Model A police car pictures needed
 

Hi All... First post here. I have a 1931 Model A that was used as a Police Car in Georgia way back when. I am restoring it and I need Pictures or information on what was used on the car (like a star on the doors, etc) way back then. I have tried to get info but to no avail from Atlanta Police. All I know is Georgia Patrol wasn't founded until 1937. I Live in O.C. CA and I was even going to use their Sheriff emblem here, but they claim they had nothing on cars until 1958. My Model A is similar to the police car rammed in the Bonnie and Clyde Movie getaway scene - but that is Texas / Missouri area in the Movie, and might not even be a "real" look. Any suggestions on what to do or how to find out that stuff for my car? I have posted a picture of my Model A in my Photo Album... Thanks

Re: Model A police car pictures needed
 

Re: Model A police car pictures needed
 

Was it used as a police or sheriff car. Do you know what agency? If so, contact them.

Re: Model A police car pictures needed
 

Re: Model A police car pictures needed
 

What body style?

In the Model A era most police cars were not fancy paint schemes with graphics and emblems. While a lot of people today paint them in two-tone saddle shoe schemes those just weren't the regular style for cash strapped departments during the depression. Hand painted lettering with the department name and maybe a car number was about all you got.

-Tim

Chicago, these phaetons were either painted yellow or orange, depending on the source.
https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/attac...0&d=1630380851


NYC
https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/attac...1&d=1630380987

https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/attac...3&d=1630381239

This is probably the most dramatic color scheme on a car of the era. New Mexico supposedly had copper colored cars but that doesn't come out in the pictures.
https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/attac...2&d=1630380987

Attachment 471800
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Re: Model A police car pictures needed
 

How do you know your car was originally a police car?

In '31 police departments could order the so call "police head" which was a high compression head. There was also an option for a low speed generator that would put out more power at idle to help power radio equipment. You should check to see if your car has either.

I see now that your picture didn't show up (looks like you cut off the "h" of "http".

You have a '31 Tudor.

Here's an example of one.

https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/attac...4&d=1630381875

Attachment 471814

-Tim

Re: Model A police car pictures needed
 

Its your car do what makes you happy and what you will enjoy. For me I think the black and white with the huge star is kinda kitchy. Like you have found in your research they just werent made that way back then. I do like some of the period photos that show a more subdued vehicle.

Re: Model A police car pictures needed
 

Researching this over the years (I once restored a 1947 Chevy as a patrol car) it seems to me that there really weren't any hard and fast rules to it. It varied from state to state and department to department. You would even see convertibles! The big thing, in my mind, would be keep it simple. They didn't have a lot of 'flash' to them. You referenced 'Bonnie & Clyde' in the Joplin shoot-out scene. That's probably a good example. Also there is a brief car chase in 'O Brother Where Art Thou'. Beyond this......it's your car and you need to make it in a way that makes you smile every time you see it! Good luck and post lots of pictures!

Re: Model A police car pictures needed
 

If you know the department or general area, do some research and see if you can find some old photos from the historical society.

Re: Model A police car pictures needed
 

Hi, new to this response and posting... Thanks to All who helped so far...
My Car is similar to that Pictured, but with a Spotlight where many put signal lights on the Driver side... All I know is it was used by Georgia Patrol as late as 1976 because of a sticker on the windshield stating such... But that agency wasn't around until 1937 - so looking for anything in Atlanta (GA's Biggest city) from 1931 emblem for Police or Sheriff if there was such a thing on their Police cars, but I do really like your Picture you have on here... close to what I seek. Thanks

Re: Model A police car pictures needed
 

Very Cool Pictures, Thanks a ton.
I was hoping to find something that would give me a real feel (I love history and things "authentic" but finding little thus far... I have called Atlanta main archive library... waiting to see what they have. Seems the Jimmy Cagney Movies are more what I am looking for than what existed in reality back then for most police cars... LOL - Here is another attempt to put my picture on here... Thanks to ALL. https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/pictu...ictureid=44055

Re: Model A police car pictures needed
 

Thanks, I will heed your words if I can't find any authentic information from Atlanta Archives... Meanwhile here is another Picture I have of my Car from a side view. Thanks to All https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/pictu...ictureid=44056

Re: Model A police car pictures needed
 

Hi All, I'm toying around with making my own "STAR" for the car...
but I wasn't too impressed with this 1st attempt.
Any Suggestions on how it could be made to look more realist
for the 1931 time era? Thanks
https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/pictu...ictureid=44094

Re: Model A police car pictures needed
 

https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/attac...p;d=1631439602
1929 Ford Model A Police Paddy Wagon - Chicago Police.

Re: Model A police car pictures needed
 

https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/attac...p;d=1631439602
1929 Ford Model A Police Paddy Wagon - Chicago Police.

Re: Model A police car pictures needed
 

https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/attac...p;d=1631439821
1930 Ford Model A Police Patrol Wagon - Chicago Police.

Re: Model A police car pictures needed
 

https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/attac...p;d=1631440216
1930 Ford Model A Police Patrol Van.

Re: Model A police car pictures needed
 

https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/attac...p;d=1631440818
Ford Model A Coupe Police Car - Penn College.

Re: Model A police car pictures needed
 

When I was a child the police "paddy wagons" were called black Marias. Don' ask me why as I dunno.

Re: Model A police car pictures needed
 

I really like this Police coup... It is in the style I think my Tudor should look like...