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Post by Eric R on Apr 23, 2015 10:34:15 GMT
We all know of Harold Wilson and his pipe ash tray and matchbox holder in his P5, but was he the first PM to have the use of one?
I think Tony Blair was the last one.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Apr 23, 2015 10:59:24 GMT
We all know of Harold Wilson and his pipe ash tray and matchbox holder in his P5, but was he the first PM to have the use of one? I think Tony Blair was the last one. Yes. HW was the first PM to use one and Margaret Thatcher was the last. TB came along in 1997 by which time the P5B was long out of the picture. HW became PM in 1964 when I think the Humbers were being used as official transport. I'm not sure of the exact date when the P5B arrived on the scene but I would guess 1967/68. I think the last ones were gone by 1981/82 so a long period of service by any standards and apparently well-liked by MT. |
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haikuhead
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Posts: 167
Location: London
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Post by haikuhead on Apr 23, 2015 15:46:18 GMT
We all know of Harold Wilson and his pipe ash tray and matchbox holder in his P5, but was he the first PM to have the use of one? I think Tony Blair was the last one. HW became PM in 1964 when I think the Humbers were being used as official transport. Yes, Humbers were official conveyance of Prime Ministers just before Rovers. Interestingly, in opposition, Harold Wilson's vehicle was a Princess Vanden Plas - although this advertorial claims it was his car when Prime Minister but he actually used it during his periods in opposition. But Humbers, Rovers or Vanden Plas .. you can't go wrong and the Rover P5B's record in government between 1967 - 1981 is extremely impressive. www.examiner.co.uk/news/west-yorkshire-news/fancy-harold-wilsons-prime-ministerial-8495459 |
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Post by Phil Nottingham on Apr 23, 2015 17:09:30 GMT
But the big Humbers especially the Imperial did have more presence than the P5B and were roomier and body style more up to date  |
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Post by Eric R on Apr 23, 2015 19:54:50 GMT
at the P4/P6 Anniversary in Alcaster 30th June 2013 i'm sure i remember a black P5B displayed purporting to be the one Tony Blair used during his premiership. I remember reading the spec re: armour plating inc door panels and bullet resistant glass and fuel consumption of 8-12 mpg - or was i dreaming? I think it had been purchased via www.classiccarsforsale.co.uk/ website for around £10k |
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Apr 23, 2015 20:13:24 GMT
at the P4/P6 Anniversary in Alcaster 30th June 2013 i'm sure i remember a black P5B displayed purporting to be the one Tony Blair used during his premiership. I remember reading the spec re: armour plating inc door panels and bullet resistant glass and fuel consumption of 8-12 mpg - or was i dreaming? I think it had been purchased via www.classiccarsforsale.co.uk/ website for around £10k You might not have been dreaming but the description was incorrect. TB became PM in 1997 and the P5B had been consigned to history 16 years earlier. The last PM to use a P5B was Margaret Thatcher. Vendors with a poor grip on political history often get these sort of facts wrong and some say the Coupe was used by the Government. Only the P5B Saloon in Ebony Black was used. |
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Post by Eric R on Apr 24, 2015 11:10:51 GMT
yes very likely. I have found this: "Since the early-1980s, when Margaret Thatcher switched from the Rover P5 models that had been in use since the 1960s, all Prime Ministerial cars have been from the Jaguar XJ range of the day, or its Daimler-badged variant". en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Official_state_car#British_governmentI wonder if MTs Rover was handed to John Major and if so, how long before it was replaced with a Tata Jaguar? On another subject - I had a wry smile to see all the British royals and hangers-on being shunted to State events in a fleet of VW minibuses! |
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Apr 24, 2015 11:44:43 GMT
yes very likely. I have found this: "Since the early-1980s, when Margaret Thatcher switched from the Rover P5 models that had been in use since the 1960s, all Prime Ministerial cars have been from the Jaguar XJ range of the day, or its Daimler-badged variant". en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Official_state_car#British_governmentI wonder if MTs Rover was handed to John Major and if so, how long before it was replaced with a Tata Jaguar? Eric, as Mrs Thatcher would have said "No, no, no!" The P5B was finished and gone a couple of years into Thatcher's premiership, probably by 1981. By the time John Major became PM in November 1990, the Rover P5B had not been official transportation for nearly 10 years! I'm 100% certain on this. MT was the LAST PM to have a P5B as official transport. |
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Post by PeterMadden on Apr 24, 2015 16:03:05 GMT
In the mid to late 80's Maggie was being driven around in a Jaguar. I was a PC on the TSG based in Finchley which was her constituency and on a Friday we were often tasked on protection duties for her various visits. Her driver another Denis often commented that she much preferred the Rover P5.
Us being her 'boot boys' we were biased but she was a gem, she would always make sure we were offered a cup of tea and on one occasion even sewed a shirt button on for an officer when his collar button popped off and he was stood holding his clip on tie up.
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Post by guidedog on Apr 24, 2015 16:44:12 GMT
Can't see Sherie Blair sowing buttons on  |
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Post by Eric R on Mar 16, 2021 15:20:20 GMT
I have found this: www.examinerlive.co.uk/news/gallery/harold-wilsons-car-8490093A ministerial black Vanden Plas Princess SMT594F still currently taxed and and with MoT. Showing 8396 miles. Must have been for a short period between Humbers and Rovers? I note the sales person James Szkiler is a director of Classic and Sports Car Centre - wonder if he recalls it? |
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Post by Phil Nottingham on Mar 16, 2021 17:22:28 GMT
They were very nice cars too with their Rolls Royce IOE military engine. They ceased production at about the same time as the big Humbers
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