A SOUTHEND police car from the 1960s fetched £33,750 at auction after a bidding war erupted.

The white Triumph TR4 car is famed for chasing crooks through Southend and its police history saw it prove popular at auction, adding a few thousand to the final auction price.

Echo:

H&H Classics, which auctioned the car on Tuesday in Buxton, expected the car to fetch more than £20,000 and admitted they were surprised when the bidding war saw the car go for £33,750.

Damian Jones, head of sales at H&H, said: “The Triumph TR4 police car was among the best viewed lots in the auction.

“We would normally expect a well restored TR4 to fetch mid/high twenties, so the police history added a sizeable premium.

“That said there are few classic cars which you can buy for £33,000 which will attract so much attention.”

The car was one of the most expensive sales during Tuesday’s auction, which saw hundreds of classic cars up for grabs.

The car was supplied to the Southend constabulary in May 1962, as a speedy pursuit vehicle designed to chase down reckless or speeding drivers.

Once the car was retired from the police force, it was passed around several owners before turning up in Somerset in the late 1970s.

Eventually, it was acquired in a dilapidated state in 1991 and the mission began to bring it back to full working order.

The classic car has been subject to a comprehensive restoration by experts Revington TR.

The car was well-used in its time with the force, with it regularly being used two shifts a day, seven days a week, racking up roughly 1,000 miles a week. Originally the car had no seat belts with one officer stating he “hung onto the underside of the seat whilst in fast pursuit”.

While Southend residents may have memories of officers driving the car through the streets with the top down.

Alongside the car, the lucky new owner also received pictures of the car in service, including one with officers seated inside and a a copy of the police book.