65 Dodge Polara CHP Sedan

[Ron Hamilton]

I have posted this one before, but it has been so long since I have worked on it, it was deleted from the forum.

A few years ago, a friend of mine sold me an unbuilt MPC '65 Dodge Custom 880 Convertible Kit. The problem with it was the windshield frame was completely broken off. That was no problem to me, since I had another kit, as well as some built-up '65 Monaco 2-Door hardtops, so I could do it as a Custom 880 2-Door Hardtop. Fast forward, I saw a build by Tom Sheehy of a 1966 and a 1965 Dodge Polara 4-Door Sedan as a police cruiser. It was obvious to me that he used the roof from the JoHan 1968 Plymouth Police Car. I noticed that he did not modify the side windows, nor the rear window. A minor thing, but it kind of bugged me. Tom also posted photos of Darryl Lindsay's beautiful restored 1965 Dodge Polara CHP cruiser, so I said to myself why not? Mind you, in almost 50 years of building model cars, I have never built a Police Cruiser, so I dove in.

Part two is coming.

[Ron Hamilton]

I modified the roof from the Plymouth to the Dodge body, as well as making the changes to it from Custom 880 to Polara.

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Last week, I started working on this one again, as I sharpened up the side sculpturing and re-positioned the roof onto the body for a better fit. Once I was satisfied with my work, I painted the body.

Part two--

For the decals, I purchased a set of Code3 decals from PoliceCarModels.com.

As of now, the car's body has been detail painted and polished out, the Bare Metal Foil has been applied, and the appropriate decals applied. I am now working on the interior of the car, using components from the JoHan '68 Fury and the MPC '65 Dodge, modified to represent a '65 Polara interior. I plan to do the interior of the car in tan, as I have a photo of another '65 Dodge Cruiser in that color combination.

I should be able to take some more pictures of the project in the near future.

Thanks to Tom Sheehy for the inspiration to do this one.

[Danno]

Nice ...

[miatamadman]

Looking good Ron. Can't wait to see this one finished.

[Dr. Cranky]

Keep it going, it's going to turn out real nice.

[Guest Johnny]

In 1975 I bought a car off the back lot of a Dodge dealer for 300 bucks. It was a pale yellow 65 Dodge Polara. What attracted me to it was the fact it had a 4 speed, a factory 4 speed!!! Popped the hood and it had a 383 4 barrel and dual exhaust.

I gave the salesman my Hofner Bass guitar to hold the car until payday and went back the next thursday and picked it up.

When I was fixing a few oil leaks and cleaning up hunder the hood I found the protecto plate!

It was bought new by the Sauk County Wisconsin Police Department!!!

Beautiful build of a really great car!

Edited September 28, 2011 by Johnny

[charlie8575]

This is very cool. I'd love to see those mid-60s C-body Dodges get re-issued. I think the Chrysler C-bodies of 1965-'68 were some of the best-looking cars of the decade. And this model is a very nice pick to do.

Too bad the base kits are as rare as they are, this would've made a great resin body.

Charlie Larkin

[fastram]

That is really cool. I like your modified roof and the trimming of the back window, it all flows very well.

Can't wait to see it done.

[kenb]

That's awesome. I like it a lot. Ken

[Harold]

Nice job (hope I don't end up in back).

[gray07]

Great build.

[Ron Hamilton]

I was able to do some interior work last week.

I used plastic sprue to change the upholstery patterns. I still have some detail work to do before I paint it next week.

[Ron Hamilton]

It's Finished!!!!!!

[Danno]

Well ... ?

[charlie8575]

I'll go look for it in "Under Glass."

Charlie Larkin