Corgi VA11301 Talbot Sunbeam – Metropolitan Police

By the late 1970s, hatchbacks were becoming the norm but they were also mainly front wheel drive. This layout was viewed with suspicion by some Police Forces as the technology used at the time did not lend itself to the very high mileage high impact use the Police gave their vehicles, especially in London. Chrysler UK created the Sunbeam in 1977 as a quick-to-market stop-gap, by grafting a hatchback body on to the floorpan of the, by then, seven year old rear wheel drive Avenger. This combination of hatchback practicality and simple rear wheel drive reliability made the Sunbeam a successful Metropolitan Police car.