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Police Interceptor: 1967 Ford Custom Patrol Car

P Code

There’s just something cool about old cop cars! If the State Trooper clone from earlier wasn’t for you, then perhaps this Nebraska State Patrol car is more up your alley. It’s the real deal and has some very cool options. The seller purchased this Ford 14 years ago, but never got around to fixing it up. They do have a lot of information about the car though and they hope that it goes to someone who can get it back on the beat. It’s located in Commerce Township, Michigan and is listed here on eBay with no reserve!

Patrol Car

It looks pretty good out in the daylight, doesn’t it? No obvious clues that this was once a cop car though. The black and white color scheme looks good and the body appears to be in decent condition. The seller found the car through a Hemmings ad back in 2002. It was listed by Easy Jack & Son’s – a classic car salvage yard, and although a little tired from all those years of service, it was definitely worth saving. Here’s a link with more photos of the car including some of when it was found.

Rubber Floor Covering

Inside there are more clues that this isn’t just any old Galaxie. The rubber covering the floor may be the most obvious giveaway. Closer inspection reveals a heavy duty front bench seat and a black steering wheel/column. Other useful options include a 3-speed automatic with first gear lockout, courtesy light group, radio noise suppression equipment, single key system, electric clock, tinted windshield, deluxe seat belts, and remote control for the side view mirror.

Certified Speedo

Of course, there’s a Certified Calibration speedometer in the dash! It still uses the sweep hand like other Galaxies, but has been calibrated and features markers every 2 miles per hour instead of a dot every 5. With this speedo a police was able to “pace” suspected speeders. Radar guns came out in the late forties, but they only registered the speeds of oncoming vehicles. So, to determine if someone was breaking the law in your lane, you just followed right along with them and checked the speed.

428 Police Interceptor

This patrol car wouldn’t have had any trouble keeping up with the perpetrator because that’s a 428 Police Interceptor V8 – similar to that found in the early Shelby GT500! The seller believes that someone started a timing chain change, but gave up and sent it to the scrapyard. It still has the correct block, heads, intake manifold, carburetor, exhaust manifolds, and distributor, so maybe it’s a good thing they stopped when they did. Plan on some serious machine work though because one of the pistons is frozen.

P Code Plates

Throw in heavy duty handling, cooling, and brake packages and you had quite the car! Racing may improve the breed, but police duty really makes it tough. This car had improvements in all the areas that mattered and that should make it a fun classic to own today. Idling in the heat during a summer parade shouldn’t phase it. A couple of passes on the drag strip? No problem! I’d better stop now though because the more I talk it, the more I want this cop car!

Comments

  1. Avatar Rich Truesdell

    I know the seller personally and he is the founder of the 1967 Full-Size Ford Registry and he has gone out of his way to fully document and describe the car, warts and all.

    With no reserve this will sell and when properly restored, is going to provide someone with a very unique Ford cop car.

    Like 1
    • Avatar z28th1s

      That should be Adrian Clements. I met him back in 2001 when I bought a 42K original mile black ’67 Galaxie 500 that had the 390/4V with a bench seat and 4 speed trans. It was one of 840 equipped with that drivetrain in the ’67 Galaxie 500 2 door hardtop according to the Marti Report I got for it. He is very knowledgeable on those cars and a great guy to talk with.

      Like 1
  2. Avatar Dirty Dingus McGee

    With the 2.80 rear gear, you would be lucky to hit 2nd gear at the drag strip. Or you would burn the tires past the 660 foot line.

    Like 0
  3. HoA Howard A Member

    While there’s no doubt this is a police car, 2 door cop cars were kind of rare. Most were 4 doors, but I did find Massachusetts did use 2 door Ford police cars in ’67, but I’d have to think the 2 doors were for detectives or the sergeant. ( think Dragnet) Unless it’s original, might have limited appeal. And btw, what exactly is a 1st gear lockout on an automatic? http://www.statetrooperplates.com/images/Massachusetts/MASP-1967Ford215.jpg

    Like 0
  4. Avatar Randy W

    I thought trooper cars had 4 doors, not two doors. I also thought they came with a seat cage to protect the trooper. Also the valve covers I also thought would show Interceptor on them. The info tag also looks to be newer and has been changed or attempted to be changed. Note the chisel marks on the rivet. Don’t know for sure but this doesn’t appear to be a squad car to me. Also wouldn’t it say police interceptor on drivers side rear trunk. To many suspitious variables I wouldn’t buy this car without checking it out more thoroughly.

    Like 0
    • Avatar z28th1s

      The Marti Report clearly shows that there were 30 cars ordered identical to this one from the same DSO order number. The car is being sold by one of the most knowledgeable 1967 Ford guys out there. It is real!

      Like 2
    • Avatar EL E

      I can tell by your thoughts that you are under 30 years ,back in the day I cannot remember any police car with the protective cage because when they picked up a suspect etc. they (suspect) were very willing to cooperate,nothing like what one might see today. and yes,there were two door patrol cars mainly “Chase Cars” No such body decals in the 60 s and 70 s.Maybe not 80 s. the air breather lid maybe ,Check with DMV to verify if the state owned it.

