This model came out about 20 years ago, in an edition not to exceed 10,000. Mine is No. 0143, so I wonder how far they got? The box includes a descriptive card with some history and recognition that THP gave permission for the model to be made with their logos. This is my earliest Tennessee car with the familiar black/cream color, which continues to this day. THP switched from Ford to Plymouth in the late 1960s, and I remember the swich to blue roof lights occurring on many police cars about that time. I've been able to keep the long whip anteena intact. I thought the turquoise license was authentic too - I remember seeing a lot of these - but per Karl's website link posted yesterday these didn't come in until 1976 and stayed in use until 1985. Maybe White Rose modeled a car that hung around past 1975? Probably not, but it's still a favorite.
@john-quilter Not sure, but doubtful. I did read that, in the days when TN had front and rear plates, they would give the patrolman one of the tags as a souvenir when the car was replaced.
I wish they made a non-police car version for me to add to my collection of 1/43 "fuselage" Mopars - I have a '70 Dodge Monaco, '70 Chrysler 300, and '71 Imperial.
I wish they made a non-police car version for me to add to my collection of 1/43 "fuselage" Mopars - I have a '70 Dodge Monaco, '70 Chrysler 300, and '71 Imperial.
These inexpensive diecasts are easy to convert to civilian colors. The trick with this one is creating appropriate reproductions of full wheel covers. Whitewalls can be done with decals or white shelf paper. Here are a few conversions of Chrysler R body cars circa 1981.
