Radio 2 broadcaster Chris Evans is perhaps best known for his love of Ferraris, but this weekend he bought himself something a little different – a 1964 Daimler SP250 ‘Dart’.

It wasn’t just any SP250, though. This fully restored example was one of the last 26 ‘Darts’ used by the Metropolitan Police… not a bad first owner to have on the old buff logbook.

Coming with two folders full of history, ALM 742B cost Evans a cool £50,400 when the hammer went down at Historics’ August 30 sale at Brooklands. Despite it being at the top end of its £50k estimate, Evans is chuffed with his purchase and reckons it’s the best car he’s bought in ages.

He stated ‘I’m completely taken with the SP250 ‘Dart’ police car. So lovingly cared for by the previous owner who enthusiastically prepared a stunning history record of the vehicle.

‘It has working (secret!), blues and twos, period police radio, and the remote bumper bell. An actual ringing police bell.

‘The kids love it, the big kids love it even more. A design classic and surely the coolest road traffic car HM police force has ever employed.’

Evans famously made the headlines after he paid £12m for a Ferrari 250 GTO in May 2010 and £5.5m a California Spider SWB in 2008.