CLEVELAND, OH — Students enrolled in the Collision Repair and Refinishing Program at Ohio Technical College recently restored a 1978 Ford LTD Cleveland Police Cruiser to prepare it for display at the Cleveland Police Museum.
"This project was brought to our Collision Repair students on behalf of the Cleveland Historical Society," said Tom King, director of enrollment management, Ohio Technical College.
"With a five-week start-to-finish timeframe, it was a great challenge for the students to complete the detailed repair and refinishing work as well as the research for the police cruisers to ensure their restoration was historically correct. I also think the students got a kick out of painting and refinishing the cruiser back to its original lime green color, which our 1978 Cleveland Mayor Ralph Perk had established as the official color for his police force."
For the first step of the restoration process, the students obtained a 1978 "parts" vehicle from which to source the multiple repairs. They then began a long list of improvements, including repairing all body damage and trim; removing the vinyl top and bringing back the original hard top; and replacing the front grill, rear bumper guards, speedometer, light bar, siren and switch panels. Students also replaced the front headlights with red lenses and installed original-era hubcaps.
The restored police cruiser is now on display at the Cleveland Police Museum, with recognition of the restoration work completed by the Ohio Technical College students. Visit the Cleveland Police Historical Society Inc. and Police Museum at the Justice Center, Cleveland Police Headquarters, First Floor, 1300 Ontario Street, Cleveland, Ohio 44113, or online at www.clevelandpolicemuseum.org
