Restored javelin patrol vehicle on display in the Museum of DPS Headquarters

A restored javelin patrol vehicle is on display in the Museum of DPS Headquarters, 301 South Ripley St., in Montgomery, and appears just as it did in 1973/74. It is one of the two that the ADPS saved. Both were in original condition to start with, but in 1997 the first one was restored and recieved a few modifications.  Recently the second one has been restored to it's original condition with no modifications. 

ADPS PHOTO

ALABAMA JAVELINS HIGHWAY PATROL HISTORY

In the early 1970s the state of Alabama, experiencing an economic crisis, found they could order budget-based patrol cars from AMC. Pony car Javelins equipped with 401 cubic-inch V8s were powerful enough to meet the Alabama Highway Patrols needs and cheap enough to keep the state happy. In 1971 the Alabama Department of Public Safety ordered 71 Javelins with 61 painted Quick Silver Metallic. The remaining 10 were for the investigative unit and varied in color. For 1972 AMC no longer offered a base Javelin, so the ADPS ordered 62 Javelin SSTs. All were painted Admiral Blue Metallic over Stardust Silver Metallic. All highway patrol Javelins were shifted by three-speed automatic transmissions. Borg-Warner had shifting duty in 1971. A Chrysler Torqueflight A727 was used for 1972.

 Each '71 Javelin was a base-model wearing 'Machine' 5-slot mag wheels with Good Year Polyglas raised-white-lettered tires. They were powered by a special 'fleet service' version of AMC's new 401cid 4-barrel V8 engine, backed by a Borg-Warner automatic transmission. Other 'fleet service' items were underneath, like brake and suspension components. Each also received a full 'Rally' gauge package, including tachometer and 140mph speedometer.

While the bulk of the Javelins were indeed intended for Highway Patrol use, a little 'string-pulling' facilitated a few Javelins being ordered for use by some of the more 'privileged' members of the force. These cars remained 'unmarked' and had their antennae and radios mounted a bit more stealthily.

All ADPS Javelins got a rear spoiler, normally available only on a Javelin AMX model, but not for the usual reason, which is improved high-speed handling. Instead, it was needed to better display the "STATE TROOPER" markings on the rear of the car that would otherwise be unreadable due to the decklid's extreme angle. To fill the holes in the spoiler normally filled by an 'AMX' emblem, these cars got a third '401' emblem, to match the ones on each front fender. The '71 marked-patrol cars were Silver, the interiors blue and spartan. Unmarked '71s came in several interior and exterior colors. Interiors of the '71s were in the standard 'Tampico' embossed vinyl. 

 Following their tour-of-duty, most of the Javelins were retired from service, and another maker supplied their replacements. The Javelins were slated to be sold at surplus auctions. Then-Corporal David Parker knew this was the normal procedure, and had taken great pains to give special care to his patrol car. He now would buy his Javelin, and planned to attend the auction in civilian clothes, worried that his uniform might tip other bidders into thinking he was bidding on 'something special'. But as auction day neared, then-Captain Roy Smith was trying to convince his superiors that the Javelins were indeed 'special' and some should be kept. His pleas were honored, and the order to retain two of the best examples of the ADPS Javelins went out. Hence, Parker's beauty was hauled away to be displayed where it sits today- at the International Motorsports Hall of Fame in Talladega. The car was sent to Birmingham in 1997 for new tires, some interior repairs, and a fresh coat of paint. It was refurbished and modified a bit by the ADPS' Fleet Maintenance Department, under the direction of Richard Burch and Mike Winguard. The underside of the decklid and hood are now blue, and it has incorrect door mirrors and a different antenna. The engine has been repainted Ford blue. The Blue-Silver paint is not quite correct either.

Upon completion of the work, it was driven (under it's own 401-power) back to Talladega, garnering some very puzzled looks from other motorists along the way.

The new '72 Javelins were somewhat different from the '71 versions, just as the '72 Javelin you or I could buy were different from the preceding '71s including a new front grille and tail light treatment, and 8-slot 'Rally' wheels. And since the plainer 'base model' Javelin was no longer available, all the '72s were the more up-scale 'Javelin SST' models. This resulted in the interior trim being wood-grained instead of the aluminum-look of the '71s. SSTs also received rocker and fender well trim, and 'SST' emblems on the rear quarter panels. The 401-V8 lost about 20HP, but was now backed by the 'bullet-proof' A727 'Torque-Command' automatic transmission, based on the Chrysler 'Torque-Flite' transmissions. The '72 SSTs were a Blueish Silver, and the ADPS painted the hoods, decklids and spoilers of the final 42 cars dark blue before putting them to use. All '72s received the standard 'Wellington' pleated vinyl seats. Also, some of the ‘72s received upgraded roof beacons, Dietz model 2-11, which was the same as the 7-11, but one of the four lights was angled upward slightly, increasing visibility of the cars.

Parker's beauty at the International Motorsports Hall of Fame in Talladega.

TRUE FACTS

The ADPS Javelins are the first recorded pony car officially used by a major police department…ever… predating all those Mustangs and Camaros seen since! Alabama started a trend!   

  All ADPS Javelins came equipped with 60-series raised-white-letter tires- never blackwalls. As these wore out, they were replaced with 70-series bias-ply or 70-series radial whitewall tires! 

ADPS records indicate that while the Javelins incurred an 'average' number of accidents, no trooper was ever killed in a Javelin's crash. Only the 1988 Mustangs of the ADPS come close, with one trooper fatality during their service. 

 After two small modifications by ADPS Maintenance (improving oil flow and adding a 1st-gear lock-out), no ADPS Javelin ever blew its engine. 

 No ADPS Javelin was ever outrun in a pursuit.

The State Number (35-??????) in various colors of paint, mostly yellow, was hand painted on the left side of the firewall.

The Color Scheme was B/G for Barcalona Blue and Feather Grey in addition there were several unmarked vehicles in various colors.

The Tag was a S-???? with a green background and black letters.

The Tires were Good Year Polyglas raised-white-lettered tires. The '72 models all came with whitewalls- probably from Good Year as well.

The Wheels on the '71 models are called 'Machine' mags (5-slot), while the '72s received 'Rally Wheels' (8-slot).

The Spare Tire was a space saver.

The Radio was a General Electric with a two channel head.

The Antenna was a 155. Mhz antenna with a bakelite base mounted on the top of the vehicle behind the blue light and was approximately 12" long.

The Blue Light was a round blue dome with 4 bulbs.

The Engine was a 401 cubic inch with twin exhaust.

The Vehicles were equipped with a rear spoiler.

The Vehicles were bought from Reinhardt Motors in Montgomery and from Bill Whiten (American Motors and Datsun) Motors in (Ensley) Birmingham Alabama.

Info from:  http://dps.alabama.gov/Home/  and  http://www.javelinamx.com/javhome/copcar/alabama.htm