Police Commando?

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Cookie

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Has anyone done a police Commando? That would also be an interesting syle of restoration.
I have a Chinese police type bike my friends have been after me to do in police colors and fit a light bar in the fittings it has for those. Since my one was sent here for a show and is the only one we know of in a wine color I've left it stock, but a police type would be tempting.
I saw an unremarkable 54 Ford someone had fitted with police gear and it made a visually interesting car for parades and shows.
 
I want it, I need it, Gotta have it, I sent him an e-mail asking if he ships to the states but I don't think he will. I might be able to do something with that tank that would really look good. Now I just have to wait to hear back and by then it will be sold. Darn, Darn. LOL :cry:
 
I've had somebody ship to a friend in England who reshipped to me. Surely somebody here would help you.
 
Well I bought it, Just didn't want to let it get away. Hopefully he won't be too upset about sending it to the states, Seems like a great price too.
 
A friend of mine has one of those Interpol tanks. He has a leather tank bag that was custom made by Doug McCadam to fit the radio tray. He was thinking of using it to build a Long Range Fastback replica some day. That would be pretty cool!

I don't think I've ever seen an Interpol in person. I don't think they were imported to the USA (?)

Debby
 
Like Debby says, I've never seen one except in pix. Replicating one would be a cool project. Cheers on your buy Horton.
 
I'm not sure if they ever went to the States, but I know quite a few police forces in the UK had them, and lots were exported to the Middle East, Africa etc. If I remember right, there were also lots of T160 Triumphs (Cardinals?) exported too!
 
Thanks Seely,

That's quite interesting. Many of the police Harley and Kawasaki models over here also quickly get converted to civilian when sold off.
The Kawasakis are more like to be parted out or scrapped as they don't hold thier value as well as the Harleys.
 
Well I e-mailed him and he is sending it FedEx, The idea of a tank type bag sounds good Debby. I remember talking with Doug at the Utah rally back in 07, Great guy. Maybe I could hire him to make one out of green canvas or camo canvas and leather for the bike, He does some GREAT work! I am hoping he will be at the Colorado rally this year, Great guy to have a beer with. That kinda made my day getting the tank, Feels like Christmas or something. Thanks a bunch Seeley920 for the link to it, I never would have seen it without your help. Have a great weekend my friends and ride safe, Chuck.
 
After reading that article and learning the top is similar to the Atlas tank it is evne more interesting.
 
Seeley920 said:
If I remember right, there were also lots of T160 Triumphs (Cardinals?) exported too!
Click to expand...

A number of Police specification T150/T160 Tridents certainly were exported to the Middle East, but they were never known as "Cardinals".

The Saudi government had actually placed an order for a large quantity of Norton Interpols in May 1975!
However, by the time the deal went through, the Norton factory had closed, and no Interpols were available, so NVT sent Poilice spec. T160 Tridents instead, (rumour has it that "Norton" badges were also packed in the crates just in case the Saudis weren't happy getting supplied with Triumphs instead of Nortons!).

The last batch of 130 Saudi Tridents were never sent, instead they ended up being sold on the UK market, and it was only those last 130 police spec. T160s that were known as the T160 "Cardinal". http://www.triplesonline.com/bikes/cardinal/


Cookie said:
Many of the police Harley and Kawasaki models over here also quickly get converted to civilian when sold off.
Click to expand...

It was the same in the UK. In fact, there are certain clues about my own 850 MkIII Roadster that leads me to believe that it could have actually started out as an Interpol model.
 
I remember an old British bike magazine (maybe 80s?) that talked about a poor punter who got burned after putting down a deposit on a returned Saudi Trident. Somebody must have been bringing them back after service (probably buying them for pennies), and perhaps the venture failed.
I go though my old bike mags now and then, next time I see that one i'll give furthur details.
The bad thing about those old magazines is looking at the prices of bikes you wish you had bought.
 
Cookie said:
Somebody must have been bringing them back after service (probably buying them for pennies), and perhaps the venture failed.
Click to expand...

Yes, I do remember who that was. Actually there were two particular businesses involved, one who refurbished them (many of them were BSAs) and then passed most of them on to a certain London dealer who sold them to the public.

This partnership eventually ended somewhat acrimoniously if I remember correctly, and some buyers never got the bikes they had paid deposits for?
 
That would explain what I read which may have been an angry letter to the mag,
 
If I remember correctly, in Glasgow, I'm certain that the Interplods went straight into the local car auction. I had my first Commando about '76 and was in the Police Traffic Dept. doing a combined Road Traffic Accident exercise with the Police and spoke to a mechanic about what happened to used machines and I'm certain he said they were stripped of the Police gear and sold locally.
 
debby said:
A friend of mine has one of those Interpol tanks ... He was thinking of using it to build a Long Range Fastback replica some day
Click to expand...

Me too, although I would prefer one without the radio tray. Anyone want to swap a radio tray one for one without?

(It is UK by the way, not Belgium)
 
well done Chuck, glad you got the tank....I wondered if it was you when I checked later and it had been sold. Got my bike back from the workhop today with new 2-1 exhaust system, just gotta finish it off, fire it up and annoy the neighbours :)
 
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