This Accord’s light bar and security livery identify a business which can’t afford a lawsuit. SoCalMetro uploaded this rather amusing specimen recently; maybe he can tell us where he found it. A cursory Google search of the phone number listed on its flank didn’t reveal anything. Perhaps this well-preserved car was retired from duty and is simply a daily driver.
Nice find i’ve always liked that body style.
Security Fleets seem to have to philosophies when it comes to their vehicle choice: Crown Vics vs the Econobox.
You can make a case for the Crown Vic as its a little piggie on gas but you can (could?) get them cheap as they aged out of PD use and having the same car as the real cops gives you more creditability.
Then you have the operators who chase low total cost of ownership. The stripper regular cab rangers and small CUVs are popular with the mall cops for parking lot crusing here. The Prius is big in this segment as well due to its fuel economy.
Not just low cost of ownership, in EV mode you can creep up on a suspect silently.
The NYPD uses the Ford Fusion hybrid, in addition the usual Crown Vics, Impalas and Chargers. The Prius is used for the traffic and parking cops.
Worked security during college, paid me slightly above minimum wage so we wouldn’t complain, worked with numerous Serpico-wannabes, and made us use our own car ( I had a ’86 Thunderbird…REAL intimidating, right?)
I love these Hondas, though.
Well the license plate is from 2008 or 2009, the 661 area code is from SoCal, and this Honda is from 1986-1989 so it has to pass emissions testing; wonder if it has Fuel Injection? Also wonder if this car is a Stick Shift or an Automatic? Odd that there is a logo on the hood, but not on the sides of the car. Nice catch, I like this generation of Accord, but I am partial to the 5 door Integras.
This is my favourite Accord too. Always thought the folding front lights were JDM only – we certainly didn’t get them in blighty – didn’t realise the US got them as well.
Not many of this headgasket hungry model left here most are rebar already simply not worth repairing when they go wrong.
In this part of the world, these were very long-lived engines not known for a head gasket appetite. It was rust that did them all in around here, but many racked up very high miles first.
Ive known several that have done the meltdown trick but as you say it happened at high mileage, running too lean coz the carbs are out of sync was likely the problem as these were ill maintained beater cars but coupled with the usual rust means bye bye.
Outside of the rustbelt, they ran forever assuming the owner remembered to change the timing belt.
I had a 1987 white LX which looked just like the car above. 380,000 miles until it was run over by a garbage truck. Still see at least one per week driving around.
Japan had two fronts due to different dealer channels.
US got the pop-up headlights because the sealed beam requirement was still in force during the development phase
All sorts of stuff is used by security companies I had a white 84 323 RWD panelvan that was an ex security co car the heater vents were full of the little cards they stick in door jambs to prove they called, one local outfit uses Kia Rios cheap to buy cheap to run and they just hammer them into the ground zipping about checking security of business premises there is no pretense of being cops.
A friend of mine has a Kia Rio Diesel as a company car. It does 3.6L/100km (which is 65mpg in the US). Not a bad little car.
Ahh, yes – the famous Honda Pursuit. Favored not only by Highway Patrols for their blistering high speeds, these were also loved by city police forces for the extremely roomy back seats that made prisoner entry and exit such a breeze. I understand that almost all of these were bought back by Honda R&D to study for the next generation of Pursuit. It will really be good when they finally release it.
Are you talking to me ???
No kidding, this is the very-official-police. More Police-bugs here:
http://www.politievoertuigen.nl/Gemeentepolitie/Volkswagen%20Kever.html
This is my second-favorite Accord generation. Although its lines are certainly more interesting, I happen to prefer the 1990-93 generation that immediately followed this one – probably due to the fact that it was the first Accord I was exposed to as a young child. Someone we knew owned a ’93 cranberry red Accord sedan. Such a great car. Both of these generations were so “right sized” compared to Accords of today.
I disagree, today’s are much more appropriately sized for a family car IMO. Yeah, there’s some bloat today, but I wouldn’t want to shoehorn my family into something this size.
You see, I was also exposed to a ’90-93 Accord in high school, and I simply didn’t fit in the thing very well. Were I 5′ tall, perhaps I would have somewhat different opinions on “right-size”, but it wouldn’t change my opinion on how roomy a mainstream family car should be.
This security duty Accord looks very alert with its headlamps up like that!
Not sleeping on the job.
Perhaps this is a new trend, announcing the passing of the donks-painted-with-bizarre-commercial-messages (Lucky Charms, Sure Deodorant, etc) in favour of Deck your ancient sedan out like a security vehicle.