# Jam Sandwich Police Cars Explained

> British police cars got the nickname 'jam sandwich' from their 1970s design.
- Title: Jam Sandwich Police Cars Explained · Jalopnik | Shortify
- Summary: British police cars got the nickname 'jam sandwich' from their 1970s design. British police cars were called 'jam sandwiches' because their 1970s…
- Keywords: jam sandwich, british police cars, 1970s police design, rover sd1, cars, culture, Jam, Sandwich, Police, Explained, Jalopnik
- Source: Jalopnik — https://jalopnik.com/2287084/british-police-cars-jam-sandwich
- Author: Chloe Clougher
- Published: 2026-10-18T19:50:00+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: jam sandwich, british police cars, 1970s police design, rover sd1, cars, culture
## Jam Sandwich Origin
British police cars were nicknamed 'jam sandwiches' after 1970s white-and-red designs.
## Design Change
The 1970s police cars had white or silver bodies with fluorescent red stripes.
## Why Jam Sandwich?
Passing at speed, the cars looked like jam sandwiches with the dimensions of a Rover SD1.
## Design Replacement
The 'jam sandwich' name faded when police cars switched to yellow-and-blue Battenburg designs.
## Key takeaway

British police cars were called 'jam sandwiches' because their 1970s white-and-red designs resembled jam sandwiches.