1982 Texas DPS test vehicle

[ImEvil1]

DPS Trooper D. Pruett was kind enough to send some of the pictures he took of his in-service Texas cars to us. I'll scan them in and post them up this weekend, but I wanted to post this one up now. It's the 1982 car that he was fortunate enough to T&E back then. :2thumbs:

[FHP813]

WOW that looks like it was taken yesterday! I wonder where that car is now???

[86NeSSP]

no spotlights and a very small pancake light in the windshield. Hmmm can't see and rear deck lights either.

Cool picture.

[ImEvil1]

Me too. He said that they gave it back to Ford when they were finished.

The light on the dash is a Federal Fireball.

I'm supposed to meet up with Tpr Pruett next week....I'll ask him if it had any other equipment in it.

[litsnsirn]

Fireball II

[chp1982]

Great picture!

[Unmrkd]

Check out the red stripe on that baby. It really accents the car against the black paint. Great picture of a real piece of Texas DPS history.:2thumbs:

[1989 Tx DPS SSP]

Schwiiiiiiiiiiiiiing as Wayne and Garth would say from SNL. :yes: More picts of our beloved Texas cars appear.


Tom

[Vintageracer]

Interesting! Looks like a black interior. The 82 CHP car I just purchased has red stripes on the moldings on the front and back. There are no side moldings on the doors.

[mustangretriever]

That's cool! It seems more old in-service photos have been popping up lately for several agencies.

[TxDps]

Talking to one of the old radio techs at HQ/Fleet a few years ago mentioned the quality paint job on it...

They painted the white with a spray on latex that would be easy to remove after the test period. During one of Wayne's traffic stop, the drunk had too much cheap wine. Standing in front of the car he puked on the hood. Even after washing it quite a few times it still had a "Boone's Farm Purple" shade to it...

[kapracing]

Mike,
With all that's come about recently, I'm wondering about the other pics you mentioned in this thread? Would love to see them ;)

[ImEvil1]

Bobby,

They are all posted in the "In-Service" pics section on the website (including the '82).

[kapracing]

Bobby,

They are all posted in the "In-Service" pics section on the website (including the '82).

Ahhhh
Thanks :2thumbs:

[NoDrama43]

WOW that looks like it was taken yesterday! I wonder where that car is now???

I think it has been found..... :)

[28HopUp]

I think it has been found..... :)

If the story goes as told, then the TxDPS car was returned to Ford. It would then have an odd title history. If Mike's 82 SSP spent its life down on the bayou, then it may not be the TxDPS car in the photo. HOWEVER, the question shall probably never be answered with any certainty. And the fact that Mike's 82 exists at all certainly confirms that others tested these cars in 1982. :)

[NoDrama43]

yes....

:)

[ImEvil1]

My '82 was released 08/02/82. It was sold a year later....08/09/83. A little odd. :)

I spoke with a fleet manager in NO who was around and just starting out back then. He told me that an order like the '82 would have been delivered to his dealership, but probably would have been destined for the testing center Ford had nearby.

All I know for sure is that the car was sold in MO in '83 at a Ford dealership. I have a feeler out with some Ford people for some more info and I'm just waiting to hear back.

[wendell1408]

I found this early post and wanted all to know that I own this original car in the photo along with all of the original documentation on it. I am having it restored and will donate it to Texas DPS to show when it is finished. I can't wait to get it finished and drive it some here in Texas.

[dougphillips48]

Thanks for the update.

[chp1982]

Please post pics and some documentation. We’d all love to see that.

[ImEvil1]

Me too. :)