      Like 1
  5. Avatar Bobsmyuncle

    Remember folks there are a lot of support roles in a Police or Fire Department, especially larger departments of big cities or States.

    It could be an interceptor, a Captain’s car, heck it could have been used by summons or recruitment.

    Like 1
  6. Avatar Bill

    I have a 631/2 Galaxie fast back, back in the day you could order the p -codes from the factory.

    Like 1
  7. Avatar Bill

    I have a 631/2 Galaxie fast back, back in the day you could order the p -codes from the factory. The fatback is a P code, 39000 acl. mls.

    Like 0
  8. Avatar CarGuy

    As a longtime Nebraska resident, I can attest to the fact that the Nebraska State Patrol used 2- door cars extensively during this era. Not only Fords, but Chevies and MoPars.
    The little Fox Body Mustangs were used as Interstate pursuit vehicles and out in the sparsely populated areas where troopers had to cover vast expanses of lonely blacktop.
    Today they are all driving Hemi Chargers ( with 4 doors).

    Like 1
    • Avatar Randy W

      thanks Jim for the feed back on Police cruiser. I guess I was thinking more about the 1960 ford I had with the police interceptor engine. Always eager to learn something new.

      Like 0
    • Avatar Wayne

      EXACTLY!!!! I agree! The mustang state patrol car was notorious in the state of Florida in 89 and 90…AND IT IS A 2 door.

      Like 0
  9. Avatar Jim Benjaminson

    Two doors were the norm in the 1950’s.

    Like 0
  10. Avatar john C

    This does’nt look like a car I’ve been in….

    Like 0
  11. Avatar Paul

    I am also onboard with the two door as a cruiser. Just does not make sense to me. One other thing, wasn’t there a red strip on the speedo from 65mph to the end???? Were the police excused from this reminder not to exceed 65mph, not that they should, but just wondering why it is not there.

    Like 1
  12. Avatar RNR

    Maine also routinely used 2 door cruisers in the 60’s and 70’s. My college roommate, from Maine, had a decommissioned ’70 Ford Custom 2dr sedan in Maine colors with a 428. A summer or two ago a restored, documented Maine ’66 Chevy 2 door (big motor – think it was a 427) showed up at a major show’s car corral here in the Boston area.

    Like 0
    • Avatar Rocco

      That would be cool to have a ’70 full size Ford 2 dr with a 428ci. Could be very rare, and powerful.

      Like 0
      • Avatar RNR

        Before everything is old and valuable, it’s old and worthless. I borrowed it a couple times – powerful: yes. Good handling: not so much, even by three year old cop car standards. Interior was a “pit”, with a bench seat that lent itself to the arms-out-straight racing posture – because it was broken. He didn’t keep this one long…

        Like 0
  13. Avatar Mike

    The Local Police in the town I grew up in had 2 door Fords during the 60’s and 70’s, they were most likely retire Highway Patrol cars that was sold to small towns back then. I bought a 76 Torino from the City of Elvins in 80, and it was a 2 door had been a Missouri Highway Patrol car before the city got it.
    In Missouri as soon as a Highway Patrol Car gets 45,000 it is slated for replacement, in years past these cars and trucks were made available to Cities and Counties for purchase, and they came with spare parts, and the entire service log. I know the County I live in just bought 3 Ford Explorers from the state and none of them had over 49,000 miles.

    Like 0
  14. Avatar Robert_B

    Here is a small block 1966 ford galaxy 500 xl for $1500 for sale in yakima wa CL. If it had a 390 I would buy it. http://yakima.craigslist.org/cto/5658944961.html

    My wife had a 1966 Galaxy with a 390 when we first met. We had some fun in that car hehe. She had a pinto but wrecked it [rear ended yikes!] and her parents let her drive the galaxy. Then she bought a 1971 Capri, fun little car. It started me on a Capri binge, bought 2 of them with the V6, ripping little cars that were dirt cheap.

    As for this Galaxy, I would rather have an old mustang with a small block. There are literally hundreds of old 60’s rust-stang notchbacks for sale on CL for cheap.

    Posting this so any of you Galaxy lovers can snarf it up if you like small block Galaxy cars

    Like 0
  15. Avatar Les Apt

    Author:

    “Faze”, not “Phase”

    Like 0
  16. Avatar Bill Parks

    2 door hardtops were very prevalent from the 1950’s to the early 1980’s primarily due to a lower cost than 4 door sedans. Many jurisdictions didn’t transport a lot of prisoners, at least not a lot of unruly ones as they do these days.

