If you’re a fan of 1950s, ’60s, ’70s, ’80s, and even ’90s Ford, Chrysler, and General Motors full-size automobiles, you’ll really want to check out the New York Auto Show this week going on at the Jacob Javitz Convention Center. Tucked in the back of the lowest floor where pickup trucks and 4x4s are displayed is a beautiful collection of restored New York City police cars, courtesy of the NYC Police Museum.
The out-of-service squad cars are owned privately, many of them by active or retired police officers. We visited the police car display and spoke to a few of the retired officers who were there on behalf of the Police Museum. They’re car guys just like the rest of us, and it’s easy to see just how much preserving this part of New York City history means to them. Having grown up in the New York City area during the 1970s and ’80s, seeing these cars brought back positive memories of times and events in my own life that took place in Manhattan.
Unofficially known as the “Radio Motor Patrol Squad”, this passionate group of police car buffs can often be found participating in parades, car shows, and other police-related events in the five boroughs area. Before Hurricane Sandy caused damage to the Police Museum’s former location at 100 Old Slip in late 2012, there was an annual car show in front of that location each June. The Museum’s temporary location at 45 Wall Street in Manhattan prevented them from having a street display last year, and for 2014 they were made part of the New York International Auto Show – a great decision as far as we’re concerned.
Below are pictures we captured at the New York Auto Show, along with pictures of many of the same vehicles captured during the 2012 Police Car Show in front of the Museum’s old building. If you’d like more information about the museum or wish to make a donation, see their website at www.nycpm.org.
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- Over a dozen vintage New York City police cars will be on display at the New York International Auto Show from April 3-12, 2015.
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- Here, restored New York City police cars are on display outside the old location of the NYC Police Museum at 100 Old Slip in June of 2012. Due to flood damage that fall, the museum has relocated to 45 Wall Street.
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- 1950 Plymouth Concord Business Coupe restored New York City police car. This black-green-and-white color combination was used on NYC squad cars from the 1930s through late 1972.
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- 1958 Ford Custom 300 restored New York City police car, at the 2015 New York Auto Show.
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- 1958 Ford Custom 300 restored New York City police car, outside the New York City Police Museum at the 12th Annual Vintage Police Car Show in 2012.
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- 1959 Ford Custom 300 restored New York City police car, at the 2015 New York Auto Show.
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- 1959 Ford Custom 300 restored New York City police car, outside the New York City Police Museum at the 11th Annual Vintage Police Car Show in 2011.
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- 1959 Ford Custom 300 restored New York City police car, outside the New York City Police Museum at the 12th Annual Vintage Police Car Show in 2012.
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- One of the 1961 Plymouth Furys originally used in the television show “Car 54”. According to one of the museum curators, it was painted red because the official green and black colors did not show up well on cameras.
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- 1965 Plymouth Fury restored New York City police car, at the 2015 New York Auto Show.
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- 1965 Plymouth Fury restored New York City police car, outside the New York City Police Museum at the 12th Annual Vintage Police Car Show in 2012.
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- 1966 Chevrolet Biscayne restored New York City police car, at the 2015 New York Auto Show.
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- 1966 Chevrolet Biscayne restored New York City police car, outside the New York City Police Museum at the 12th Annual Vintage Police Car Show in 2012.
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- 1966 Chevrolet Biscayne restored New York City police car, outside the New York City Police Museum at the 12th Annual Vintage Police Car Show in 2012.
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- 1966 Plymouth Fury restored New York City police car, on tour as part of the 2012 Coney Island Mermaid Parade.
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- 1967 Plymouth Fury restored New York City police car, outside the New York City Police Museum at the 12th Annual Vintage Police Car Show in 2012.
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- 1967 Plymouth Fury restored New York City police car, outside the New York City Police Museum at the 12th Annual Vintage Police Car Show in 2012.
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- 1968 Plymouth Fury restored New York City police car, outside the New York City Police Museum at the 12th Annual Vintage Police Car Show in 2012.
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- 1968 Plymouth Fury restored New York City police car, outside the New York City Police Museum at the 12th Annual Vintage Police Car Show in 2012.
