Encyclopedia of American Police Cars (Crestline) [Hardcover]

Edwin J. Sanow (Author)

Book Description

Series: Crestline | Publication Date: January 2002

This giant, hardbound reference features the finest cars built for United States law enforcement agencies, from the 1930s to today. Arranged in chronological order, the encyclopedic collection of archival photography is complemented by a concise text revealing the evolution of the police car, including standard equipment, special options, and model histories.

With high-horsepower engines, quick shifting, bullet-proof transmissions, high-performance suspensions, and heavy-duty components, these extraordinary cars are something to behold -- as Elwood Blues noted in The Blues Brothers, "Cop engine, cop shocks, cop radio."

Product Details

• Hardcover: 320 pages
• Publisher: Motorbooks International (January 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0760304491
• ISBN-13: 978-0760304495
• Product Dimensions: 11.3 x 8.9 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #238,043 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #100 in Books > Professional & Technical > Automotive > Classic Cars

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Ultimate review of American Police cars, February 6, 2000

By 

Phillip T Skinner (Southern California) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Encyclopedia of American Police Cars (Crestline) (Hardcover)

In your rear-view mirror, the sight of one of these vehicles can make your heart beat faster, your ears burn with a little fear, cause your eyes to race to the speedometer, and bring those long forgotten lessons from driver's education flooding back to haunt you on how bad a driver you really are. That fear-bearing vehicle with red or blue lights blinking is the squad car. Ever since the automobile came into play, law enforcement has looked to cars as a way to get to a call, or take care of other problems, especially traffic partol and accident investigation. Edward Sanow is America's foremost authority on police vehicles having studied and written a number of volumes on individual makes over the past few years. For the first time a comprehensive view of American police cars has been compiled. This book will be recognized as the acme of such material. Made up largely of original photography by the individuals, police and sheriff departments, or the manufacturers. Sanow provides more information to these 1,000 plus black and white photos than just the department, year, make, and model. Unlike some other volumes where the author is writing about police cars like any other subject, Sanow knows and researches each entry. Specifications, engine sizes, and indiividual department requirements are often included in his descriptions. Presented in chronological order, this volume cover everything from the days of the Model T Ford, up to the current brand-new Chevrolet and Ford products. A number of the photographs in this volume of recent shots of restored police crusiers, with notes made regarding those items which might not have been on the vehicles when they were in service. This is not a coffee table pretty picture book, but one designed for the serious student or fan of the vehicles used by the police, state troopers, county sheriffs, and highway patrol. As the world of law enforcement collectibles grows and has seen tremendous expansion of interest in the past few years, this book will be of interest to both young and old alike. Perfect to buy for yourself, or for a friend or family member who is in the field of up holding laws of our country.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Black and white photographs, February 24, 2001

By 

"davmont" (Williamsburg, VA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Encyclopedia of American Police Cars (Crestline) (Hardcover)

This book is very detailled and pleasant to read. However, I was very disappointed by the pictures the book contains: none of them is in color, which I think would have been necessary, especially for the most recent models.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Most informative book out on this subject, October 31, 2000

By 

Barry Williams (New Zealand) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Encyclopedia of American Police Cars (Crestline) (Hardcover)

As a New Zealander with an interest in police cars from all over the world this book is the best I have seen, and I already own around fifteen books devoted to police vehicles. The only thing wrong with it is the photos are in black and white, a colour version would make this book unbeatable.