Early Accident Investigation Unit Cars

In the 1970’s I was one of a handful of officers who attended Deeper Accident Investigation Training with the Metropolitan Police. We then trained other Traffic Officers back in Force. When a serious accident occurred and an in depth investigation was required, a trained officer from the normal shifts was called to attend.
In the 1980s – I cannot recall the exact year – a dedicated Accident Investigation Unit was formed and based at HQ. Needless to say, they needed transport and as no budget provision had been made, cars had to be found for them from somewhere. They were provided with a couple of former Driving School cars which were liveried for their use. As such, both cars were unique because they were the only examples on the fleet. One was a Ford Orion Saloon, A706 SHK and the other was a Vauxhall Cavalier 1.6L, C314 HNK.
In 1994, the Unit was provided with a new Ford Mondeo Estate Car, L981 SEW, and this was marked in a variation of the newly recommended battenburg livery. As such, it was to be the only vehicle in the Force fleet to be liveried in this way. Other Traffic Cars were marked much more closely to the Home Office recommendation.