Did anybody order a Jam Sandwich?

The Rover SD1 was the archetypal police car of the late 1970s and 1980s, often referred to as the ‘Jam Sandwich’, due to its distinctive white paint finish augmented by a contrasting stripe. Many forces introduced this new livery in the 1970s, and it often featured on the Rover 3500 P6B. The replacement SD1 debuted in 1976 with a ‘Police Specification’ version.

The London Met. was the highest profile ‘Jam Sandwich’ user, with other forces employing the Rover nationwide. Police SD1s tended to be powered by the 3.5-litre V8 or the 2.6-litre straight six. Many remained in service after the end of production in 1986. Famously, on the 8th of May 1987, two Met SD1s undertook the ‘Liver Run’ – transporting an organ from the M11’s Junction 7 to Kensington in 31 minutes.

Do you remember seeing the ‘Jam Sandwich’ in your rear-view mirror?