Back on Patrol - Reader Resto

By: Guy Allen, Photography by: Guy Allen

Date: 23.02.2024

When Matthew Jones decided he had to have another VL Turbo in his life, he homed in on an RTA BT-1. As it turns out, it’s something of a family affair

There’s no losing this thing in the local car park!

Holden’s Nissan-powered VL turbo has long been a cult car, particularly in BT-1 form, aka ‘police spec’. Brothers Matthew and Tim Jones have become part of that ‘religion’, but instead of reviving police versions, they’ve homed in on ex-RTA (Road Traffic Authority) cars, most often used to regulate the heavy-vehicle industry.

Matthew’s decision to buy a part-complete project meant his was the first to get up and running, in a remarkably quick six months. "Timmy had one first, an RTA car," he explains. "I had another years ago and smashed it, and decided to get a replacement.

On patrol, back in the day.

"We were looking for nine months – they were all wrecked. One day, I came across one in a lunch break, sent it to Timmy and asked if he reckoned it was a real one. He did. So I got the cash out of the bank and we drove up to Benalla that night.

Great attention to detail.

"It had been painted, the engine was back in, along with an interior. However it had no exterior plastics, headlights, door trim, mirrors or glass installed. We got home at 2.00 in the morning, put it in the shed and went back to work that day.

"Most of it was there, and given Timmy had a complete one, we could work out what the missing screws, nuts and bolts were.

"We were able to put every bolt in the correct position. It was a lot of work, but Timmy is very fastidious. He’s right behind it."

Tim with his part-completed car.

Much of the heavy work had already been done – which was one of the appeals of buying the project in the first place. "We were fortunate in that the car was running its original untouched engine," says Matthew. "It had been pulled out, painted, and put back in again. They’re a tough engine."

These cars were kept in service later than most of their police equivalents and tended to be turned over around 100,000km. "My example showed a mileage that was inconsistent with that as the dash had been changed. It’s the one thing I haven’t yet been able to source," says Matthew. The dashes are very similar to the ‘civilian’ car units, except for some very subtle differences.

Interior shot

One of the numerous detail challenges was finding a reflective exterior tape to mimic what was on them when they were in service. "The original was called a retro reflective blue and that isn’t made any more," says Matthew. "Tim has a friend who is a signwriter, who was able to source a reflective white and then do a blue overlay. When I first saw it I didn’t think it would work. But when we lit it up at night-time, it really popped. 

"We were initially hesitant to do it up in the full sticker set, but it got such a strong response at car shows we decided to go for it.

"People really respond to the car. It doesn’t matter what they’re driving, they’re hanging out of their car and filming it. 

"We take it to car shows, or out for the odd weekend. I’ve even done a school run with it. People see it as a blast from the past.

"We recently took it to a (former) Chief Inspector Gordon – he was in charge until the early 2000s. He walked out his front door with the biggest smile on his face."

Brothers Matthew and Tim Jones.

The crew got a nice compliment from the former owner, who moved on to another project. A mate of his pointed out the BT-1 to him at a show, saying, "Hey Pat, this could be your old car." He responded, "No, it’s way too nice."

Brother Tim is involved in a select group called Road Traffic Authority & Roads Corporation of Victoria Historical Society. He purchased his first interceptor back in 2005, a 1988 yellow Interceptor. "I purchased it thinking it was an ex-police car," explains Tim. "Until I pulled the service book out of the glovebox. It had Road Traffic Authority on the opening page.

"I was pleased, as I was told the RTA cars tended to be looked after and housed by a single operator – rather than used as a pool car. So they tended to be looked after a bit better.

"I first fell in love with them when I was 12 and I’m now 40. I was in the back of Matt’s black VL at the time, cruising down Maroondah Highway, when a yellow one passed us. I said I was going to own one just like it one day."

Tim has been a serial offender when it comes to owning these special cars. "I had a white one which I sold to my middle bother, and he still has it," he says. He has another yellow car that’s being worked on at the moment. At the time we visited, it was painted and ready for assembly.

"These cars are pretty special, and it takes time to chase down some of the items." He confirms the exceptional detail he and Matt go in to, right down to the last bolt with the correct markings. "It’s not that I have OCD, but if you’re going to do it, you’ve got to do it right."

Tim has collected a lot of spares over time, which meant he was able to help get his brother’s car up and done. He confesses Matt’s wife initially wasn’t impressed with Tim for talking his older brother in to the purchase. However all is apparently forgiven, as she too has fallen for the VL’s charms.

Meanwhile Tim’s project is taking a little longer than the astonishing six months for Matt’s car, and is by necessity a more comprehensive build. Along the way he’s become something of a walking-talking expert on BT-1s and the variants that were built for subtly different purposes.

We’re getting these visions of the two BT-1s going out cruising together. Now that should be quite a sight …

VITAL STATS

1986-88 HOLDEN VL COMMODORE TURBO

NUMBER MADE: 150,400 All models (approx excl HDT/HSV)

BODY STYLES: Steel integrated body/chassis, four-door sedan

ENGINE: 2962cc inline OHC six-cylinder with turbocharger & EFI

POWER & TORQUE: 150kW at 5600rpm, 296Nm at 3200rpm

PERFORMANCE: 0-100km/h 7.6 seconds, 0-400 metres 15.3 seconds (Executive
5-speed)

TRANSMISSION: Five-speed manual, four-speed automatic

SUSPENSION: Independent with coil springs, telescopic shock absorbers & anti-roll bar (f) Live axle with coil springs and telescopic shock absorbers (r)

BRAKES: Disc (f) disc (r) power assisted

TYRES: 205/65 HR15 radial

Unique Cars magazine Value Guides

Sell your car for free right here