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The Water Cooler
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Favorite police car?
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<blockquote data-quote="sky king" data-source="post: 1364812" data-attributes="member: 8102"><p>He also drove a '55 Buick . . .</p><p></p><p><a href="http://www.highwaypatroltv.com/Maxwell2002/Les6.jpg" target="_blank">http://www.highwaypatroltv.com/Maxwell2002/Les6.jpg</a></p><p></p><p>270 New Patrol Cars </p><p>On March 2, 1955, a new class "A" patrol car rolled out of the Sacramento shops, bound for the Salinas area. The replacement of wornout equipment with a new vehicle was routine and not news; but the car itself was real news. </p><p></p><p>This car was the first of 270 new 1955 Highway Patrol units purchased for CHP road patrol. Low bidder among six competing firms was Buick, and the new Patrol model is a hybrid type not normally available to the retail market. </p><p></p><p>From the firewall forward, the car is a Century model and the body is that of a Special two-door sedan. A total of six firms offered units for consideration and after through testing of all units, the contract went to Buick for presenting the lowest bid among those vehicles that met all Patrol specifications. </p><p></p><p>When Patrolman slide behind the wheel of the new number, they will have real power at their disposal. The new 236 horsepower cars gave top performance compared with all other units tested in acceleration from a standing stop and also achieved the highest top speed. </p><p></p><p>Both factors are undeniably important in traffic enforcement. </p><p></p><p>During dynamometer tests the car developed 146-horsepower at the rear wheels and reached a wheel speed of 108 miles per hour against the four horsepower drag of the machine. At this point the test terminated abruptly when the rubber tread spun off the tires of one of the rear wheels that was being tested. </p><p></p><p>Tires on the new vehicles, incidentally, are the tubeless type that now come as standard factory-installed equipment. </p><p></p><p>The newly selected patrol cars also have the largest braking surface among all units tested. </p><p></p><p>The 270 vehicles, which will be equipped and delivered to the field before the end of the fiscal year on June 30, are being processed in equal numbers in Los Angeles and Sacramento. Transmissions on the new cars will be divided equally, 135 conventional and 135 Dynaflow. It is felt that this arrangement will provide conclusive evidence which transmission will be preferable for Patrol work and will be a guide for future purchases. </p><p></p><p>An interesting sidelight concerning equipment on the new cars, and one which illustrates the thoroughness of testing procedure before equipping the cars, is the fact that the sirens are mounted at right angles to the front of the automobile. </p><p></p><p>Tests proved that more sound is emitted, and the sound carries for a greater distance, when mounted on the right angle. </p><p></p><p>The Patrols automotive equipment testing engineer, explained that the design and construction of the front end of the Buick, including the hood and grille, allows for the release of more sound on the right angle installation. The siren winds up faster in this position, apparently because more air can be pulled, than in the former straight ahead mounting. </p><p></p><p>Considerable interest and favorable comment have been aroused by the dressy new door decals which carry the lettering, "California Highway Patrol" in white on a star that is gold, rather than bronze in color. </p><p></p><p>For the benefit of those patrolmen who termed reports about new high powered cars as grapevine gossip, it isnt gossip at all. The new cars are on the way.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="sky king, post: 1364812, member: 8102"] He also drove a '55 Buick . . . [url]http://www.highwaypatroltv.com/Maxwell2002/Les6.jpg[/url] 270 New Patrol Cars On March 2, 1955, a new class "A" patrol car rolled out of the Sacramento shops, bound for the Salinas area. The replacement of wornout equipment with a new vehicle was routine and not news; but the car itself was real news. This car was the first of 270 new 1955 Highway Patrol units purchased for CHP road patrol. Low bidder among six competing firms was Buick, and the new Patrol model is a hybrid type not normally available to the retail market. From the firewall forward, the car is a Century model and the body is that of a Special two-door sedan. A total of six firms offered units for consideration and after through testing of all units, the contract went to Buick for presenting the lowest bid among those vehicles that met all Patrol specifications. When Patrolman slide behind the wheel of the new number, they will have real power at their disposal. The new 236 horsepower cars gave top performance compared with all other units tested in acceleration from a standing stop and also achieved the highest top speed. Both factors are undeniably important in traffic enforcement. During dynamometer tests the car developed 146-horsepower at the rear wheels and reached a wheel speed of 108 miles per hour against the four horsepower drag of the machine. At this point the test terminated abruptly when the rubber tread spun off the tires of one of the rear wheels that was being tested. Tires on the new vehicles, incidentally, are the tubeless type that now come as standard factory-installed equipment. The newly selected patrol cars also have the largest braking surface among all units tested. The 270 vehicles, which will be equipped and delivered to the field before the end of the fiscal year on June 30, are being processed in equal numbers in Los Angeles and Sacramento. Transmissions on the new cars will be divided equally, 135 conventional and 135 Dynaflow. It is felt that this arrangement will provide conclusive evidence which transmission will be preferable for Patrol work and will be a guide for future purchases. An interesting sidelight concerning equipment on the new cars, and one which illustrates the thoroughness of testing procedure before equipping the cars, is the fact that the sirens are mounted at right angles to the front of the automobile. Tests proved that more sound is emitted, and the sound carries for a greater distance, when mounted on the right angle. The Patrols automotive equipment testing engineer, explained that the design and construction of the front end of the Buick, including the hood and grille, allows for the release of more sound on the right angle installation. The siren winds up faster in this position, apparently because more air can be pulled, than in the former straight ahead mounting. Considerable interest and favorable comment have been aroused by the dressy new door decals which carry the lettering, "California Highway Patrol" in white on a star that is gold, rather than bronze in color. For the benefit of those patrolmen who termed reports about new high powered cars as grapevine gossip, it isnt gossip at all. The new cars are on the way. [/QUOTE]
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