Restored 1979 Porsche 924 police car returns to Abu Dhabi fleet display

A 1979 Porsche 924 that once escorted Queen Elizabeth II on her first royal visit to the United Arab Emirates has been restored to its original police livery and returned to the Abu Dhabi Police. The car was handed back at a ceremony at the Al Maqta Museum and will be shown publicly at the Icons of Porsche festival in Dubai on November 21 and 22.

The restoration was carried out by Porsche Centre Abu Dhabi and Al Ain, which recreated the original hand-painted police signage instead of using modern decals. The 924 had remained part of the UAE Federal Police Fleet over the years and had been seen in various colours before the decision to return it to its 1979 appearance.

A police car with a royal history

The 924 was chosen as the escort car when Queen Elizabeth II and her husband, the Duke of Edinburgh, visited the Gulf region. It was the Queen's first visit to the UAE, which had been declared an independent country just seven years earlier. That makes the car almost as old as the UAE itself, and it predates the Porsche 911s and all-electric Taycan that have since joined the fleet.

Lieutenant Colonel Ali Al Hammadi, head of the Police Legacy Department at Abu Dhabi Police, said the 924 represents an important chapter in the history of Abu Dhabi Police and the development of its vehicle fleet, and that restoring it provides a tangible connection to that period for future generations.

Restoration and display

The work by Porsche Centre Abu Dhabi and Al Ain made the car look virtually new while keeping the hand-painted police markings of the original. The car was returned to Abu Dhabi Police at the Al Maqta Museum ceremony.

Its public appearance at the Icons of Porsche festival in Dubai on November 21 and 22 puts the restored 924 in front of a modern Porsche audience. The sources do not say whether the car will return to active police service after the festival, so for now it is confirmed only as a restored display vehicle.

Why this car stands apart from the supercar fleet

The UAE's police forces are now known for headline-grabbing supercars, including Dubai Police's modified Lamborghini Temerario and Ferrari 812 Superfast with Mansory tweaks, and Abu Dhabi's past use of a Lykan Hypersport and Nissan GT-R. Those cars are typically used for public outreach and PR stunts. The 924 is different: it was an active service vehicle, and its restoration is about preserving a working piece of police history rather than attracting attention.

Chery has priced its Stockman diesel plug-in hybrid ute from $52,990 before on-road costs in Australia, with deliveries due to begin on February 1, 2027. A second, higher trim, the Ultimate, is listed at $57,990 plus on-roads.

The Stockman is described as Australia's first diesel PHEV dual-cab ute, and its pricing undercuts the petrol plug-in hybrid BYD Shark 6, which starts at $57,900 plus on-road costs.

How the pricing compares

The base Urban variant's $52,990 plus on-roads figure sits above the GWM Cannon PHEV, priced from $50,990 drive-away, but below the GWM Cannon Alpha PHEV at $57,490 drive-away and the Ford Ranger Hybrid at $61,000 plus on-roads.

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Diesel PHEV powertrain and electric range

The launch powertrain pairs a 2.5-litre turbo-diesel four-cylinder with a dedicated hybrid transmission and a 34kWh lithium iron phosphate battery mounted under the tub, for total system outputs of 350kW and 800Nm.

Chery claims combined-cycle fuel consumption of 1.0 to 1.1L/100km and CO2 emissions of 25 to 30g/km, with an 80-litre fuel tank fitted. The company has not published a fuel consumption figure for the Stockman once the battery is depleted, so how thirsty the diesel becomes on long runs without charge remains unannounced.

Electric range is quoted at 100km on the WLTP cycle, dropping to 96km on the optional all-terrain tyres. That beats the BYD Shark 6 Performance's 80km WLTP figure and the Ford Ranger Hybrid's 50km, though the Ranger number is on the older NEDC cycle and is not directly comparable.

A petrol PHEV version joins the range in the second half of 2027, with higher outputs of 395kW and 1000Nm.

Towing, payload and suspension

Braked towing capacity is listed at 3495kg, 5kg short of the Shark 6 Performance, Ranger Hybrid and Cannon Alpha PHEV, with unbraked towing at 750kg. Kerb weight runs from 2690kg to 2735kg, against a gross vehicle mass of 3500kg and a gross combined mass of 6500kg.

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Chery says it is still working towards a 1000kg payload, the figure it originally claimed before preliminary specifications in September cut it to 765kg. The diesel PHEV uses double-wishbone front suspension and leaf springs at the rear, while the petrol PHEV will switch to coil springs at the back.