1976 Bel Air. 1975 was the last year for the Bel Air in the U.S. & the Biscayne in Canada (72 in U.S.). A '75 would have a vertical front side marker while the '76 has the rectangular light down low where the body tucks in.

It is funny remembering the disposal or selling of old police cars. In Ancaster, Ontario back in 1973 our town bought a pair of 1973 AMC Ambassador police specials with 401 power, fat stabilizer bars, dog dish hubcaps (I know, on an Ambassador?) plus A/C (standard on Ambassadors). They were bought to replace the 1971 Laurentian that had been recently destroyed in an accident (killing the Constable) and the 1970 Ford Custom unmarked. Then it became Hamilton-Wentworth Region in late '73 & the Ambassadors ended up in downtown Hamilton. I saw one for sale on the used car lot at Bay-King Dodge-Chrysler back in 1978. Should have bought it but I was saving for my first motorcycle (77 Yamaha DT125).

Some dealers were known for selling public service vehicles, and I remember Geddas Motor Sales in Waterdown at the intersection of highways 5 & 6 always having old Bell Telephone vans (and a huge hubcap collection).

bigdreams wrote:

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Things have changed in that respect - i think the RCMP disposes of all of their surplus vehicles thru auctions now

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 Yes, through Crown Assets. I worked for Crown Assets (Public Works) and we got all the surplus federal government dept. vehicles, and vehicles of guilty parties through proceeds of crime.

As I recall the Poiice cars did have a 454 fender flash right above the front side marker if so equipped. This one doesn't have it but a lot can go missing in 40+ years.

A favourite photo of mine from my archives:

Has door locks on the rear doors - didn't cop cars have the ability to unlock the rear doors from the inside removed?

thanks for mentioning that - I do remember seeing that detail in some of the RCMP cars that came thru my uncles dealership - they had a smooth back door panel with no window crank and no inside door handles.  Talk about a hard to find part if one is building a police car clone

bigdreams wrote:

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I went to the yard on this past Thursday and the car is out is the yard and available for parts

Having taken a closer look there are several details that make me think it wasn't a police car

- it has a radio, a back seat with cloth inserts - it also has a 350 2 barrel - per the info I found on the web that would not exclude it from being a police car

- the speedo has already been pulled so I can't verify whether it was a certified unit

anyway here are some more pictures of it

 don't know about Manitoba but in Ontaro by 1975 most if not police cars had AC

 

 

 

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