One of the most successful Budgie Miniatures was No.5 Police Car based on the Wolseley 6/80 vehicle, and in 1964 a new version was created with a different name and number, No.27 Fire Chief Car.

 

The body was the same casting as No.5 but this time it was painted red. Silver trim was added to the grille, headlights and rear bumper. The wheels of this first issue were grey plastic.

 

The roof-top metal loudspeakers were retained and to start with these were trimmed with white paint.

 

No.27 also had a revised base. The casting included the original bell and front bumper but the lettering was altered to read 'Budgie Models', 'Fire Chief Car' (between raised 'brackets'), 'No.27' and 'Made in England'.

 

It was not long before Budgie dropped the white loudspeakers in favour of unpainted ones which appeared first on the grey-wheeled model but for only a short time. Budgie then switched to using slightly smaller black plastic wheels, and these remained for the life of the model.

 

Although it first appeared in 1964, No.27 was not issued in the Modern Vehicle Series boxes but only in blue Budgie blister-packs and in the US in Toy House packs. The black-wheeled variation was also included in two of Budgie's triple blister-packs, No.99a Traffic Set and No.98b Utility Vehicle Set. 

 

Less common in the UK, No.27 Fire Chief Car seems to be mostly found overseas especially in the US. The grey-wheeled variation with white speakers is rare.