Michigan police cars

[Earl Marischal]

Is anyone here able to tell what make/model cars Upper Peninsula sheriff's offices would have driven in 1959?

I'm asking so I can get the right car(s) for my model railway.

Thanks!

steve

[lordairgtar]

Well, I had all the counties of the UP (Upper Peninsula) listed for you and you could have emailed all the respective sheriff departments and asked if they new what they were using in 59, but the darned list disappeared in the middle of my researching for you. I did find that the State Of Michigan was fond of Chevrolets in those days and the only pic I found was a 58 Chevy sedan in State Trooper markings. They used a certain blue paint color from 1954 on til today. They would still have been in service in 59.

[lordairgtar]

https://www.nmu.edu/archives/node/108

Here are a site to get you to the individual historical societies in the UP.

[1930fordpickup]

I would think the cars could be anything from a 54 to 59. They go by miles not years most of the time over here also. They have to go along a budget when buying cars, but they also get wrecked often. The big three had the most form any pictures I have seen around here in Michigan. It is a bid process so whomever has the best price is what they buy. Back then they even had many two door cars in use.

[Earl Marischal]

Many thanks both.

I will contact the Chippewa Historical Socety.

steve

[Agent G]

The Michigan State Police was then and still is, the foremost agency in the nation regarding testing of vehicles for police work. Unlike the California Highway Patrol, MSP publishes the results for all vehicles, warts and all. California keeps the results in house, but you can tell by their purchases what they liked.

My guess would be those agencies were buying what MSP bought back then.

G

[Tom Geiger]

Back in the old days towns could very well just buy the car make of the dealer in that town. Or from their wink-wink friend!