A new column for police-car collectors
Hello everyone. Welcome to a new, regular feature here on Allpar. I hope that you will find this column to be as enjoyable to read as I am going to enjoy writing it. The column will be scheduled to be updated every 2-4 weeks with new information and articles.
This column will be devoted entirely to the collecting and restoring of police and emergency vehicles. While there are several message boards on a few web sites that are dedicated to this topic, this is a first where a regular interactive news and information feature is available on any web site. I sincerely thank the staff at Allpar for allowing me to author this new addition to what is already a fine site. I hope that you will take the time to peruse the other parts of Allpar. Even if your passion is just for emergency vehicles, there are many great features and articles everywhere on the site. This started out as a submission of an article for the SQUADS PAGE and ended up with this regular feature. I hope you take a few moments and read my article on what I consider very basic and important facts on collecting police cars.
I called this an interactive column. What that means is that you, the reader, enthusiast, and collector, or future collector, will have the opportunity to submit questions, suggestions for articles, comments, etc. directly to me right here on the column page and I will be able to address them as an integral part of the feature. I want to be able to answer your questions right here along with the information that YOU want to have featured in each update. Don’t be afraid to submit any questions relating to the hobby because the only dumb question is the one that goes unasked. I will not be able to answer all questions directly back to the author, but I will try to answer as many as I can in the column. Depending on the volume of questions, comments, etc. that I receive, I will try to answer and feature as many as space allows. Please try to limit your questions to what can be addressed in the column, however, if you have a significant need or problem that I can help you with, please make sure that you provide a direct response address and I will attempt to answer you personally as time allows.
So what makes me qualified to author a column about this growing segment of the collector car hobby? Outside of being in public safety in several aspects including teaching for over 30 years as a career, I have been involved in classic cars for many years and a gearhead all of my life. I have been in the emergency vehicle segment for a number of years now and own two police cars that I and my wife have restored, a 1987 Diplomat, Pennsylvania State Police, and a 1976 Maverick (yes, I said Maverick and I know this is a Mopar site. Sorry), currently a Metro K-9 car but preparing to be remade into a Baltimore Police Department cruiser. The BPD did actually use a Maverick or two back in the day. I am on the board of directors of the Emergency Vehicle Owners and Operators Association as well as being the Police Car Division Coordinator. I have learned quite a bit in regard to this great hobby and I hope to pass on what I have learned, and are still learning, along with the expertise of others I am acquainted with as well. There is a fantastic pool of knowledge and experience that I am able to tap into to bring you the information that you want and need to be a true part of this hobby.
Time to head for the barn. I will be addressing issues of importance to all of us within the hobby starting next time. Start sending those questions and suggestions in. Until then, have a Happy New Year, a safe, prosperous, and healthy one.
And keep saving those patrol cars!
Police car shows coming up
Any more shows out there? Here’s a few of interest, one coming up soon and the others for later this summer in the same area.
- Cops & Rodders Show. Minneapolis State Fairgrounds, Machinery Hill area. Saturday August 2, 0900-1500. Goody bags for the first 100 entrants. Music and vendors. Entry fees have not been finalized at time of print, but last year’s were less than $10. Contact via E-mail or call 651-773-1224.
- Cops & Rodders along with the Minneapolis PD P.A.L.S. show. Parade Stadium, Minneapolis, MN. September 6, 0900-1500. . Entry fees have not been finalized at time of print, but last year’s were less than $10. Contact via E-mail or call 651-773-1224.
- The 8th ANNUAL NYC POLICE CAR SHOW is June 21st and 22nd and will include a display on the 21st at the Whiskey Cafe in New Jersey on Saturday night. Saturday, the cars will be on display at the NYC Police Museum in Manhattan from 10am-4pm, but Sunday June 22nd there will be a new venue in lower Manhattan. All vehicles must be vintage 1990 and older and pre-registration is requested as space is limited. For any info, questions, host hotel info, contact the organizer.
- While this is not a show, there is a vintage police car presence. Police Week 2008, held by the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Foundation each year, commences May 6 through the 16th in Washington, D.C. The activities most of interest to police car enthusiasts commence May 11. Even if you do not have a vintage car yet, this is the nation’s opportunity to honor those that have made the ultimate sacrifice to protect us all, as well as to show our support to law enforcement. For more info, go to www.nleomf.org. I’ve attended numerous times.
- The New Jersey State Policemen’s Benevolent Association, Verona Local #72 is sponsoring a Cops & Rodders car show. This event is in celebration of the Local’s 80th Anniversary, and will be on Sunday, June 22, 2008 from 9:30 am to 3 pm at the Verona Civic Center (600 Bloomfield Avenue) in Verona, New Jersey. There is no entrance or registration fees for Vintage Police Vehicles! Trophies will be awarded in several Vintage Police car classes. There will be several other family and children’s activities at the show. Please e-mail veronacarshow@yahoo.com for more info. (This show is supported and endorsed by the EVOOA)
Interactive
The interactive portion of this column requires that you sign up as a member of Allpar’s forums - joining our 40,000 members. Or click here if you’ve already signed up.
Other columns
Introduction | Rules & Regs for Restorers | The Very Basics of Police Car Collecting
Emergency lighting | Sirens | Malibu restoration
