MrMoparCHP
Old Man with a Hat
It is just that the A38 and "Interceptor" labels are thrown around so much that people forget where the reality is.
Alan
Alan
1975 Police Car
- Thread starter thood1954
- Start date
yup..thats probably true. and the research continues...
A38 was a "package" and rarely if ever were packages listed on the fender tags. They would most certainly be listed on the Broadcast Sheet, so if you happen to find one of those for/in a police vehicle, it will tell a very complete story.
Written confirmation of the A38 package contents might be listed in the normal data books, but it's most likely contained in the Order Guides which few people seem to have. I will check to see what I have and whether A38 is listed. I do recall it's listed in 1979, but how much farther back than that, I can remember off the top of my head.
DUHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Been sitting and squinting/reading this gdcomputer too long today and my brain was nodding off.
When fleet vehicles were built as engineering specific models (Police, Taxi), the second letter of the VIN indicated that. "K" for cop cars, "T" for taxis. When Chrysler stopped building cop cars and taxis as specific models, that's when the Police and Taxi PACKAGES would have come into effect. Check the previous posting of the "B" and "C" body cop car fender tags. All of those vehicles have "K" as the 2nd digit of the VIN>
When fleet vehicles were built as engineering specific models (Police, Taxi), the second letter of the VIN indicated that. "K" for cop cars, "T" for taxis. When Chrysler stopped building cop cars and taxis as specific models, that's when the Police and Taxi PACKAGES would have come into effect. Check the previous posting of the "B" and "C" body cop car fender tags. All of those vehicles have "K" as the 2nd digit of the VIN>
MrMoparCHP
Old Man with a Hat
In part I think we are spinning wheels here. There was a previous poster that mentioned the A38 as a way to know if it was a police package car, I was simply illustrating the point that it wasn't on the tag.
What the A38 package and when it started I have no idea, but if I'm looking for a true package car I'd be doing some research to know what a particular year should have on the tag. In my case it was more than just the tag and VIN, I needed to see evidence of CHP installed equipment.
I really don't know a lot about the police packages through the years, I did do a fair amount of research on the 69's prior to buying my car.
Alan
What the A38 package and when it started I have no idea, but if I'm looking for a true package car I'd be doing some research to know what a particular year should have on the tag. In my case it was more than just the tag and VIN, I needed to see evidence of CHP installed equipment.
I really don't know a lot about the police packages through the years, I did do a fair amount of research on the 69's prior to buying my car.
Alan
69CoronetRT
Senior Member
Found something in the 72 Plymouth order guidelines....http://www.hamtramck-historical.com/dealerships/1972PlymouthOrderingInfo-04.shtml 4th picture
Apparently A38 was a package that was available for bid customers.
This makes sense for larger departments:
Ordering a large number of cars,
that required a bidding process due to volume, dollar amount or departmental policy
looking for a price break on volume
This also leads me to believe that all A38 cars are cop cars but not all cop cars are A38.
This, along with a statement above, also leads me to believe that A38 may have been a Plymouth only option in certain years.
This package would not necessarily be coded on a FT, probably coded on a BS and highly probable on an invoice or window sticker.
Cop cars are not high volume production. Maybe we just haven't run across a car that went through this process.
Research continues. We need to find similar order guides from other years to see when the package was available and continue to scour 'cop car' documents to see what we can find.
Apparently A38 was a package that was available for bid customers.
This makes sense for larger departments:
Ordering a large number of cars,
that required a bidding process due to volume, dollar amount or departmental policy
looking for a price break on volume
This also leads me to believe that all A38 cars are cop cars but not all cop cars are A38.
This, along with a statement above, also leads me to believe that A38 may have been a Plymouth only option in certain years.
This package would not necessarily be coded on a FT, probably coded on a BS and highly probable on an invoice or window sticker.
Cop cars are not high volume production. Maybe we just haven't run across a car that went through this process.
Research continues. We need to find similar order guides from other years to see when the package was available and continue to scour 'cop car' documents to see what we can find.
69CoronetRT
Senior Member
Last edited:
All the cop car stuff is fascinating. To all on this thread.....Thanks for the education.
I'm looking forward to all future data and any information about these specials cars that you guys can share.
I'm looking forward to all future data and any information about these specials cars that you guys can share.
Nice investigative work. Some of these seems to confirm the Sanow assertions as they claim to have used the same sources as noted in the link you posted. anyway, we'll see i guess as more info comes to light.
my three C-bodies, '71 and '73 WSP Polara Customs, and the '72 New Jersey State Police Fury III (hidden headlights, etc) have the following VINs respectively. DL41U1, DL41U3, and PH41U2. No "K"s in VIN, yet each is a number-matching E86 pursuit class rig with all the trimmings of a "K" coded car.
