Highway Patrol

[electra225]

There was mention made of the TV show, "Highway Patrol" in another topic. In order not to derail that topic, I'll start this one. I don't know for sure how long the show was on, but it was at least thru 1958. I think it started in 1954. Dan Matthews and his crew patrolled a certain section of California roadways on the show. His team drove Buick, Oldsmobile, Mercury and Dodge patrol cars. Two-door and four-door sedans all. Occasionally, there might be a Ford or Plymouth police car on the show, but it was a different team that drove those. Broderick Crawford's character, Dan Matthews, drove a Buick usually. He started out with a '54 Century, but he drove the '55 model 68 two-door sedan for several years, even after his team got newer cars. "2150 to headquarters" was a famous bi-line of his character.

The '55 Century he drove had rather an interesting history. One of 200 or 250 (depending on who you ask) that were built specifically for the CHP by the Buick Motor Division. They were not "real" Century cars, per se. The model 68 Century two-door sedan was not a regular production option for Buick. These cars were Special model 48's with Century script on the rear quarters, four-hole front fenders, the 322 V-8 and some had the Century engine-turned applique on the instrument panel. It has not been definitively determined if all were so constructed or not. Both Synchromesh and Dynaflow transmissions were offered. The standard steering wheel (really ugly) was used with the Synchromesh jobs, the deluxe wheel used with Dynaflow. The Dan Matthews character drove a Dynaflow car. The Synchromesh cars were hot rods, because they lacked the extra insulation and weight of the Century body. The CHP cars had rubber floor mats, "school bus" interior rather than the customary three-tone interior found in Century models and lacked the sound deadening and insulation found in production Century models. All were radio and clock delete cars. Some had heater/defroster, some didn't. Very stripped, very light, very fast Buicks.....

Another detail about the Highway Patrol TV show. It was one of the first filmed shows to use bright paint and chrome and to leave the glass in cars being filmed. Typically, the paint and chrome were dulled and the glass removed to prevent glare in those old TV cameras of the day. If there was a close-up of a character driving a car, the driver's door glass was lowered.

For 1956 and 1957 model years, Buick did not build a Century sedan, except the '56 Station Wagon. So the CHP and the Highway Patrol TV series, used Special sedans. Starting with the 1956 model year, the Special series used the same engine as the upper series cars, only with a two-barrel carb and single exhaust. Four-barrel and dual exhausts were standard on all other series. A "power pack" option became available that used a four-barrel carb and dual exhausts on Special for police duty. It could be ordered as a regular production option as well. The '56 Specials had better suspension and were lighter than the '55's so they ran better than the '55 Centurys did. The same story for 1957, no Century sedans. With the larger 364 V-8 in the '57's the CHP just used the two-barrel standard engine in the Special and got along okay. In '58, the Century four-door sedan became available, was a fairly popular seller, and was what the CHP used.

I don't know how they rigged the other makes of cars used on the show for CHP use. I was a Buick fan, so I concentrated on those cars. When I was judging cars with the BCA, there was a man who made a '55 CHP tribute '55 Century two-door sedan and presented it at the 1991 Nationals in Sacramento. He had used a Special two door sedan as a donor car, used the correct 322, but he gussied it up with all manner of options. Selectronic radio, power antenna, seats, tri-tone interior, power windows, gas door guard, door edge guards, tissue dispenser, and Kelsey-Hayes wire wheels, power steering and brakes, all correct options for a '55 Century. Not correct, however, for a '55 CHP Century. It was a beautiful car, well-restored with exceptional workmanship. He got gigged for all those options. It should have been a stripper and he'd have been fine......

[stbasil]

I've always been amazed at the sloppy suspensions and tires on the cars in those old '50's shows, especially when cornering! It's almost like the shocks are shot and the tires are low on air. 'Course I grew up watching those shows and didn't notice it then. It's a stark contrast compared to what we expect today!

But, whenever I'm at a car show, it's always the stock restorations of those that I like the best, even though I would probably not feel very safe driving one now!

[electra225]

I drive my Buick like I was driving a dump truck. 1963 Buicks had finned aluminum brake drums, hoarded by the hotrodders of the day. Buick has as good of brakes as anything on the road in 1963. Now those old single-circuit, drum brakes are adequate, but just barely, when you consider they are stopping 4800 pounds when cars with disc brakes weight less than 3000 pounds. I leave myself LOTS of room to maneuver if I need to. I find a "hole" and stay in it. If somebody passes me and closes up the hole, I back off the throttle and maintain a new hole. I enjoy driving the Buick, but I never get in a hurry.

