Are there any TV detectives who don't own quirky cars?

[Stumpy Pepys]

The cars of TV detectives seem to fall into two categories.

1. Flash (Morse, Bergerac, Starsky)
2. Idiosyncratic (Columbo, Luther)

I'm just wondering if any TV detective drives a seven-year-old black Ford Focus?

[ursus arctos]

I'm not familiar with all of the UK shows, but are restricting ourselves to "private" detectives?

Because Kojak had a basic Buick

[hobbes]

Bodie and Doyle drove ford Escorts and Capris.

[Stumpy Pepys]

Bodie and Doyle drove ford Escorts and Capris.

Ford Capris were a bit flash (Escorts not so much).

Although I wonder if Ford supplied cars for the show, as a promotional strategy?

[hobbes]

Oh, that geezer in Shetland drives Volvos.

[Gangster Octopus]

The Saint drove that Volvo P180 (or whatever number it was).

[Walt Flanagans Dog]

The cars of TV detectives seem to fall into two categories.

1. Flash (Morse, Bergerac, Starsky)

Add Saga Noren's Porsche in The Bridge, ideal for moody shots driving at night over said bridge.

[Stumpy Pepys]

The Saint drove that Volvo P180 (or whatever number it was).

An unassuming car, yesterday

[ursus arctos]

Manufacturers supplying cars was definitely a thing on US shows

[Amor de Cosmos]

I think it still is. As a Volvo driver I'm struck by their prevalence in TV cop shows, mainly British and European of course.

[Patrick Thistle]

Vera drives a Land Rover 90

[Patrick Thistle]

Does Jake Peralta get in the "flash" category? He drives a 1967 Ford Mustang fastback.

[Nurse Duckett]

Rebus has a Saab 900, at least in the Ken Stott series.

[Nurse Duckett]

The Barnabies, Tom and John, seem to mostly drive boring cars like Ford Mondeos. As does Lewis.

[elguapo4]

Eddie Shoestring drove an 1974 Ford Cortina estate. Starsky was flash, but Hutch drove a bit of a banger.

[Snake Plissken]

Ford Capris were a bit flash (Escorts not so much).

Although I wonder if Ford supplied cars for the show, as a promotional strategy?

Absolutely they did. I believe Triumph (or BL in general) wouldn't commit to providing the same cars for continuity purposes, let alone promotional ones. So Ford stepped in.

It was a dual headlight RS2000, so definitely a bit flash.

[Bored Of Education]

I think it still is. As a Volvo driver I'm struck by their prevalence in TV cop shows, mainly British and European of course.

The Sweeney had a Granada, didn’t they? Perfect for crashing into a pile of cardboard boxes

[Bored Of Education]

[QUOTE=ursus arctos;n2835243]I'm not familiar with all of the UK shows, but are restricting ourselves to "private" detectives?

Because Kojak had a basic Buick

[/QUOTE
i have a Corgi version of that. However, it’s not the original which I did once own

[Stumpy Pepys]

Mind you, Columbo's Peugeot would have been flash if he'd looked after it better.

[JoeysToe]

Monk was driven around by his assistant Sharona in her beaten up station wagon. An almost identical situation in Jonathan Creek.

Is Henry Crabbe's red Saab quirky?

[Gert from the Well]

Did any detective use a means of transport other than a car, there must have been one who used a bicycle or public transport?

[treibeis]

Inch High, Private Eye had the Hushmobile, which was pretty quirky, although I don't think he drove it himself.

[Stumpy Pepys]

Inch High, Private Eye had the Hushmobile, which was pretty quirky, although I don't think he drove it himself.

I remember him kind of shuffling back and forth on the steering wheel.

[Southport Zeb]

I'm pretty sure Cadfael didn't have a flash car. Presumably something to do with the vows made when becoming a monk.

[Stumpy Pepys]

Did any detective use a means of transport other than a car, there must have been one who used a bicycle or public transport?

Sherlock Holmes would always take Hansom Cabs.