Your 68 Fury has the same 3 switch dash set up,but also has a Federal siren/Pa control panel.Is it normal for a a Cpd car to have no P.A system ????


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The Fury had the same switches because like this car, the siren was activated off the horn button. The PA/electronic sirens weren't standard on new CPD cars until 1975. Prior to that, they got whichever siren was handy when the vehicle was being prepped. That was most often a Federal Pulsator.

Greg
CPD and
copcar dot com

Is Johnny Lightning or Code 3 coming out with a diecast of the the Polara?

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Not that I'm aware of. What have you heard?

Greg
copcar dot com

What do the two metal switches do next to the plunger white switch operate ???
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The other switches are for the flashing hi-beams and the siren/horn selector. The plunger is for the lightbar.

Greg
copcar dot com

Greg,

Another great restoration. Let me know the first show/event you'll have for display. Two questions.

1.Did the driver's side rear wheel cover come off on the drive home? or is it to give the authentic look?

2. I seem to recall on the Mars light bar setup you have, the Beat Tag was mounted verticaly, or at his transition time were they still "stuck" on the front or back windshield?

JoeK

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Joe-

The hubcap was lost on the ride home. Now it does look "in-service", doesn't it? I've got a replacement coming.

On the blue CPD cars, the beat tags were in the front and rear windows. The tags weren't on the lightbars until the white cars hit the streets in 1975.

Look for the Polara on April 30th at the Larry Roesch Chrysler show in Elmhurst.

Greg

**Another Preston comment deleted**

Just why is he so jealous??

Keep checking the albums every day, Preston. We love the hits.

Looks like a brand new Mars light bar !!!

Is that an old TrippLite on the first Chicago cruiser?

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Actually, it's a brand-new TrippLite. They haven't changed in 40 years.

Greg
copcar dot com

On the Mars lightbar,could the blue can lights flash without the main rotor lights being on ??
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No. All the lights came on at once. You could not have one on without the other.

Greg
copcar dot com
and builder of all three cars in the photo

hey Greg,
Great job on the cars i love to see the history come alive i have only been a trooper a year now but i grew up in a family of troopers an i like everything you have done thanks from the va state troopers

Just for your own info.
The vehicle in this picture is a 1931 AA Ford Paddy Wagon. That is pronounced "double a" and was the heavier truck version of the Model A. These were either 131" wb or 157" wb, options for rear dual wheels was available.
They were designed in late 1930 and produced in 1931. They were officially titled "Police Patrols" and went by the body style numbers of;
285-A
Police Patrol (Deluxe)
290-A
Police Patrol (Standard)
There was a third body style that was built as a prototype but was never produced.
The one in this picture I would assume to be the "deluxe" version. The standard trucks came with a radiator shell painted black, as well as a body color painted cowl band (silver shiny thing just behind the hood), and black painted headlight buckets. Likewise it has an electric windshield wiper on it which was usually reserved for the deluxe vehicles.
I am compiling a list of owners and info for these rarer body style AA's and would love to hear from anyone who knows anything about them.
Thanks
-Tim

"Authentic reproduction" ???

As opposed to a fake reproduction?
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Yes Doug. As opposed to the inaccurate reproductions made of plastic with raised letters and numbers like the rest of the cars in the movie all had. From 1943 through 1948, IL license plates were made out of a compressed fiber board with all the lettering painted on.

Greg
copcar dot com

Very proud, and rightfully so. And I can all too well relate to bored females riding shotgun. How long before we see a fourth in this line up?

Hi Greg, I caught the segment, wish I could have recorded it. Question: What is the license plate on the Ford? Does it have to do with the C.P.D. Memorial Park Foundation?

Also, I noticed here in Streamwood a few months ago the Police cars have been replated with new "MP" license plates(Municpal Police?) Will this affect Chicago too? or only smaller cites.

Thanks,

Joe
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Joe-

The plate is one of those 90-day ceremonial fund-raising plates offered by the SOS. The CPD Memorial Organization sold 500 sets of them. One was put on this car for the segment. I guess it didn't go unnoticed. Good eye.

The State has also recently updated their municipal plates for police vehicles. Those are the plates you've been seeing in Streamwood and other suburbs. At this point, each PD has the option of updating to the new style plates, but it's not mandatory---YET.

Greg
CPD and
copcar dot com

Greg,Can you help me out.I watch Blues Brothers and I noticed 4 kinds of police depts. 1)chicago police 2)il.state police 3)cook county sheriff at the blessed shroud orphanage and 4)is at the gig when all the state police start chasing them, there is another police dept in the chase and at big hill crash that follows,any idea ???? thanks again.
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The other police cars were from the fictional town of Lake Wasapamani, where the Palace Hotel Ballroom was supposed to be. Most of them were solid white 73 Dodge Polaras with red Mars lightbars and simple door shields.
Here's a link to a decent picture of one:
http://www.bluesbrotherscentral.com/images/cars/cookcounty2.jpg

Greg
copcar dot com and
Blue Brothers movie trivia geek.

Thanks Greg, on your skybolt does the white d/s can- light flash or is it like a takedown light?
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It flashed. It was a temporary replacement when one of the blue lamps burned out. When we still had Mars lights in service years ago, it was not uncommon to see a clear or even a red brake light bulb used to replace one that burned out. The repair guys used whatever they had on hand in the repair truck.

Greg
CPD and
copcar dot com

Can you throw a picture in of what the control panel looked liked.Was it a MARS brand siren/light combo or a single dash switch. thanks again............
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The "control panel" was piece of radio delete plate made of black plastic with a white plunger (headlight) switch for the blue lights and toggle switches for hi-beams, horn/siren and trunk shotgun lock. The siren/PA box was a Mars Clarion or Federal Interceptor, whatever they had laying around when the car was prepped.

Greg
CPD and
restorer of the 77 Dodge

When'd the CPD switch from blue to white cars?
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The first of the white cars hit the street in April of 1975.

Greg
CPD and
copcar dot com

Greg,
Hello, I just ran across your two photo's of 1931 Ford Paddy wagons. I would love higher resolution copies. I have a stripped down model which I would love to restore some day. It is missing most of the rear upper half of the body. Someone wanted a flatbed. Could you provide a name and address of the fellow with the original. I would love to get additional photo's and measurements. Looking forward to your response. Thank you.
Richard
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As I explained in the caption, I have no more information about this vehicle. I don't know who owns it or where it is located.

Greg
copcar dot com

Questions about the old stlye patch you got on there i know it was last used in 83 and the district numbers were in the center, but i have seen 2 letter center patches like OS or SO and TF what would those have ment and what other center patches were there
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Every unit (and there are HUNDREDS) in the CPD has their own letter or numbered designator. There are way too many to list, but here are the ones you mentioned:

OS- Operational Services
SO- Special Operations
TF- Task Force

The unit designators are now part of the officer's name tag.

Greg Reynolds
CPD and
copcar dot com

FABULOUS photo of your Plymouth! Suitable for framing!!!!!