What police departments used Rabbits and Golfs outside of Germany?Growing up vehicle history:
1967 AMC Rambler - No AC
1971 Dodge Coronet Wagon - no AC
1975 VW Rabbit - no AC
1982 suburban - AC
1992 VW Golf - AC
all AC after that.
That was an interesting police order model!My father purchased a used 1968 Pontiac Catalina police car from a Pontiac dealer somewhere around 1969 or so. It had a 428 with chrome air cleaner and chrome valve covers if I recall correctly along with a red badge on each front fender with "428". All of this was from the factory.
It was a station wagon which the department also used as an ambulance which was common then. The city it came from had about 25000 people and was a suburb of Cleveland, Ohio.
The one thing it did lack was a factory air conditioner but one had been added by the dealer before it went into police service. I remember the big hunk of metal box containing the controls and vents hanging from under the dashboard in the front center.
Oh yeah. In the winter I almost don't use the heater as the in-car camera hard drive, CAD monitor, lap-top and on-board wi-fi hardware, radar counter box, siren/light controller, and 2 radio boxes, keeps things nice and toasty inside.With all of the electronic equipment police cars have these days, it's probably important to keep it in a somewhat temperature controlled environment.
Wow, I didn’t realize all of the equipment puts out so much heat.Oh yeah. In the winter I almost don't use the heater as the in-car camera hard drive, CAD monitor, lap-top and on-board wi-fi hardware, radar counter box, siren/light controller, and 2 radio boxes, keeps things nice and toasty inside.
Broken AC for me
I bought a non AC car 95 Civic EX coupe new without AC. The dealer did a special in 2000/95k miles for me trying to get rid of Del Sol kit and installed it for $550.
I drove it till 240k miles with nice AC.
Used to the heat. Hard to imagine for visitors but residents get used to it. The construction guys you see laying asphalt in the summer wearing dark long sleeves and dark pants don't need no stinking AC.I'm surprised how many people drive around Phoenix with their windows open now!
This is it exactly. Your body adapts to hot weather. And it doesn't take long. And it's much easier when the humidity isn't close to the temperature.Used to the heat. Hard to imagine for visitors but residents get used to it. The construction guys you see laying asphalt in the summer wearing dark long sleeves and dark pants don't need no stinking AC.
This is it exactly. Your body adapts to hot weather. And it doesn't take long. And it's much easier when the humidity isn't close to the temperature.
I've been in both Houston, Texas and Orlando, Florida in July with "90/90" weather. (Temperature and similar humidity). And it's miserable. You're dripping with sweat 5 minutes after you step out the door. The air feels like you could cut it with scissors.
Here when it's 115 F with 4% humidity it's almost comfortable. You barely perspire because it's evaporating the instant it leaves your pores. You have to be careful not to dehydrate. Keeping your fluid intake up is a must. But I could never go back to living in a temperate climate again. Midwest Winters were horrible.
Used to the heat. Hard to imagine for visitors but residents get used to it. The construction guys you see laying asphalt in the summer wearing dark long sleeves and dark pants don't need no stinking AC.
Wow, I didn’t realize all of the equipment puts out so much heat.
The Monaco weighed 4500 lbs so it would have really felt fast to get to 60 in under 10 seconds. I believe the 440 was the RB police only engine, hence it had a “ cop motor”. With its 2.76 rear end it had a top speed of 126 mph. Top speed was “ unlimited”. Enjoy.I imagine most departments would order A/C when it became available for patrol cars. HOWEVER, most patrol guys and gals in the trenches probably never saw them as the brass took first dibs. My first patrol car was a 1977 Dodge Monaco 440 with a single red trashcan light. Had A/C, but would vacuum cut out when the pedal was floored. Was fast as he!! in a straight line but wouldn't turn or stop to save it's soul. Fast forward to modern time and I'm currently in a 2022 Ford PUV Explorer that has an icebox for A/C. Good thing too because the plastic sandwich I wear that doesn't breathe (bullet resistant vest) gets pretty dang hot. I can dump a cup of rice down the front during summer months and have lunch in a few minutes. Fortunately, I have a vest vent that connects a hose from the car's vent into the open space at the top of my vest to keep cool. Even so, I still drive with the windows down so I can hear things that are going on. Old school.
Watching ADAM 12 as they are driving around in a 1967ish Plymouth police car. Reed says it must be 100 degrees and they have the windows down. Didn't they have a/c in the cars back then, especially in LA?