Like a great many other police forces South Wales Police ran Senators in
both marked and unmarked roles. However, their fleet management looked
at the Carlton in 1993 thinking it might perform that role for
considerably less outlay than the costly upmarket Senator. Thus the
manual Carlton, modelled here, was supplied by the local Cardiff
Vauxhall dealer and was based at the Traffic Division in Butetown
Cardiff (now closed). However it came without the police specification
modified suspension that traffic division officers so admired in the
Senator and its 2.6-litre engine did not deliver the same level of
effortless power as the Senator’s 3-litre. It was because of these
issues that the Carlton was eventually replaced by the Senator.
Engine: 2594cc 6IL CIH
Power: 148bhp @ 5600rpm
Torque: 162.3lb.ft @ 3600rpm
Maximum speed: 130mph
0–60mph: 10.5 secs