69 Dodge Polara CHP Cruiser in Queue.........

[Scott Eriksen]

  On 4/14/2025 at 12:02 AM, BK9300 said:

Great job with the foil work, Scott.  Your interior is going look like the real deal when your done, too!

Expand  

Thanks Brian!

[DJMar]

She's looking great! Looks like you nailed the interior color. Sweet, very sweet.

[AmericanMuscleFan]

It's very well done Scott, the detail you put into the grille makes it very realistic, great work on all levels so far! 👍

[slusher]

Looking great, interior color looks spot on, Really enjoying your build!

[Scott Eriksen]

  On 4/16/2025 at 2:13 PM, slusher said:

Looking great, interior color looks spot on, Really enjoying your build!

Expand  

thanks Carl

[Scott Eriksen]

..........some more progress ,body/interior and chassis together, bumpers attached,have to make the push bar yet. Exhaust pipes made from manifolds with solder and mated to the Superbee kit exhaust and made some turn down exhaust tips . Have to make an A/C condenser ,mount that and the fan and radiator and finish plumb . I decided to strip the hood and try and sand out the 3D print lines . Found a whip antenna in the misc parts box ,,should work ok 

[1972coronet]

I must say that the blue interior surprises me - I've only seen tan / brown. Even the factory brochure exhibits tan as standard, with other, "regular" Polara interior as an option :

[Scott Eriksen]

  On 4/18/2025 at 12:34 AM, 1972coronet said:

I must say that the blue interior surprises me - I've only seen tan / brown. Even the factory brochure exhibits tan as standard, with other, "regular" Polara interior as an option :

Expand  

I just went with the pictures I found of the restoration of this one 

[Belugawrx]

I've seen that exact blue interiors in police cars...don't ask me how I know

[1972coronet]

  On 4/18/2025 at 12:56 AM, Scott Eriksen said:

I just went with the pictures I found of the restoration of this one 

Expand  

I've seen that car in person a few times ( at a Chrysler show in Van Nuys ) , and for whatever reason, I didn't remember its blue interior ( haha ). 

Hopefully it'll be there in May - I haven't seen it in a few years. 

[ BTW , I didn't post that info in an attempt to bust your chops or anything ] 

[Scott Eriksen]

  On 4/18/2025 at 2:05 AM, 1972coronet said:

I've seen that car in person a few times ( at a Chrysler show in Van Nuys ) , and for whatever reason, I didn't remember its blue interior ( haha ). 

Hopefully it'll be there in May - I haven't seen it in a few years. 

[ BTW , I didn't post that info in an attempt to bust your chops or anything ] 

Expand  

Another shot , supposedly an ex CHP car , I've seen both the tan and blue ,,,I went blue  

[Scott Eriksen]

...................and another with gray interior !  

 

[espo]

  On 4/18/2025 at 12:34 AM, 1972coronet said:

I must say that the blue interior surprises me - I've only seen tan / brown. Even the factory brochure exhibits tan as standard, with other, "regular" Polara interior as an option :

Expand  

When a fleet order for a few hundred cars comes in I think you could get almost any color you wanted for the interior. 

[1972coronet]

  On 4/18/2025 at 7:27 PM, espo said:

When a fleet order for a few hundred cars comes in I think you could get almost any color you wanted for the interior. 

Expand  

Absolutely - within reason, of course. I've seen a '72 Polara Washing State Police model with a power seat and some other "regular" Polara appointments. 
All of its Fleet Codes were separate ; itemised - two tags worth.
Its V.I.N. was , IIRC, DL41U2D vs. the Police models' DK prefix. 

Edited April 18 by 1972coronet

[espo]

  On 4/18/2025 at 7:30 PM, 1972coronet said:

Absolutely - within reason, of course. I've seen a '72 Polara Washing State Police model with a power seat and some other "regular" Polara appointments. 
All of its Fleet Codes were separate ; itemised - two tags worth.

Expand  

Having lived for many years in California and having seen a few CHP cars up close and personal I don't recall any other interior color than the basic brown and beige shades, but that doesn't mean there weren't any other colors.  I worked at a few Chevrolet dealerships that were involved in suppling vehicles for the state of California and a couple of different departments at different times. They could come up with some pretty strange requests for colors and equipment and even a few that defied logic. But it was our tax money at work and what they wanted is what they got.    

[Scott Eriksen]

With what I have found searching the innerweb before I built the thing is why would a guy restoring the car,go to all the trouble of searching for the correct Motorola radio,Federal sirens,,,etc,etc,,,and then go and put an incorrect color interior in it ????!!!! 

Edited April 20 by Scott Eriksen

[Mark C.]

  On 4/18/2025 at 7:27 PM, espo said:

When a fleet order for a few hundred cars comes in I think you could get almost any color you wanted for the interior. 

Expand  

Yes! Especially true for the CHP.  The white steering wheels are an example that companies would build whatever the CHP wanted them to build - they were a very important customer.  Blue interiors would be a small ask.

[espo]

  On 4/19/2025 at 7:22 PM, Mark C. said:

Yes! Especially true for the CHP.  The white steering wheels are an example that companies would build whatever the CHP wanted them to build - they were a very important customer.  Blue interiors would be a small ask.

Expand  

The story on the white steering wheels that I was told had to do with the early Chrysler and Dodge units without air conditioning. The white steering wheels would attract less heat from the sunlight especially on the desert units. Ever try driving a car without air in 100+ degree weather? You would be amazed how hot a steering wheel can get with the glare of the sun thru the windshield.   

[Mark C.]

  On 4/19/2025 at 7:34 PM, espo said:

The story on the white steering wheels that I was told had to do with the early Chrysler and Dodge units without air conditioning. The white steering wheels would attract less heat from the sunlight especially on the desert units. Ever try driving a car without air in 100+ degree weather? You would be amazed how hot a steering wheel can get with the glare of the sun thru the windshield.   

Expand  

That was my understanding as well.  However, I’m not aware of any other similar applications for the white wheel other than the CHP.

 …which isn’t to say that I know… I just haven’t seen it anywhere else, other than the CHP cars.

Edited April 20 by Mark C.

[Scott Eriksen]

She's done boys,,under glass