Again I will look at the tags (I have buildsheet for the 72 too, but not the WSP cars) to look at the codes. "Something" had to tell the plant to build a cop car with a "K" or an "L, M or H" in second VIN digit position ...that something may not be on the fender tag but surely, as was observed above, it would likely be on build sheet.
I will post the pics here with whatever I find on/in my own cars. I am very curious now.
Broadly speaking it makes sense to me that Chrysler would help its best fleet customers buy cars that help those law enforcement organizations recognize their management "hierarchy".
These folks, who still were "cops" in addition to having rank/supervisory duties, had to have "perks" of office but without sacrificing their ability to use the car in "real" police work -- like some of them did when they had lower ranks -- should the need arise.
Everybody gets what they want out of such a policy...more cars potintially sold by Chrysler, Captains/Chief of Detectives gets power windows, full carpet and a 440-HP to boot.
thanks again for the extra effort to make us all smarter.
69CoronetRT
Senior Member
All of the cars posted above have a "K" as the first character in the VON. Look for that.
ZedR
Member
Texas Highway Patrol ordered "K" cars, until 1972.
Starting in 1972, they ordered upper trim level vehicles with specific police options. While I unfortunately do not have an Undamaged copy, I found a 4 page document under the rear seat that specified exactly what options were to go on the car (this is in addition to the 3 broadcast sheets I found in the car). The 4 page document rotted from about the middle of each page down.
My car, a 1972 Dodge Polara Custom has the VIN DM41P2D. 76 Identical Dodges were ordered. The state also ordered upwards of 150 Furys that year.
Options:
Special Paint, Black & White
400 High Performance Engine
Engine Torque Strap
904 Transmission
8 3/4 Rear End
Relocated Spare Tire Mount
Green Cloth and Vinyl interior
Green Vinyl inserts on the body side molding
no body side molding or welded studs on front doors (molding to be shipped loose in trunk...for attachment by screws when auction time came.)
Leece Neville 65 Amp Alternator and Voltage Regulator
AM Radio
Extra Ground Straps
HD Cooling Package
Drivers side spotlight
roof reinforcement
rear crossmember reinforcement
Stainless Worm type hose clamps
and a host of other items that make it a Police Car. Most of these items were not present on the fender tags, or even the broadcast sheet. A38 not among them.
The Special Order "instruction sheet" that I found seemed to contain the full list of options to be installed on the car.
Starting in 1972, they ordered upper trim level vehicles with specific police options. While I unfortunately do not have an Undamaged copy, I found a 4 page document under the rear seat that specified exactly what options were to go on the car (this is in addition to the 3 broadcast sheets I found in the car). The 4 page document rotted from about the middle of each page down.
My car, a 1972 Dodge Polara Custom has the VIN DM41P2D. 76 Identical Dodges were ordered. The state also ordered upwards of 150 Furys that year.
Options:
Special Paint, Black & White
400 High Performance Engine
Engine Torque Strap
904 Transmission
8 3/4 Rear End
Relocated Spare Tire Mount
Green Cloth and Vinyl interior
Green Vinyl inserts on the body side molding
no body side molding or welded studs on front doors (molding to be shipped loose in trunk...for attachment by screws when auction time came.)
Leece Neville 65 Amp Alternator and Voltage Regulator
AM Radio
Extra Ground Straps
HD Cooling Package
Drivers side spotlight
roof reinforcement
rear crossmember reinforcement
Stainless Worm type hose clamps
and a host of other items that make it a Police Car. Most of these items were not present on the fender tags, or even the broadcast sheet. A38 not among them.
The Special Order "instruction sheet" that I found seemed to contain the full list of options to be installed on the car.
69CoronetRT
Senior Member
Damaged or not, it would be informative to see the document and what is coded on the broadcast sheet.
MrMoparCHP
Old Man with a Hat
The E86 is simply the code for the HP 440, could be any Chrysler product with a HP 440
Many agencies would purchase conventional sedans and use them as police cars, not sure what the "DK" package had that those didn't.
I'd have to dig out some of my brochures to see if I could tell.
Alan
MrMoparCHP
Old Man with a Hat
It is just saying that for bid cars contact them, not that this package is only available on bid cars.
This is Plymouth literature, there was probably a companion Dodge one.
My car is part of a bid package but it is a 69 so my broadcast sheet is of no use.
Alan
this validates someone's torque strap maybe.
Also ... huh? 400 engine and 904 ???
polara71
Old Man with a Hat
What is a bid car? Is it a bid on supplying a fleet of police cars, taxi's, or fire dept, etc. to a city, county, state, federal agency?
ZedR
Member
Indeed it is, though.
I too questioned the lack of a 727 - but my broadcast sheet and fender tag specify a light duty transmission, and my 904 transmission with correct VIN stamping confirm.
Most taxi cars came with 904's. You would figure with a lot of stop and go driving and creating a lot of heat that the 727 would be in those cars.
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