SPV cutaway drawing
Air intake servicing air conditioning and
air cooling systems for rear machinery
TV driving screen
Instrument panel
Rearward facing driver's seat with ejection parachute pack
Selector panel for powerpack attachments such as the
thrusterpack conversion. These items are stored in
the cabinets seen immediately above the selector
panel, and which run both sides of a gangway down
the length of the vehicle
Driver and live TV screen. The SPV can be
driven from either of the two positions
Brackets connect the seat to the armoured door; to leave
the vehicle, the overhead ramps are extended, sliding door
and attached seat sideways till exit is clear
The power pack, held in position by twin clamps which
raise it through a sliding panel in the floor above,
when required for thruster pack or other use
Armoured cable conducts current from
the power pack to the magnetic brakes
Hub motors
Magnetic disc brake and support arm which pivots on the
cantilevered bracket attached to main shock absorber.
The square-ended box to the left of the support arm
contains the hydropacymatic ram by which the steering
is affected. The smaller wheels behind are coupled to
turn in unison
Main shock absorber
A limited-travel absorber permits wheel to tilt on rough ground
The rugged tubular chassis
Air intake and duct serving fuel cell and forward cooling units
Front flotation chamber contains buoyancy compartments
(not shown) for amphibious work. Its curved profile makes
it a useful fender at low speeds, but in the event of high
speed collision it will collapse giving a cushioning
effect
Head light and TV camera
Main hydraulics oil reservoir
Air intake
Cantilevered chassis supporting tracks and
converter for the twin aquajets (not shown)
Motor driving tank tracks
Battery. This is a standby connected to motors in the four
smaller wheels. These provide drive when the power pack is
removed and the motors in the six pairs of wheels are idle
Suspension (is similar on all wheels except front pair)
storage
The various components are stored in the back of the vehicle in drawers (A). The appropriate ones are selec­ted by using the panel (B). At (C) is an emergency escape hatch.
storage cutaway drawing
drawers
drawer selector panel
emergency escape hatch
driving position
The door and seat slide sideways (1) by means of rams (2) to enable entry and exit. The driver faces rearwards, steering by TV screen (3), showing forward view. In front of him are his instrument panel and control box (4) which slides out to the most convenient position. (5) is the selector panel and (6) the hatch through which the power unit emer­­ges. The driving position is duplicated on the right-hand side of the cabin.
driving position cutaway drawing
door and seat
ram
tv screen
instrument panel and control box
selector panel
hatch
chassis
The main, six-wheel drive is supplied by individual motors in each pair of wheels. Power is transmitted via the drive cogs (1) through gearing (2). Magnetic breaks (3) are similar to disc brakes but rely on magnetic forces, not friction. Rods (4) make the smaller wheels track the front wheels which steer by hydropneumatic cylinders (5). The wheels are suspended on hydraulic shock absorbers (6) which can also be used to retract the wheels for amphibious operation. Power is supplied to the wheel motors from the power unit (7). This works on fuel cell principles; that is the combination of air and the hydrogenic fuel generates electricity. The power unit stands on a ramp, held firm by twin clamps (8). This arrangement is used to present the power unit in the required position for other uses (see below). When the power unit is being used for other purposes the vehicle standby batteries (9) drive the four sets of smaller wheels. At (10) the caterpillar tracks are removed to show the internal drive motor and driving sprockets.
The main, six-wheel drive is supplied by individual motors in each pair of wheels. Power is transmitted via the drive cogs (1) through gearing (2). Magnetic breaks (3) are similar to disc brakes but rely on magnetic forces, not friction. Rods (4) make the smaller wheels track the front wheels which steer by hydropneumatic cylinders (5). The wheels are suspended on hydraulic shock absorbers (6) which can also be used to retract the wheels for amphibious operation. Power is supplied to the wheel motors from the power unit (7). This works on fuel cell principles; that is the combination of air and the hydrogenic fuel generates electricity. The power unit stands on a ramp, held firm by twin clamps (8). This arrangement is used to present the power unit in the required position for other uses (see below). When the power unit is being used for other purposes the vehicle standby batteries (9) drive the four sets of smaller wheels. At (10) the caterpillar tracks are removed to show the internal drive motor and driving sprockets.
chassis cutaway drawing
drive cogs
gearing
magnetic breaks
rods
hydropneumatic cylinders
hydraulic shock absorbers
power unit
clamps
standby batteries
internal drive motor and driving sprockets
power unit
The power unit can also be used to power small personal vehicles. Here it is shown converted into a thruster pack, electrically driven high-speed compressors supplying air jets.
power unit cutaway drawing
When used amphibious­ly the wheels retract upwards and the flap (A) closes. Propulsion is then by twin water turbo jets, positioned at the rear of the craft.
amphibious mode diagram
The incredible clim­bing position of the SPV is safer than it looks. The insert shows how the low centre of gravity (CG) of the vehicle is ahead of the rear tracks in the upright position. The vehicle thus has a built-in tendency to fall forwards rather than tip backwards.
climbing position diagram

