POLICE PANDA SUNBEAM IMP  page last updated: 04 December 2011

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POLICE PANDA

SUNBEAM IMP

Re-using the excellent Hillman Imp as the base model this is the Sunbeam Imp Police Panda car. It's a really nice model with a fun feature of folding rear seats and an opening rear window - I suppose Rootes Group (who made these cars - later Chrysler UK) were having an early stab at a three-door hatch - but gave themselves a handicap by putting the engine (Coventry Climax all alloy racing motor) in the back.

This car was released in May 1968 in white with black doors and bonnet. You will see it too in white with a black roof and in traditional Panda car pale blue with white doors and white front half of the roof. They are from the second release of the car in 1969. It remained in the range until 1972. All three colours are valued similarly

It's a shame these are so bashed up and I really want good ones in the collection too, but they fetch very high prices that I'm not usually prepared to pay. For now these will have to do.