Ford has long provided some of the most popular vehicles used by police departments. Starting in 1950, Ford was the first manufacturer to provide a Police Package, which offered better durability, a large trunk for the radio, better than average handling, and safety than it’s regular “retail” cars.
This 1952 Ford Customline sedan was originally used by the Parma Police Department. After many years in storage, it was acquired by the Cleveland Police Museum Vintage Fleet. Sergeant Don Whitner (ret) volunteered to provide his time and talent as the project manager for the 1952 Ford Customline. Sgt. Whitner served with the Cleveland Police for over thirty years, including four years as the Officer in Charge of the Transportation Unit, which maintains all marked, unmarked and undercover police vehicles out of the garage at 49th and Harvard. After retirement, Whitner maintained the Medina County public transit vehicles, buses, vans and trucks for thirteen years.
The Cleveland Police purchased mostly Ford Mainlines, which is the lesser expensive version of the Customline.
Under the leadership of Don Whitner, the car was restored to represent a Cleveland Police patrol cruiser. Whitner completed approximately 80% of the mechanical work and Jim Kiehl, a retired Copley police sergeant, rebuilt the engine. Several vendors donated all of some of their work on the restoration, including Custom Clutch/Joint Hydraulics, Discount Tire in Medina, Discount Auto Body Repaint/Repairs, Henderson Industries Inc, and Auto Electric Service.
The restoration included a paint job, installation of a vintage radio with telephone receivers, rebuilding of the engine and transmission, body work, and the installation of a gumball light on the siren. The car features a 239 cubic inch, flat head V8 motor with 110 horsepower and a three speed manual shift. The 1952 Ford also has a 1950s style push button siren. The button must be pushed down the entire time the siren sounds, gradually getting louder the longer it’s held. The button had to be pushed down the entire time the siren sounded, gradually getting louder the longer it’s held. Although Cleveland Police vehicles had been equipped with sirens (“growlers”) and occasionally spotlights for many years, it wasn’t until 1952 that the rotating flasher light, or “gumball machine” began to appear on CPD patrol cars. By that time Cleveland vehicles had given up the old blue and red paint scheme, in favor of black and white.
The Cleveland Police Museum’s1952 Ford Customline is a tribute to Detective Robert Clark, a Cleveland police officer who died in the line of duty while pursuing a suspect. Throughout his six years on the department, Detective Clark received numerous citations for acts of bravery and distinguished service, including two Distinguished Service Medals, a Chief’s Commendation and a Citizen’s Award plaque. Detective Clark’s family donated the funds used in the 15-month long restoration. The 1952 Ford features Clark’s badge number on the roof, license plate, front and rear. The car is not only a tribute to Detective Clark, but to all of Cleveland’s fallen officers.
Currently, the 1952 Ford Customline #545 is being campaigned in honor of those fallen officers for special events, car shows, local law enforcement functions, and parades. To request the 1952 Ford Customline #545 or other cars in the Cleveland Police Museum’s Vintage Fleet, contact us at [email protected]
