The greatest 80s TV cop cars

The hard-nosed Inspector returns to our screens in Ashes to Ashes – the hotly anticipated sequel to hit BBC series Life on Mars.

Leaving the mean streets of 1970s Manchester for 80s London, DCI Hunt – played by Phil Glenister – dons the shoulder pads and trades the Ford Cortina for the other star of the show – the iconic Audi Quattro.

But what other star cars have appeared in 1980s TV police shows? Vijay Pattni looks at the TV cop cars of the 80s.

Click here for our exclusive 80s cop cars slide show

Ashes to Ashes

Life on Mars was a bona fide hit, thanks to its 70s nostalgia, excellent script, no-nonsense DCI Gene Hunt and of course, the Ford Cortina.

But fast forward to 1981 and there’s a new kid on the block – the amazing all-wheel-drive Audi Quattro.

Released onto the world rally stage in the 80s, the Audi Quattro was an instant success, winning its first ever rally race and dominating rally competitions for over two years.

Powered by a 200bhp 2.1-litre engine, the Quattro is one of the most famous Audis thanks to its innovative four-wheel-drive, which should keep DCI Gene Hunt safe on London’s streets.

Magnum PI

Take one disillusioned Vietnam vet with an expertise in lock-picking and safe-cracking, add a glorious Hawaii backdrop – and one serious moustache.

The 1980s gave birth to Tom Selleck’s famous Magnum character, who was a playboy private investigator living in a beach house.

And his sidekick was the stunning Ferrari 308 GTS, powered by a 255bhp 3-litre V8 engine, propelling Magnum and his moustache from 0-60mph in just over 6 seconds.

Miami Vice

Director Michael Mann’s signature 80s cop drama Miami Vice marked a new generation of cop drama – featuring Don Johnson and Philip Michael Thomas as the rolled-up suit-wearing, hard-nosed vice cops making the city’s streets safe.

Mann’s intention was to make the show look seriously cool, and was a television series for the MTV generation.

And keeping the duo in cool climes was a fabulous Ferrari Testarossa.

Powered by a 380bhp 5-litre flat-12 engine, the Ferrari Testarossa was the ultimate 1980’s machine, with those famous side gills and supercar body appearing in numerous other formats, including videogames.

The Professionals

Doyle and Bodie made up the crime-fighting duo of this late 70s-early 80s cop drama, working for the fictitious Criminal Intelligence 5 (CI5) law enforcement unit.

But driving them through the series was one of the most iconic British cars ever – the Mk III Ford Capri.

It was powered by a 3-litre V6 engine, and the success of the car on The Professionals was linked to its enduring popularity on British Roads.

Dempsey and Makepiece

The oddball pairing of a tough, streetwise New Yorker and an elegant English noblewoman provided the backdrop to this classic 80s drama.

Lt James Dempsey and Sgt Harriet Makepeace worked together as partners on a specialist taskforce dubbed SI-10.

And the other star of the show was Dempsey’s ride – a 1984 Mercedes SL.

The SL came with a range of engines, including the monstrous 302bhp 5-litre V8.

Dempsey and Makepeace was a huge hit with viewing figures in excess of 14 million.

Juliet Bravo

Nestled among the high-output star cars of the 80s is this little gem – the Mk II Ford Escort.

Inspector Jean Darblay and Kate Longton each played the female policewoman based in Lancashire during the hit 1980s long-running cop show.

And the Ford Escort was a familiar sight on British roads – the Mk II enjoyed a spectacular production run and was powered by a range of engines, including the top-of-the-range 2-litre, while the humble ‘scort enjoyed success on the rally stage too.

Click here for our exclusive 80s cop cars slide show

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