A former police car, owned and used on the Isle of Wight by our last governor, Lord Louis Mountbatten, will go up for auction in Birmingham this month.
Mountbatten served as the final governor of the Island from July 20, 1965, and was later the first Lord Lieutenant from April 1, 1974.
In 1978, the police car became Mountbatten’s official staff car on the Island, which, for security reasons, was registered to the local fire chief.
The vehicle – a 1974 Rover P6 3500S – was painted black at Mountbatten’s request as he felt it was more fitting for official duties.
Read more: Helpfulness and humour of Lord Mountbatten the Isle of Wight’s last governor
After Mountbatten’s death, the Rover was given to the County Council and continued to be used by the chairman before being sold into private ownership.
It was later discovered abandoned in a pigsty in Eastleigh in the late 1990s.
The car’s restoration consisted of new panels and a new engine, repainted in the original livery and given all its police equipment.
Prices are estimated to be around £15,000 to £20,000 when the auction goes live.
The auction at the NEC takes place on March 24.
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