Aero Willys Police Car

08/05/2023

The 1953 Aero Willys police car is here!

I had a bit of change in plans; originally, there were two different candidates for the police car until I found this one in Oklahoma where it spent the majority of its life in private hands and eventually in a museum. My original thought was to paint the doors white and install the super chief siren with the trio sales lights on the sides but when I saw the car in person I realized that what I had was a true survivor. It was much too nice to repaint or drill holes in the roof. Oddly enough, it was owned by a former police officer for about 20 years and even has some police association stickers on the windshield!

So, I decided that it might work better as an undercover squad car; leave the black tires on there, install a 6 V Federal siren under the hood and a period correct Motorola radio under the dash. Eventually, I’ll add some original 1951 California license plates. I think it would present very well.

What do YOU think? 😎

03/23/2023

Here’s a great time capsule from 1953, the same era that we will be restoring our 1953 Aero Ace police car.

There’s some great shots of 1953 Ford Mainline and Shoebox police cars in here too!

Enjoy!

Presents information about the police department and its services to citizens. Shared for historical purposes. I do not own the rights. # # # # 's missi...

03/22/2023

Wednesdays are for wrenching! Well, kind of! Today was street sweeping day and the old ‘54 fired right up because I installed a rebuilt mechanical fuel pump and new fuel lines over the weekend. It made me so happy to get rid of that awful electric fuel pump (I hate them, always nothing but problems) and put on an original mechanical one like how it rolled off the assembly line with in 1954. I’ve worked so hard on this engine bringing it back to life.

I’ve really learned a lot working on this 1954 Aero Willys Lark DeLuxe and I look forward to putting that knowledge to good use when it’s time to start the restoration on the 1953 Aero Ace for the police car.

Bry

03/21/2023

The Long Beach California Police Department and their fleet, circa the mid fifties.

In most police departments, their fleets were either Ford, Chevrolet or Plymouth. These police cars have a very different paint job than most. Note the Federal model 18 roof lights and the B and M S-8 siren mounted on the front fender.

Very different and very cool! 👍

03/21/2023

A few folks have asked to see more pictures of my 1954 Aero Willys Lark DeLuxe, so here you go!

This would actually make an excellent candidate for a police car as well but I kind of like the hoopty , Social D vibe of it! 😎

I’ve put a lot of work into getting it running, shifting and stopping safely and I’ve been lucky to have some great mentors on this project; Rickey Kamen, Jess Neely, bay, Lou Farah, Mike Floyd and so many more. 

It’s a long road ahead but I’m in the best company ever to get ‘er done!

Bry

03/19/2023

If you would like to see the 1954 film “The Big Chase” which features a 1953 Aero Willys police car, it’s available for free on Tubi.

The film is only an hour and if you like noir films, then this is for you. 👍

https://tubitv.com/movies/613749/the-big-chase

03/17/2023

I'm proud to partner with my dear friend Captain Lou Farah of the Ventura County Sherriff's Department as the technical advisor on the Aero Willys Police Car project.

In addition to serving the law enforcement and emergency services industry, Lou has also restored many vintage emergency vehicles to provide historically accurate fire and ambulance rigs for film and TV rentals. Give him a facebook follow at Vintage Emergency Vehicles LLC

I'm honored to have him on the team!

Bry

03/17/2023

Toledo, Ohio, 1953. The Toledo Police Department accepts delivery of ten brand new 1953 Aero Willys sedans for it's fleet.

Photo courtesy of Rickey Kamen.

03/17/2023

My dear friend Capt. Lou Farah of the Ventura County Sherriff's Dept. is kindly serving as the technical advisor on the Aero Willys Police Car project.

Lou has his finger on the pulse of all things vintage as his expertise of restoring historic emergency vehicles will serve this restoration in good stead. It was Lou who gave me the straight stuff about recreating the siren, lights and radio equipment correct to the period and not to settle for second best.

Lou has had quite an impressive career in law enforcement and emergency services. I've known him for decades as we hosted several emergency vehicle events at the Petersen Automotive Museum as well as hosting countless car shows in the past twenty years.

I'm proud to call him my friend.

Bry

03/17/2023

This is the 1953 Aero Ace that will be restored into the Long Beach, California police car.

I kind of like the original Woodstock Green over Jasper Green color combo and almost hate to paint it black and white but this paint job has had a good long run and it’s time for a change!

I’ve already sourced an original Lightning Six engine and tr**ny coming from another Aero. Although it’s not pictured, all the chrome and bright work trim comes with the car as well as the original black California plates! The body is incredibly straight and there’s no major rust at all. Amazingly, the paper trail goes all the way back to the original owner who lived in Laguna Beach, California. It’s been a West Coast car it’s entire life.

These shots were taken at the sellers house who also happens to be a terrific guy and a fellow car enthusiast. It might look rough but I’m really looking forward to bringing this home soon to start the work!

Bry

03/17/2023

This 1953 Aero Willys police car from the 1953 noir film "The Big Chase" will be the blueprint for the black and white paint scheme for the restoration.

A B and M Super Chief siren and a set of Trio Sales "coffee can" police lights will be affixed to the roof as well as a set of "Apple" spotlights at the front wind wings of the car.

Eventually, a 1951 standard issue California license plate will be added along with the year-correct 1953 metal registration tag at the lower right corner of the rear plate.

If it's worth doing, it's worth doing RIGHT. (y)

03/17/2023

Welcome to the page!

Like most of my fellow car guys and gals, I have a long standing love affair with restoring classic cars. Sometimes I wish I had a cheaper hobby but once the bug bites you, that's it!

I got my first Aero Willys when I went to go look at a '51 Shoebox Ford with my wife Scooter. It turned out to be a rustbucket but as we were leaving, we saw a green 1954 Aero Willys Lark Deluxe that had been sitting under a tree for almost ten years. We threw in a new battery, primed the carb and it fired right up, coughing and sputtering and belching smoke out the rear end.

It was love at first sight as we shook hands on the spot. It was a real "Christine" moment. 👍

Over time, I learned a LOT about an Aero Willys once we got it home and scored a shop manual. I made friends with some great folks who had gone down the Aero Willys path before me and kept learning, finally getting it back on the road. As it turns out, it was quite similar to a Shoebox Ford under the hood as I readily found parts without too much trouble.

Again, the bug bit again as we found another Aero Willys car in nearby Anaheim, this time a 1953 Aero Ace that was Woodstock Green over Jasper Green. No engine or tr**ny but it was all there.

I didn't need another Aero as I already had the '54. I've always been a huge fan of noir crime films of the forties and fifties and always dug the police cars in those films. I did some digging and sure enough, the Aero Willys cars had indeed been used in police departments all over the US.

My next call was to the great Officer Mike Gatliff of the Long Beach Police Historical Society to research actual police cars and cruisers of the fifties within the Long Beach, CA Police Department. Officer Gatliff has been incredibly gracious in being willing to work with me and putting the considerable resources of his archives at my disposal to correctly restore the Aero to actual police specs of the era. He also has a 1923 Dodge Paddy Wagon, a 1974 Dodge Coronet police cruiser and a 1995 Chevy Caprice as part of the considerable vehicle collection of the Long Beach Police Historical Society.

My hope is that you enjoy the journey ahead of the complete restoration, giving a second life to this amazing old car to be displayed at car shows, police functions and community events in Long Beach, CA.

Glad to have you aboard,

Bry