NYPD Historical Collection of Cars
A collection of classic NYPD (New York Police Department) cars, ranging from 1950s Ford 300s to 1980s Plymouth Diplomats, on display at the New York Auto Show 2016.
Traveling Through Time
A Visual Storytelling by Lucas Compan
The cars were provided by the NYPD Museum as well as private collectors. Photo credits: Kyle Campbel.
FORD CUSTOM 300 – Collection of classic NYPD police cars dating way back to the 1950s.
1971 PLYMOUTH FURY I – With tall extendable lights to help get draw attention, this Plymouth could cut through traffic or bring it to a halt when it prowled the streets of 1970's New York.
DODGE DIPLOMAT – In the 1980s, the Plymouth Fury was replaced by a near cousin, the Dodge Diplomat.
1966 CHEVROLET BISCAYNE – The green and black color scheme was common for early NYPD cars. Green was the department's signature color, a reference to the green lights that members of "the watch," the first police agency in the united five boroughs, used to keep outside their homes to show they were on guard.
1966 CHEVROLET BISCAYNE – This Chevy Biscayne once patrolled the NYPD's 18th Precinct, also known as the Midtown North Precinct.
PLYMOUTH DIPLOMAT – Once upon a time, the NYPD's housing bureau had its own fleet of cars.
PLYMOUTH DIPLOMAT – Even though these cars were only used by the Housing Bureau, something about an orange and blue NYPD car just feels right. Hopefully department brings this color scheme back to match the city's flag (as well as three of its professional sports teams).
1989 CHEVROLET CAPRICE – This '89 Chevrolet Caprice is dedicated to fallen NYPD Officer Edward Byrne who was killed in the line of duty in 1988 when two men shot him while he was sitting in a similar patrol car in South Jamaica, Queens.
1961 PLYMOUTH SAVOY – If you're thinking there might be something fishy about a cop car with a red paint job, you're absolutely right. This '61 Plymouth was a prop for the 1960s show "Car 54, Where Are You?"
1961 PLYMOUTH SAVOY – The car was given a bright red paint job specifically to avoid any confusion with a real NYPD patrol car.
NYPD EMERGENCY SERVICES TRUCK – In the 1930s, the NYPD established a specialized unit called the Emergency Service Unit, equipped with heavy tools and submachine guns. They rode around in open-top trucks like this.
NYPD EMERGENCY SERVICES TRUCK – While this might look like a green fire engine, this open-air Emergency Services Unit truck more or less served as the equivalent of today's SWAT (Special Weapons and Tactics) truck.
CHEVROLET CAPRICE – While not the most high profile part of the 2016 New York Auto Show, the classic cars at the NYPD display allow visitors to feel like they're traveling through time.
Although they were not part of this historical collection at the Auto Show, The Welcome Blog went to the streets of New York in search of some 2016 NYPD cars.
NYPD 2016 Dodge Charger
Ford Explorer 2016 – NYPD Interceptor
SWAT (Special Weapons And Tactics) NYPD car in Times Square
Tourists love to taking pictures with NYPD officers. Guess they love it, too
Visit the Museum on 45 Wall Street, New York