978 and '79 episodes respectively. The true identities were VHK 518S and FEV 24T. The latter car - whose genuine plate was accidentally left on the vehicle in a brief scene in 'A Hiding to Nothing') - was supplied just prior to the third filming block.

Date of Liability 30 11 1990

Date of First Registration 09 08 1977

Year of Manufacture 1977

Cylinder Capacity (cc) 2792CC

CO2 Emissions Not Available

Fuel Type Petrol

Export Marker Not Applicable

Vehicle Status Unlicensed

Vehicle Colour RED

[autofive]

VHK520S 1978 FORD FIESTA 1.3 S

Date of Liability 01 04 1989

Date of First Registration 12 04 1978

Year of Manufacture 1978

Cylinder Capacity (cc) 2792CC

CO2 Emissions Not Available

Fuel Type Petrol

Export Marker Not Applicable

Vehicle Status Unlicensed

Vehicle Colour RED

 

 

 

VHK534S 1978 FORD CORTINA MK4 GL SALOON HAWAIIAN BLUE

IN “THE PROFESSIONALSâ€Â

Date of Liability 01 05 1988

Date of First Registration 01 05 1978

Year of Manufacture 1978

Cylinder Capacity (cc) 1593CC

CO2 Emissions Not Available

Fuel Type Petrol

Export Marker Not Applicable

Vehicle Status Unlicensed

Vehicle Colour BLUE

 

 

 

VHK535S 1978 FORD CORTINA MK4 2.3 GHIA

Date of Liability 01 01 1990

Date of First Registration 29 06 1978

Year of Manufacture 1978

Cylinder Capacity (cc) 1593CC

CO2 Emissions Not Available

Fuel Type Petrol

Export Marker Not Applicable

Vehicle Status Unlicensed

Vehicle Colour RED

 

 

 

VHK536S 1978 FORD CORTINA MK4 1.6 GL NEVADA BEIGE

IN “THE PROFESSIONALSâ€Â

Date of Liability 01 12 1989

Date of First Registration 01 07 1978

Year of Manufacture 1978

Cylinder Capacity (cc) 1993CC

CO2 Emissions Not Available

Fuel Type Petrol

Export Marker Not Applicable

Vehicle Status Unlicensed

Vehicle Colour BEIGE

 

 

 

VHK537S 1978 FORD CORTINA MK4 1.6 GL JUPITER RED

IN “THE PROFESSIONALSâ€Â

Date of Liability 01 10 1989

Date of First Registration 02 06 1978

Year of Manufacture 1978

Cylinder Capacity (cc) 2293CC

CO2 Emissions Not Available

Fuel Type Petrol

Export Marker Not Applicable

Vehicle Status Unlicensed

Vehicle Colour RED

 

VHK539S 1978 FORD CORTINA MK4 2.3 S

Date of Liability 01 06 1989

Date of First Registration 02 06 1978

Year of Manufacture 1978

Cylinder Capacity (cc) 2293CC

CO2 Emissions Not Available

Fuel Type Petrol

Export Marker Not Applicable

Vehicle Status Unlicensed

Vehicle Colour RED

 

VHK541S 1978 FORD CORTINA MK4 2.3 S

Date of Liability 01 11 1986

Date of First Registration 23 05 1978

Year of Manufacture 1978

Cylinder Capacity (cc) 2293CC

CO2 Emissions Not Available

Fuel Type Petrol

Export Marker Not Applicable

Vehicle Status Unlicensed

Vehicle Colour BROWN

 

VHK543S 1978 FORD CORTINA MK4 2.3 GL

IN “THE PROFESSIONALSâ€Â

dvla: Vehicle details could not be found

[Pete-M]

Looking at that list makes me feel slightly less bad. That's a crap survival rate for all those press and telly cars.

 

I very nearly bought one of the original launch Mk2 Escort RS2000s. JJN something P, I think it was. Signal orange, non Custom. For all I know the chap might still have it, he's a mechanic, so if he has it'll be right. He'll also know exactly what it's worth now. I could have had it for £1500 around 1991....

[warren t claim]

I nearly ended up owning VVW 8 W, the original press demo 2.8i Capri. I had even left a deposit on it but let a mate take it on instead. How it ended up in Neston is anyone's guess but at the time it was the cheapest Cologne engined Capri for sale in the area at £990. No idea what happened to it or if it still exists.

[Lord Sterling]

Interesting stuff. Not quite on the shite side yet, but a Bollox-like mk2 Mondeo in Silver appeared around the corner from me with 'VHK' on the plate. I'll see if I can grab a pic.

[Cavcraft]

Great stuff, interesting reading.

 

Soz to be a nerd though, but ref VHK 452S it states it's a 2.3 and (iirc) they only came in Ghia or S trim. The one pictured looks like a GL to me, as it appears to wear GL side trims and has no Ghia badge etc.

[autofive]

it was probably in LS spec

[brickwall]

Fantastic read. I like Terry McCann checking out the Cortina

[406V6]

They weren't all Fords. A neighbour at the time bought a brand new chocolate brown Rover 3500 and I can still remember the reg (is that sad or what) - VHK 853S

[autofive]

your right, not all VHK reg cars were fords

 

[George-Roper]

VHK495S Above is now for sale.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1978-FORD-CAPRI-II-S-SILVER-3-0S-/281356473838?

