Spectrum Patrol Car

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Spectrum Patrol Car
Captain Scarlet vehicle
Dinky Toys 103 Spectrum Patrol Car-Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons.jpg
Spectrum Patrol Car toy by Dinky Toys
First appearance"The Mysterons"
(29 September 1967)
Created by Mike Trim [1]
Information
AffiliationSpectrum Organisation
General characteristics
DefensesStrengthened nose for ramming
Bulletproof windscreen and tyres [2] [3]
Maximum speed200 or 250 miles per hour (320 or 400 km/h) [2] [4] [5]
ChassisFleetonium alloy [2]
PowerGas turbine [2] [4]
Mass1.5 tons [4]
Length18 feet (5.5 m) [2] [4] [5]
Width8 feet (2.4 m) [4]

The Spectrum Patrol Car (SPC) or Spectrum Saloon Car (SSC) [6] 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 New Captain Scarlet (2005).

Contents

Depiction

Captain Scarlet

Accessible only to Spectrum personnel, the SPC is 18 feet (5.5 m) long [4] [5] and equipped with four-wheel drive. It can seat up to four people, has a maximum speed of 200 or 250 miles per hour (320 or 400 km/h), [4] [5] 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.

The original script for the first episode provided little in terms of specification for the vehicle, merely describing it as a "modern American saloon car". [7] It was one of several minor Spectrum vehicles whose design the series' special effects director, Derek Meddings, delegated to his assistant, Mike Trim because he assumed that they would not appear in any other episodes. In the end, however, Trim's concepts for the car and the other vehicles (the Spectrum Helicopter, Passenger Jet and Maximum Security Vehicle) were so well received that they became recurring elements of the series. [8] [9]

New Captain Scarlet

In the CGI series 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 tail fin and booster rockets that, once deployed, allow the car to glide over obstructions that it encounters on the road.

Toys

Since the 1960s the SPC has been released in toy form by various manufacturers. Products include a plastic friction-drive toy by Century 21 Toys, a die-cast model by Dinky (which continued to be produced until 1974) and newer versions by Vivid Imaginations and Corgi. [10] [11] [12]

Reception

In a 2014 article on the Mazda RX-500, Mick Walsh of Classic & Sports Car magazine compared the Mazda's Kammback to the shape of the SPC, commenting: "There's no doubting there's a strong hint of the Spectrum Patrol Car in the RX-500." [13]

In 2015, James Taylor of Car magazine ranked the SPC one of the top 10 vehicles from the Gerry Anderson productions, likening it to "a cross between a Plymouth Superbird and a hearse, topped by a D-type-shaming tail fin". However, he argued that the car's split windscreen would have made for poor forward visibility. [14]

Related Research Articles

<i>Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons</i> British TV sci-fi puppet series (1967–1968)

Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons, often shortened to Captain Scarlet, is a British science fiction television series created by Gerry and Sylvia Anderson and filmed by their production company Century 21 for ITC Entertainment. It is the sixth Anderson series to be filmed using a form of electronic marionette puppetry dubbed "Supermarionation" combined with scale model special effects. Running to thirty-two 25-minute episodes, it was first broadcast on ITV regional franchises between 1967 and 1968 and has since aired in more than 40 other countries, including the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Japan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cloudbase</span>

Spectrum Cloudbase, often shortened to Cloudbase, is the fictional skyborne headquarters of the international security organisation Spectrum from Gerry Anderson's science-fiction television series Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons (1967–68). In the 2005 animated remake, Cloudbase is re-imagined as Skybase.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Spectrum Pursuit Vehicle</span>

The Spectrum Pursuit Vehicle is a fictional pursuit and attack vehicle from Gerry and Sylvia Anderson's science-fiction television series Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons (1967).

<i>New Captain Scarlet</i> 2005 British action-adventure TV series

New Captain Scarlet is a British computer generated action-adventure reboot of the 1967 Supermarionation series, Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons. Both series were produced by Gerry Anderson. As a nod to Supermarionation, the new series' computer animation was promoted as "Hypermarionation". It was the last show produced by Gerry Anderson.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Mysterons</span> Episode of Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons

"The Mysterons" is the first episode of Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons, a British Supermarionation television series created by Gerry and Sylvia Anderson and filmed by their production company Century 21 Productions. Written by the Andersons and directed by Desmond Saunders, it was first officially broadcast on 29 September 1967 on ATV Midlands, although it had received an unscheduled test screening in the London area five months earlier.

"The Inquisition" is the 32nd and final episode of Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons, a British Supermarionation television series created by Gerry and Sylvia Anderson and filmed by their production company Century 21 Productions. Written by Tony Barwick and directed by Ken Turner, it was first broadcast on 12 May 1968 on ATV London.

"Winged Assassin" is the second episode of Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons, a British Supermarionation television series created by Gerry and Sylvia Anderson and filmed by their production company Century 21 Productions. Written by Tony Barwick and directed by David Lane, it was first broadcast on 6 October 1967 on ATV Midlands.

"Big Ben Strikes Again" is the third episode of Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons, a British Supermarionation television series created by Gerry and Sylvia Anderson. Written by Tony Barwick and directed by Brian Burgess, it was first broadcast on 13 October 1967 on ATV Midlands.

"Traitor" is the 17th episode of Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons, a British Supermarionation television series created by Gerry and Sylvia Anderson and filmed by their production company Century 21 Productions. Written by series script editor Tony Barwick and directed by Alan Perry, it was first broadcast on 14 January 1968 on ATV London.

