Spectrum Saloon Car (SSC)
Encyclopedia
The Spectrum Patrol Car or Spectrum Saloon Car (SSC) 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 series Gerry Anderson's New Captain Scarlet
(2005).
. It can seat up to four people, can reach speeds of up to 195 mph (312 kph), 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. Safety airbags are fitted as standard.
In the series, the SPC was realised as a scale model designed by Mike Trim
.
series Gerry Anderson's 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 tailfin and booster rockets that, once deployed, allow the car to glide over obstructions that it encounters on the road.
Gerry Anderson
Gerry Anderson MBE is a British publisher, producer, director and writer, famous for his futuristic television programmes, particularly those involving specially modified marionettes, a process called "Supermarionation"....
's science-fiction television series Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons
Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons
Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons, often referred to as Captain Scarlet, is a 1960s British science-fiction television series produced by the Century 21 Productions company of Gerry and Sylvia Anderson, John Read and Reg Hill...
(1967) and in revamped form in the remake series Gerry Anderson's New Captain Scarlet
Gerry Anderson's New Captain Scarlet
Gerry Anderson's New Captain Scarlet is a United Kingdom-produced computer-generated imagery action-adventure TV series which debuted in February 2005 as part of the Ministry of Mayhem on ITV....
(2005).
Appearance in Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons
Accessible only to Spectrum personnel, the SPC is 18 feet (5.4 m) long and equipped with four-wheel driveFour-wheel drive
Four-wheel drive, 4WD, or 4×4 is a four-wheeled vehicle with a drivetrain that allows all four wheels to receive torque from the engine simultaneously...
. It can seat up to four people, can reach speeds of up to 195 mph (312 kph), and is powered by a gas turbine located under the rear roof. The car is specially equipped with quartz
Quartz
Quartz is the second-most-abundant mineral in the Earth's continental crust, after feldspar. It is made up of a continuous framework of SiO4 silicon–oxygen tetrahedra, with each oxygen being shared between two tetrahedra, giving an overall formula SiO2. There are many different varieties of quartz,...
headlights that permit the driver to see long distances in the dark. The vehicle also features transverse gearing, independent suspension
Suspension (vehicle)
Suspension is the term given to the system of springs, shock absorbers and linkages that connects a vehicle to its wheels. Suspension systems serve a dual purpose — contributing to the car's roadholding/handling and braking for good active safety and driving pleasure, and keeping vehicle occupants...
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. Safety airbags are fitted as standard.
In the series, the SPC was realised as a scale model designed by Mike Trim
Michael Trim
Michael Trim is an artist most famous for illustrating the cover of Jeff Wayne's Musical Version of The War of the Worlds, which depicts a Martian tripod striking down the heroic Thunder Child...
.
Appearance in Gerry Anderson's New Captain Scarlet
In the CGIComputer-generated imagery
Computer-generated imagery is the application of the field of computer graphics or, more specifically, 3D computer graphics to special effects in art, video games, films, television programs, commercials, simulators and simulation generally, and printed media...
series Gerry Anderson's New Captain Scarlet
Gerry Anderson's New Captain Scarlet
Gerry Anderson's New Captain Scarlet is a United Kingdom-produced computer-generated imagery action-adventure TV series which debuted in February 2005 as part of the Ministry of Mayhem on ITV....
(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 tailfin and booster rockets that, once deployed, allow the car to glide over obstructions that it encounters on the road.
See also
- Captain Scarlet and the MysteronsCaptain Scarlet and the MysteronsCaptain Scarlet and the Mysterons, often referred to as Captain Scarlet, is a 1960s British science-fiction television series produced by the Century 21 Productions company of Gerry and Sylvia Anderson, John Read and Reg Hill...
- Spectrum Pursuit VehicleSpectrum Pursuit VehicleThe 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 .-Appearance in Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons:...
(SPV) - Maximum Security Vehicle (MSV)
- CloudbaseCloudbaseCloudbase is the fictional skyborne headquarters of international security organisation Spectrum, from Gerry Anderson's science fiction television series Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons .-Appearance in Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons:...
- Angel Interceptor