 

[EssDeeWon]

These are all Essex registrations, still some local chod knocking about with 'HK' plates on round here.

[mercrocker]

My last Granny was G826DHK.....Great information here almost worthy of a book!    Anybody got any Vauxhall info?  Pretty sure the old mans Viva HB  was a fleet car...

[Shep Shepherd]

These are all Essex registrations, still some local chod knocking about with 'HK' plates on round here.

 

And 'HOO', 'VOO', 'WOO' and 'XOO' plates

 

One of my work colleagues has a pretty clean late model Escort Finesse with a 'WOO' plate and literally every optional extra fitted to it, plus an 'RS' body kit and wheels. I suspect it was originally a Ford management car.

[chaseracer]

VHK495S Above is now for sale.

The 'Professionals' car it is not, then. At least he's honest about the reshell.

[RoadworkUK]

And 'HOO', 'VOO', 'WOO' and 'XOO' plates

 

One of my work colleagues has a pretty clean late model Escort Finesse with a 'WOO' plate and literally every optional extra fitted to it, plus an 'RS' body kit and wheels. I suspect it was originally a Ford management car.

 

My Dad's old Mondeo MK1 V6 GhiaX, white, auto, RS rear spoiler but (strangely) no cowskin, was P985JOO. Ford pool car?

[AlabamaShrimp]

Hardly any of them lasted longer than 10 years

[Ghosty]

That's still true of Fords now...

[In The Pit]

Hardly any of them lasted longer than 10 years

Most press cars had a hard life, especially the Ford ones that were lent to film companies.  It's pretty likely that manufacturers didn't add additional aftermarket rust proofing that was popular at the time (such a Ziebart) to press cars.

[sheffcortinacentre]

NHK 244 V 1.3L 2dr mk5 Cortina white

 

ex press car converted early 1980 by boreham in to a 3.0 V6 rally car using (XR6) homologation papers then given to Julian Raymond for use for the 80/81 reason for being the winner of RS2000 championship.

campaigned with some success inc 8th on the 81 manx.

 

spec inc 240 hp eng on triple webers, 5 linked,4 wheel discs, etc

was better on tarmac events

 

last taxed 1989.in the Portsmouth area & reg'd to mr lewis hoyland,

 

any info on the car past or present greatly appreciated.

[Pillock]

The late 80s were a bad time for the VHK gang. Quite a lot of discrepancies between badging and DVLA info too, some 1.3s are 1.6s and some 2.3s are 2.0. Wonder if they were deliberately badged up to look better on the telly but be cheaper to break?

 

I've got an ex-Ford car, EX09 reg and because I'm the third owner, I had the second owner's V5 and could see the original owner's address - FoMoCo of Dagenham. Don't know if it was a press car, fleet car or what though. Nice spec, most options ticked apart from keyless entry and the warm bum button.

[overrun]

The late 80s were a bad time for the VHK gang. Quite a lot of discrepancies between badging and DVLA info too, some 1.3s are 1.6s and some 2.3s are 2.0. Wonder if they were deliberately badged up to look better on the telly but be cheaper to break?

 

I've got an ex-Ford car, EX09 reg and because I'm the third owner, I had the second owner's V5 and could see the original owner's address - FoMoCo of Dagenham. Don't know if it was a press car, fleet car or what though. Nice spec, most options ticked apart from keyless entry and the warm bum button.

 

Sounds like my mates E053 Ghia X and my EG53 Ghia X.

[fordnut]

Cars with an AJ prefix on the new system are often Ford Demo Cars / Press Fleet. You will often see them placed on tv programmes including Coronation Street.

 

EA and EO cars as mentioned are often Ford Fleet / Press Cars. There are quite are few other series that have been used over the years that relate to press cars.

[trigger]

My old ST TDCi was also a ex Ford car, ET54 HWE. The first owner was a employee of Ford and Dagenham headquarters was the address, I think they got registered to employees to make the sales numbers look better though mine was sightly higher spec as it had the multimedia pack fitted.

[Lord Sterling]

I nearly ended up owning VVW 8 W, the original press demo 2.8i Capri. I had even left a deposit on it but let a mate take it on instead. How it ended up in Neston is anyone's guess but at the time it was the cheapest Cologne engined Capri for sale in the area at £990. No idea what happened to it or if it still exists.

 

Date of Liability: 01 08 1992

Date of First Registration: 01 05 1981

Year of Manufacture: 1981

Cylinder Capacity (cc): 2792cc

Fuel Type: PETROL

Export Marker: N

Vehicle Status: Unlicensed

Vehicle Colour: GREY

[chaseracer]

Fiat press cars (and Citroen) seem to use the Rx identifier:

 

 

Domestic Management owned that Panda 100HP for a year or so.  Great fun, but no suspension.  AT ALL.

 

And this would be why it had new rubber at 8000 miles... 

 

[trigger]

 

VHK 477S was a Capri 1.6 GL according to this and VHK 509S was a 3.0 Ghia.