"Dangerous Rendezvous" is the 22nd episode of Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons, a British Supermarionation television series created by Gerry and Sylvia Anderson and filmed by their production company Century 21 Productions. Written by Tony Barwick and directed by Brian Burgess, it was first broadcast on 9 February 1968 on ATV Midlands.

"Treble Cross" is the 24th episode of Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons, a British Supermarionation television series created by Gerry and Sylvia Anderson and produced by their company Century 21 Productions. Written by Tony Barwick and directed by Alan Perry, it was first broadcast on 23 February 1968 on ATV Midlands.

"Manhunt" is the fourth episode of Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons, a British Supermarionation television series created by Gerry and Sylvia Anderson and produced by their company Century 21 Productions. Written by Tony Barwick and directed by Alan Perry, it was first broadcast on 20 October 1967 on ATV Midlands.

"Model Spy" is the 18th episode of Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons, a British Supermarionation television series created by Gerry and Sylvia Anderson and filmed by their production company Century 21 Productions. Written by Bill Hedley and directed by Ken Turner, it was first broadcast on 29 December 1967 on ATV Midlands.

"Seek and Destroy" is the ninth episode of Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons, a 1960s British Supermarionation television series created by Gerry and Sylvia Anderson and produced by their company Century 21 Productions. The ninth episode of the series to be produced, it was written by Peter Curran and David Williams and first broadcast on 5 January 1968 on ATV Midlands.

"Fire at Rig 15" is the 19th episode of Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons, a British Supermarionation television series created by Gerry and Sylvia Anderson. Written by Bryan Cooper and directed by Ken Turner, it was first broadcast on 16 February 1968 on ATV Midlands.

"Special Assignment" is the fourteenth episode of Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons, a British Supermarionation television series created by Gerry and Sylvia Anderson and filmed by their production company Century 21 Productions. Written by Tony Barwick and directed by Robert Lynn, it was first broadcast on 1 December 1967 on ATV Midlands.

"The Heart of New York" is the 16th episode of Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons, a British Supermarionation television series created by Gerry and Sylvia Anderson and filmed by their production company Century 21 Productions. Written by Tony Barwick and directed by Alan Perry, it was first broadcast on 8 December 1967 on ATV Midlands.

"Avalanche" is the 11th episode of Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons, a British Supermarionation television series created by Gerry and Sylvia Anderson and produced by their company Century 21 Productions. It marked the scriptwriting debut of Century 21 voice actor Shane Rimmer, and was first broadcast on 27 October 1967 on ATV Midlands.

"Codename Europa" is the 30th episode of Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons, a British Supermarionation television series created by Gerry and Sylvia Anderson and filmed by their production company Century 21 Productions. Written by David Lee and directed by Alan Perry, it was first broadcast on 21 March 1968 on Granada Television.

"The Launching" is the 29th episode of Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons, a British Supermarionation television series created by Gerry and Sylvia Anderson and filmed by their production company Century 21 Productions. Written by Peter Curran and David Williams and directed by Brian Burgess, it was first broadcast on 2 April 1968 on ATV Midlands.

References

  1. ↑ Building the Spectrum Patrol Car from Gerry Anderson's Captain Scarlet, by David Sisson
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Bentley, Chris (2001). The Complete Book of Captain Scarlet. London, UK: Carlton Books. p. 53. ISBN   978-1-84222-405-2.
  3. ↑ Drake, Chris; Bassett, Graeme (1993). Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons. London, UK: Boxtree. pp. 34–35. ISBN   978-1-852834-03-6.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Denham, Sam (2017). Gerry Anderson's Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons Spectrum Agents' Manual. Yeovil, Somerset: Haynes Publishing. pp. 40–41. ISBN   978-1-78521-143-0.
  5. 1 2 3 4 Bleathman, Graham (2000). Gerry Anderson's Supermarionation Cross-Sections. London, UK: Carlton Books. p. 38. ISBN   9781842224113.
  6. ↑ Bentley 2017, pp. 82, 162.
  7. ↑ Bentley, Chris, ed. (1995). "Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons: 'The Mysterons'". The Century 21 Script Book. Bradford, UK: Fanderson. pp. 7, 12.
  8. ↑ Bentley 2017, p. 83.
  9. ↑ Spectrum Patrol Car (Captain Scarlet): Century 21 Tech Talk. October 9, 2021 – via YouTube.
  10. ↑ Bentley 2017, pp. 162, 165, 196.
  11. ↑ Arron, Simon (17 February 2007). "The Gear Box: The Grand Prix Saboteurs, Sat-Nav And Captain Scarlet Twin Packs". telegraph.co.uk . Telegraph Media Group. Archived from the original on 16 May 2011. Retrieved 31 August 2020.
  12. ↑ Treadaway, John (2012). "Scarlet Thunder". salute.co.uk. South London Warlords. Archived from the original on 1 August 2019. Retrieved 24 May 2020.
  13. ↑ Walsh, Mick (November 2014). "'It was a Dramatic Step into the Unknown for the Japanese Company'". Classic & Sports Car . p. 128.
  14. ↑ Taylor, James (2 October 2015). "The Car Top 10: Gerry Anderson Vehicles". carmagazine.co.uk . Bauer Consumer Media. Archived from the original on 2 October 2017. Retrieved 6 January 2020.

Works cited

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