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Known as ‘Tug’ because Police slang for pulling a driver over is ‘tugging’, this Granada was a Kent Police Traffic car from June 1985 until December 1988.
Based at Cold Harbour Lane Traffic Garage in Maidstone, Tug’s call sign was Alpha Tango 6 and his fleet number was 88FG.
Mechanically he is a 2.8i but with less luxurious 2.0L trim and special order wiring; standard Police specification.
Tug was subsequently used as a greenhouse until being rescued by retired Sussex traffic officer Tim Smith who extensively restored the car during 2004.
Tug is now owned by the Kent Police Museum and can be viewed on their open days. During restoration Tim struggled to find a passenger seat in the correct ‘Bristol Fabric’ blue trim.
Upon talking to a stranger in a local pub Tim was taken to a local railway carriage scrap-yard.
In one of the broken-up carriages was the ‘Bristol Fabric’ Granada passenger seat Tim had been searching for.
The stranger got it from a car scrap-yard and used it as a chair when working as a Forman on the mail train!
In perfect condition, it finished the car off beautifully.
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