[TC Chris]

When I had my 1960 Rambler American station wagon, my Dad gave me 4 radial-ply tires that he had bought but had not used. They fit the Rambler. And wow, even on its antiquated suspension, they made a huge difference in handling. Same now on my '61 Chevy. It's far more agile than on the old bias-ply tires. Not exactly a sports car, but much better behaved.

Chris Campbell

[electra225]

Radial tires and solid state ignition are the best two improvements I have made to my Buick.

I still have a new speaker for a '60 Rambler American I bought for a customer who thought his speaker was bad.

[TC Chris]

Sad to say, I sold my Rambler, and my '69 4-4-2, when I changed jobs and moved north 31 years ago. But the radio in mine was still working properly at the time. It was a CA car, brought to MI and abandoned before any salt damage.

Chris Campbell

[electra225]

The Rambler American I mentioned belonged to a customer. I initially got it when his exhaust manifold rotted out. You may remember those cars had the carburetor mounted directly to the head, featured an internal intake manifold. The exhaust manifold was simply made of exhaust pipe material. Naturally, they were long extinct in aftermarket parts stores. Kepich Exhaust made me one and sent it to me, then I put it on the American. While I had it, the customer asked me to see why his radio was not working right, thought it might be the speaker. The problem was a corroded connection where the antenna connects to the lead-in wire. He had me order a speaker, found we didn't need it. He paid for it since I got it for him, then told me to keep the speaker since he had no need for it.

[TC Chris]

I replaced the exhaust tube on mine too. That was > 50 years ago now so I cannot recall how I procured it.

And as to the radio: I had to move the car from Ann Arbor when I left there in 1975 so I rented a tow bar and drove my Dad's '66 Plymouth Fury III wagon down to drag it home, abut 100 miles. The tow bar's fingers that grasped the towed bumper did not fit it well--on by about 1/8"--and i was worried. Just outside of town I came upon a hitchiker so I pulled my little caravan over. I told him to ride in the Rambler and gave him the keys so he could listen to the radio. "If it comes loose, you steer." Made it all the way to Bay City and let him out.

Chris Campbell

[danrclem]

I drive my Buick like I was driving a dump truck. 1963 Buicks had finned aluminum brake drums, hoarded by the hotrodders of the day. Buick has as good of brakes as anything on the road in 1963. Now those old single-circuit, drum brakes are adequate, but just barely, when you consider they are stopping 4800 pounds when cars with disc brakes weight less than 3000 pounds. I leave myself LOTS of room to maneuver if I need to. I find a "hole" and stay in it. If somebody passes me and closes up the hole, I back off the throttle and maintain a new hole. I enjoy driving the Buick, but I never get in a hurry.

DSCN1295.JPG

That's a really good-looking Buick you have there. I can remember riding in big cars back in the day and they felt like they were floating. My brother used to call a Buick a Burick. It wasn't anything derogatory and I'm not sure if he made it up or heard it somewhere else.

[electra225]

Grandpa used to call them that, and he worked for Buick. He also called them "Booick".

There is something really special about driving my old Buick. I'm not sure I can put my finger on exactly what, though. Looking out over a 6' long hood might be part of it. It's really hard to beat an old Buick.....

[William]

I couldn't agree more, Oldsmobile too.

Bill

[electra225]

Same principle, different division. Oldsmobile was "the enemy" when grandpa worked "at the shop". "In the shop" was different than "at the shop". I had to be on top of the current nomenclature......

"In the shop" meant in the building out back behind the house working on cars. The place with the Rita Hayworth calendar hanging on the wall above the valve grinding machine......

"At the shop" meant working for the Buick Motor Division of General Motors Corporation, back when GM actually stood for something.....

[TC Chris]

Same principle, different division. Oldsmobile was "the enemy" when grandpa worked "at the shop". "In the shop" was different than "at the shop". I had to be on top of the current nomenclature......

"In the shop" meant in the building out back behind the house working on cars. The place with the Rita Hayworth calendar hanging on the wall above the valve grinding machine......

"At the shop" meant working for the Buick Motor Division of General Motors Corporation, back when GM actually stood for something.....

Everybody in Michigan understands the distinction.

Chris Campbell