    I, too, would strongly question this car absent of seeing a “P-Coded” VIN, the Marti Report, et cetera. 1). two tone interior cost more than a single color like most police cars, even supervisors car would have. 2. The “Certified Calibration Emblem” appears to be riveted to a civilian retail, 0-120 MPH Speedometer that is NOT graduated in 2 MPH increments, but civilian, retail 5 and 10 MPH increments. A real Ford police package car would have said “Certified Calibration” on the speedometer, and not have a plaque or emblem riveted to the Speedometer cover. 3. I can feintly make out the number “1” (1st gear) on the shift quadrant, which means it is NOT a 1st gear lockout optioned Ford Police package car which would only indicate “PRND2” on the shift quadrant. For those who don’t know what the Ford Police option “1st gear lockout” is, it means that the officers couldn’t manually shift into1st gear and wind the piss out of the motor, sometimes blowing the motor up! This Ford Police only option saved a lot of motors! 4,) This motor could easily be a 390 2 V out of a LTD, or T-Bird. The 428 4V P.I. motors (like the motors used in the Shelby GT 500 Mustangs) had larger heads, finned aluminum valve covers, and a chromed air cleaner cover that visually distinguished them from the retail, civilian run-of-the-mill 428, 390, and 352 FE block motors from Ford.

    This may have been a car that was used by the police, but it DOES NOT appear to be a genuine Ford “P-Coded” Police Interceptor or Police Package car. Ford Police package cars could only be ordered late in the calendar year(early in the model year) for a few short month; a very small. window of time. They were subsequently delivered during a small window of time only during the spring months. Hence, many high volume police car dealerships had to order extra or “spare cars” in case one had to be replaced. When that didn’t work, police agencies bought civilian, retail cars not for police patrol use, but more particularly used a detective cars, court cars, cetera.

    As such, put me down for a NO on this car. Frankly, it looks like a 1967 Custom 500 that someone thought would be nice if it were faked into a Ford Police Package car. Nice try,……but no cigar!

    Like 0
    • Avatar Ralph Terhune

      Just to let you know, Bill, I bought this very car from Adrian Clements a while back and I can assure you it is the real deal. This is a true P-code 428 Police Interceptor with all the police specific hardware on the car. It’s rough, but restorable and definitely numbers matching. I have the Marti report to prove it. Manual steering, manual disc brakes, heavy duty front and rear seats, rubber mat in lieu of carpet and the single key locking system, plus a host of other items that are specific to a police car. It’ll be a great cruiser when I’m done with it.

      Like 0
  17. Avatar Phil Baxter

    I can attest there were 2 door trooper 1967 Ford Customs. Tennessee had them. My neighbor had an unmarked trooper car in the late 60’s. Holt’s auto salvage in Fayetteville TN junked a bunch of them to get the motors. I pulled a straight and rust-free fender off one 24 years ago for my q code police package 4 door that started life as a Memphis TN fire chief car. My car has the certified calibrated speedo. One unique thing about some of the 67 Custom police specials is that they had power disc 4 piston Kelsey Hayes brakes with manual steering, just like my Custom and a THP car I stripped. You can find my car in the 2003 November issue of Hot Rod Magazine. Got a whole page when I was on the HR Powertour.

    Like 0
  18. Avatar Wayne Taylor

    I know this is a OLD post but I HAVE TO say I totally agree…most obviously that they did not have “POLICE INTERCEPTOR” badging….I could go on and on and on…totally agree with you though. That person was definitely probably someone under 30 who has 200hp, modern day, crown vic “brain”.

    Like 1
  19. Avatar Wayne

    VERY COOL CAR!! Some people just love to hate on other’s cool stuff.(referring to comments) Jealousy is a ugly animal.BUT I would LOVE to have had this car. I have no reason to question it’s authenticity…period. It is a 2 door ht with a 428 in it! How can that in itself NOT be cool?!? I know this is an old post BUT I just came across it and it brought back memories… I owned a 1967 4 door custom 500 with the 390 and sold it for a lousy $700 only 10 or 12 years ago. NOT the “coolest” car but to ME it was cool. I love the grille on the ’67 …i just like ’em! The one I sold had 70,120 original miles on it, (yes, I’m aware that a ’67 390 wasnt really built for MORE than this without a rebuild ..but WHAT was , in 1967?)…,had been A ONE OWNER before me..the A/C and factory AM radio still worked. I was in a bad financial bind and let it go…cheap. The %*&! head that bought it pulled AND JUNKED the ORIGINAL engine AND trans ,and..get ready for it…here it comes..it’s coming…..PUT a 1989 Mustang 302 engine and transmission in it! There’s nothing wrong with a 89/ 302/4.9..OH EXCUSE ME..I MEAN 5.0…”wink wink” engine, as long as it STAYS in a 1989 mustang! Their prerogative though, I know. It wouldn’t have bugged me a bit if the person was going to use it as a everyday driver. Let’s face it; it would be more reliable and get better gas mileage BUT he actually thought he was doing the car AND THE VALUE a favor.!!. ugh!!…lol. It is what it is. Aaannnnyway…THIS one is very cool and I am glad I came across this old post. 😁

    Like 0

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