- Texas Department of Public Safety
Patrol Unit
-
- This vehicle started out as a stock 1953 Ford Model
73B Customline Fordor Sedan. In 1994, I purchased the vehicle from a gentleman in
Edinburg, Texas who had owned the car for about 10 years. He purchased the car from
an individual in the Dallas, Texas area, where it had been stored in a barn for nearly 20
years. When I bought it the body was in good shape and the interior was in fair
shape. The upholstery was original but very deteriorated. The original color
was brown and the car still had bias belted tires. The car started right up and I
drove it home but noticed that the left cast-tron head was cracked and would need to be
replaced. Since I was going to rebuild the engine anyway, this was not a problem.
-
- I had the engine rebuilt by Karios Machine Shop in Mercedes, Texas and
installed Offenhouser (Offy) finned-aluminum heads for better cooling and higher
compression. Other than that modification, the engine is the original 239
CI Ford
Flathead V-8. 1953 was the last year of the production flathead V8 which had been
Ford's top of the line power plant since 1932.
-
- In 1953, the Ford Motor Company celebrated their 50th
Anniversary which is reflected in a commemorative seal on the steering wheel.
-
- Production details are as follows:
- Curb
Weight: 3154 lbs
- List
Price: $1628.00
- Number
Produced: 374,487
- Wheelbase:
115"
- Engine:
V-8 Flathead 239.4cid 110hp
- Bore and
Stroke: 3.19 x 3.75
-
Transmission: 3-speed manual
-
- This vehicle was the preferred patrol unit for law
enforcement in 1953. The optional emergency equipment is authentic for
that period,
including the rotating "bubble-gum" red-sealed beam roof light, flashing rear-deck
lights, and siren. The Texas DPS Markings and paint scheme are authentic to 1953
model vehicles.
-
- Modifications:
-
Offenhouser finned-aluminum Heads
- Electric
Fuel Pump
- 6-volt
positive-ground to 12-volt negative-ground conversion using GM single-wire 60A alternator.
- 12-volt
electric cooling fan
- Emergency
lighting, siren & 102" whip antenna installed
- Removable
CB and AM/FM/Cassette Stereo system
-
- Credits:
- First,
thanks to all my friends and family that helped out with this project.
- Engine
Rebuild: Karios Machine Shop - Mercedes, Texas
- 12V
Conversion: Chris & J.A. Yelland
- Paint and
Body: Chuck Scalise - McAllen, Texas
- Photos from the 2001 Route 66 Law
Enforcement Rally - Chicago to Santa Monica:
-
Chicago, Il. Note Sears
Tower in background.
Braidwood, Il. The
Polk-A-Dot Drive inn
Odell, Il. THe 1930's Odell
Standard Oil Station Currently being restored.
Crossing the Mississippi River to
St. Louis on the Chain of Rocks Bridge - Mitchell Il.
Kansas Route 66 with Barney Fife!
1964 Ford Galaxie 500 "Mayberry Special".
Arcadia, OK. The famous 1898
Round Barn
1910 Territorial Jail in Texola,
OK. (Oklahoma/Texas state line).
With trooper in Groom, Texas.
Back home at the Car show -
McAllen, Texas.
Some other 1953 Ford Squad Cars from
around the country.
Los Altos, California
Nevada Highway Patrol
NYPD - 3rd Precinct. (Mainline
model).
If
you own or have any information about the vehicles pictured here, please contact
me at contact@route66patrol.com for credit
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