Staff cars have been around since vehicles were invented. They have tended to be based on fairly standard civilian vehicles, although there are some exceptions. 

For example, when the Austin Montego was procured, the MOD specified that power steering was not required as a cost saving measure, whilst the sunroof was also removed as that was deemed far too luxurious an investment for taxpayers' money! 

There are apocryphal stories of radios being removed from staff cars by either the manufacturer or the Base Vehicle Depot at a greater cost than if the radio had just been left in the vehicle - all in the name of correct specification according to rank and, of course, prudent spending of taxpayers' money!

Some additional items were usually added.  For staff cars designed to carry officers, after-market reading lights were usually fitted to both sides of the rear seat and to the side of the front passenger seat, enabling them to work whilst being chauffeured at night.  Star plates and flag staffs were often added to the most senior officers' cars.

Most staff cars were disposed of to the civilian market, the only exception being those from Northern Ireland and those which had been used for special purposes.  These were invariably destroyed. 

Their sound maintenance regimes made staff cars good second hand purchases.  Unfortunately, because they were disposed of cheaply, they tended to be 'run into the ground' so relatively few survive today.  Unless you know otherwise...

Take a look at the gallery to see a variety of MOD staff cars from the 1980s.