Well, a box was delivered yesterday with some CHP parts from Robert Read (all are spoken for already, sorry!). The box also contained an Assignment Card. I was hoping that there would be more than one card, as I had requested three more cards in addition to the one I received. It is entirely possible that the box was shipped prior to the search being made for the three add'l cards, so I have a call into Mr. Read to see if he found those cards or not. Keep your fingers crossed!
So let's get to the good news. Here is an in-service picture of a known 1985 SMPV (Specially Marked Patrol Vehicle).
Since the license plate was clearly visible, I put in a request for this car's Assignment Card -
There are some interesting things about this particular card:
- The card clearly states that the vehicle was repainted/converted "sp. veh. truck speed enf.", and the car color was changed from "B&W" to white. This card clearly identifies this car as a SMPV.
- The car had a MX7000 scanner installed as part of its equipment, which is the first time I've seen this specficially listed.
- Location Code 560 is not shown in the current list of CHP Offices. So can we ever tell where this car served?
- Using the chart of current CHP radio frequencies, the are two TAN R.F. Colors: 1) TAN1, used in Oceanside and Temecula; and 2) TAN2, used in Newhall and Antelope Valley. Again, these are the current colors, and changes may have happened since this car was in-service.
- In the lower right corner, there is a statement saying "will paint E413744", but that unit is not listed as having been the one to replace E408383. So why is it shown on this card?
- The car was auctioned off 11 months after it was converted into a SMPV.
So again we have just as many unanswered questions compared to what we have learned. As an aside, I ran the VIN through the CA Smog Records, but no listing was found. I also ran a Carfax, but the car dropped off the page in 1997. This one is probably gone forever, but you never know.