Spectrum Pursuit Vehicle

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

[edit] Appearance in Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons

The grey-blue vehicle has ten sets of wheels (six sets over the front, middle and rear axles which are double) and an auxiliary traction system of hydraulically lowered caterpillar tracks at the rear. The driver and passengers are seated facing backwards to reduce impact in the event of a collision, with a large television screen displaying the road ahead and behind. A co-driver mans the weaponry systems, e.g. missiles. SPVs are distributed around the world at specific Spectrum safehouses, which are disguised, often as commercial buildings. Spectrum agents can obtain access to an SPV upon showing their identification.

In the series, the SPV was realised as a 22 inch long scale model[1] designed by Derek Meddings.[2]

[edit] The Rhino

In the recent CGI series Gerry Anderson's New Captain Scarlet (2005), the SPVs successor is known as the Spectrum Rhino. The Rhino employs a far greater armoury than the original SPV ever did, and unlike the original is incapable of travelling on water. Instead of being hidden in safehouses, they are deployed from Skybase using "Albatross" dropships. The driver of the Rhino adopts a normal driving position in contrast with its predecessor.