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10. Ford Sierra Estate (A Touch Of Frost)
The only cool thing about Jack Frost is his surname, with his sensible jacket and cloth hat matched by his shabby Sierra. If his intention is to lull suspects into a false sense of security by looking penniless and incompetent, a battered 1980s Ford is the right way to go about it.
9. Ford Escort Cabriolet (Dempsey & Makepeace)
The female half of a 1980s Anglo-American crime-fighting duo, Detective Sergeant Harriet Makepeace was blond, sassy and posh. What else could she drive but an Escort Cabriolet? You’ll note that Lady Makepeace chose the understated 1.6i model, not the considerably more chavish XR3i. That’s a girl who’s going places.
8. Volvo C70 (The Saint - Val Kilmer)
Hats off to the film makers for being faithful to the original Saint, if not the original programme, hence the 1990s Volvo coupe. How many internationally-renowned thieves drive Volvos is a matter for some debate, but if he decides to abandon high-tech heists for ram-raiding, a 240 estate might be a better option.
7. Rover 75 (Midsomer Murders)
Chief Inspector Tom Barnaby must have been one of the best performing officers in his force, as he managed to trade in an ageing Ford Mondeo for a Rover 75. The unfortunate collapse of MG Rover means the 75 is going back to the lease company however, so the Inspector could well be getting some new transport.
6. Rolls-Royce Corniche (Hart To Hart)
Never mind the classic Mercedes SLs that also sat on the drive, this husband and wife team paraded about the place in a drop-top Rolls. But as journalist Jennifer Hart and millionaire Jonathon Hart clearly had enough money to keep them going, why bother getting off the back seat to fight crime? Stay put, sip some more champagne and let Max the butler do the driving.
5. Ferrari Testarossa (Miami Vice)
White linen suits, Jan Hammer soundtrack, neon lights – with this much iconography in one show, the car really had to be something special. Enter the Ferrari Testarossa, alongside the Lamborghini Countach as the only car to feature on every schoolboy’s bedroom wall. Those side-strakes live on in the memory, even if the rest of the car is long forgotten.
4. Jaguar MKII (Inspector Morse)
The Oxford-based Inspector was always a traditionalist, with his love of ‘real’ ale and classical music. No surprise then that his transport of choice was a Jaguar MkII saloon, presumably because an E-Type had no room in the back for villains. Morse also conveniently forgot that the same motor was the getaway car of choice in the 1960s and ‘70s – ask The Sweeney if you don’t believe me.
3. Ferrari 308 GTS (Magnum PI)
A hirsute hero with a fine line in Hawaiian shirts, Magnum lived in a guesthouse and used the Ferrari that belonged to its owner, who obviously didn’t mind it being thrashed, shot at and generally abused week after week. Still, in the style stakes a moustache of that magnitude behind the wheel of a red Ferrari takes some beating.
2. Ford Capri MKII 3.0 S (The Professionals)
Possibly the coolest of all Capris, the kudos that these cars command is borne out by the fact that three of them still exist today, lovingly restored by their fastidious owners. Although they flirted with an Escort RS2000, Bodie and Doyle’s true home was behind the wheel of their grunty coupes. The long bonnet was ideal for sliding over, although the low roofline may have interfered with Doyle’s hair do.
1. Volvo P1800 (The Saint - Roger Moore)
Only a man capable of fighting crime with a mere raised eyebrow could carry off a car like the P1800. Suave and sophisticated rather than brash and showy, it was the perfect vehicle for Simon Templar to whisk between noble deeds, ignore cyclists and fail to signal at roundabouts.
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That Triumph Roadster 1800 (1946-1948):
