Spectrum Patrol Car
The Spectrum Patrol Car (SPC) or Spectrum Saloon Car (SSC) is a fictional vehicle that appears in Gerry Anderson's science-fiction television series Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons (1967) and in revamped form in the remake series Gerry Anderson's New Captain Scarlet (2005).
Appearances
Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons
Accessible only to Spectrum personnel, the SPC is 18 feet (5.4 m) long and equipped with four-wheel drive. It can seat up to four people, can reach speeds of up to 195 mph (312 km/h), and is powered by a gas turbine located under the rear roof. The car is specially equipped with quartz headlights that permit the driver to see long distances in the dark. The vehicle also features transverse gearing, independent suspension and magnetic drums that provide powerful control braking by means of electromagnetically generated opposing magnetic fields. The road-tyre friction heat at high speeds is countered by wing intakes, while a central housing and rear-mounted fin maintain the vehicle's stability at speed. Safety airbags are fitted as standard.
In the series, the SPC was realised as a scale model designed by Mike Trim.[1]
Gerry Anderson's New Captain Scarlet
In the CGI series Gerry Anderson's New Captain Scarlet (2005), the SPC's successor is known as the Spectrum Cheetah. While the updated vehicle strongly resembles the SPC, it has an added capability: it is equipped with extendable wings, a tailfin and booster rockets that, once deployed, allow the car to glide over obstructions that it encounters on the road.
Toys and kits
Since the 1960s the SPC has been released as a model by various makers, including a die-cast by Dinky Toys and a scale model kit by Imai.
References
See also
- Angel Interceptor
- Cloudbase
- Maximum Security Vehicle (MSV)
- Spectrum Pursuit Vehicle (SPV)
External links
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