Technical specifications published originally in Captain Scarlet 1968 Annual,
later reprinted in Dutch Captain Scarlet Album

BREAKDOWN

  1. Spectrum's Earth-bound combat force
  2. There is no windscreen, instead the driver pilots the craft by televisional videoscan screen
  3. Unique power plant which drives SPV, stored on the floor of main cab with athro-coil leads to four-wheel drive
  4. When the power unit has been detached from the SPV, propulsion is attained by a series of standby molecultion batteries housed beneath the axles
  5. The SPV carries revolutionary radar installations and super-sensitive two way radio communicators
  6. Twin caterpillar track propellants allow the SPV to travel vertically
  7. Located at the rear of the craft are triple aqua jets for underwater travel
  8. Craft's fuel consumption now boosted to 25.7 m.p.g.; each craft has a capacity of 500 gallons

SPECIFICATION REVISION

SPV illustration SPV illustration SPV illustration

Gyromole

Installed in every standard issue SPV; the gyromole is a device for object clearance allowing the craft freedom of access across every known terrain. Fired from the perrion cannon located in the front of the vehicle the gyromole goes into operation the moment it thuds into its target object. Situated inside a heavy flywheel, it spins round the axis of the shell causing it to revolve in the opposite direction. This is arranged so that upfling spin impacted by the perrion cannon is accentuated by several thousand r.p.m.

The hard bit screws its way into rock in seconds and delayed action fuse detonators explode when the shell has bored well into the rock. It has a range of 100 yards. When the shell has completed its task a small yet strong bulldozer blade is used to clear the path of the resulting rubble. The bulldozer blade is housed beneath the front of the SPV and is powered by power unit.

additional specifications published originally in Captain Scarlet 1969 annual

SPV blueprint
Phil Rae's SPV blueprint published originally in SIG #5
©1982 Philip D. Rae
SPV side elevation
Side elevation
SPV front elevation
Front elevation
SPV rear elevation
Rear elevation
SPV plan
Plan

Elevations published originally in Captain Scarlet model sheet

SPV
Technical Specifications
name: Spectrum Pursuit Vehicle
length: 25 feet
weight: 8 tons
top speed: 250 m.p.h.
armaments: lasercannon and electron ray cannons
brakes: maghetic disc reverse thrust
steering: cylindrical hydropneumatics
power unit: four-wheel drive, hydrogenical fuel injection cells for land travel. Triple Aqua jets mounted at front and rear of vehicle for water travel
description: Two-seater, high speed, pursuit vehicle capable of an amazing 200 mph. 25 ft long, bullet proof, hand-assembled vehicle having no windscreen. Driver sitting backwards steers the lightweight multi-purpose motors by television. Expertly fitted with radar and two-way radio, complete with proteinised food supply. Specialised combat vehicle carrying a lethal load of ammunition. Built from specifications laid down by Colonel White.
designer: Derek Meddings