MUNCLE MIKES · CASTING GUIDE
Custom Police CruiserThe roof light and fenders deserve a close look
Custom Police Cruiser is recognizable from its black-and-white body and small red beacon. Those exposed details also attract repairs and touch-ups, so a tidy side view is only the beginning of a useful inspection.
The Plymouth-based police car
The original 1969 US-made Police Cruiser is based on the Plymouth Fury, with a cream interior and lightly tinted glazing. The related 1970 Fire Chief uses the same underlying casting; Cruiser is the usual base name.
Photograph the complete underside. A familiar word on the base needs to be read alongside the actual body finish and emergency equipment.
Two beacon plastics and an early paint treatment
Opaque and transparent red roof lights are documented. The standard fenders are white, while early examples have black fenders and rocker panels.
The status of black-fender cars is not settled simply by calling them prototypes. An early-production explanation is also discussed in the reference, so a stronger claim needs the individual car’s history.
Look at the attachment before touching the light
Get a top view and both side profiles of the beacon. Check for missing plastic, glue and disturbed paint around its mounting. A replacement light can restore the outline without making the car untouched.
Inspect the police decoration and panel edges in even light. Keep roof-light replacement, repainting and wheel work in the condition record. Do not pull the beacon to test its attachment.
The Custom T-Bird guide offers another early full-size-car casting where grille and roof treatments need their own comparison.