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- 1968 Plymouth Satellite restored New York City police car
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- 1969 Ford Galaxie New York City police car
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- 1972 Plymouth Fury restored New York City police car, outside the New York City Police Museum at the 12th Annual Vintage Police Car Show in 2012.
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- 1972 Plymouth Fury restored New York City police car, outside the New York City Police Museum at the 12th Annual Vintage Police Car Show in 2012.
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- New York City ordinances do not allow out-of-service police cars to be driven on the streets, so they are towed to and from in-town events.
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- 1973 Plymouth Fury restored New York City police car, at the 2015 New York Auto Show.
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- In 1973, New York City switched to the bright blue paint color on police cars that remained through 1997.
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- 1973 Plymouth Fury restored New York City police car, outside the New York City Police Museum at the 12th Annual Vintage Police Car Show in 2012.
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- 1973 Plymouth Fury restored New York City police car, outside the New York City Police Museum at the 12th Annual Vintage Police Car Show in 2012.
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- 1974 Plymouth Satellite restored New York City police car, at the 2015 New York Auto Show.
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- 1974 Plymouth Satellite restored New York City police car, at the 2015 New York Auto Show.
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- After the October 1973 gasoline shortage, New York City primarily used smaller, more fuel-efficient vehicles. The Satellite’s economy of 11.8 mpg vs the Fury’s 10.4 added up to alot of savings.
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- 1974 Plymouth Satellite restored New York City police car, outside the New York City Police Museum at the 12th Annual Vintage Police Car Show in 2012.
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- 1974 Plymouth Satellite restored New York City police car, outside the New York City Police Museum at the 12th Annual Vintage Police Car Show in 2012.
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- 1976 Pontiac Catalina restored New York City police car, outside the New York City Police Museum at the 12th Annual Vintage Police Car Show in 2012.
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- 1976 Pontiac Catalina restored New York City police car, outside the New York City Police Museum at the 12th Annual Vintage Police Car Show in 2012.
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- Full-size patrol cars were not common in New York City during the 1970s, but some were purchased for senior officers.
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- 1976 Pontiac Catalina restored New York City police car, outside the New York City Police Museum at the 10th Annual Vintage Police Car Show in 2010.
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- 1976 Pontiac Catalina restored New York City police car, outside the New York City Police Museum at the 12th Annual Vintage Police Car Show in 2012.
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- 1976 Pontiac Catalina restored New York City police car, outside the New York City Police Museum at the 12th Annual Vintage Police Car Show in 2012.
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- 1976 Pontiac LeMans restored New York City police car, outside the New York City Police Museum at the 12th Annual Vintage Police Car Show in 2012.
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- A good deal was struck with Pontiac to supply midsize LeMans sedans for New York City’s police fleet during 1976.
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- 1976 Pontiac LeMans restored New York City police car, outside the New York City Police Museum at the 12th Annual Vintage Police Car Show in 2012.
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- 1976 Plymouth Fury restored New York City police car
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- 1980 Plymouth Volare restored New York City police car, outside the New York City Police Museum at the 10th Annual Vintage Police Car Show in 2010.
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- 1980 Plymouth Volare restored New York City police car, outside the New York City Police Museum at the 10th Annual Vintage Police Car Show in 2010.
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- 1983 Dodge Diplomat restored New York City police car, outside the New York City Police Museum at the 12th Annual Vintage Police Car Show in 2012.
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- This restored 1989 Chevrolet Caprice New York City police car is numbered in honor of officer Ed Byrne who was shot inside his patrol car in early 1988.
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- 1989 Chevrolet Caprice restored New York City police car, outside the New York City Police Museum at the 12th Annual Vintage Police Car Show in 2012.
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- 1989 Chevrolet Caprice restored New York City police car, outside the New York City Police Museum at the 12th Annual Vintage Police Car Show in 2012.
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- 1996 Chevrolet Caprice restored New York City police car, outside the New York City Police Museum at the 12th Annual Vintage Police Car Show in 2012.
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- 1996 Chevrolet Caprice restored New York City police car, outside the New York City Police Museum at the 12th Annual Vintage Police Car Show in 2012.
