Welly 1:24 2008 Chevrolet Tahoe Police




Police vehicles are a popular trend today as replica vehicles.  Many diecast manufacturer's make the police vehicles offered by departments and even offer unmarked white versions where you can add your own police decals and department colors.  For Chevrolet the Tahoe has been the go-to police vehicle ever since the Caprice ended production back in 1996.  It took a while for officers to adapt to them but eventually the Tahoe started to become better merged with officers than the first release of the package in 1996.  Here's the latest from Welly in 1:24 scale adorned in the Chevrolet Police department deco.








The Tahoe shown here was introduced in 2006 and was a big change over the previous-generation.  The prior-generation offered rear coil springs and a new fleet of LS1 V8 motors from the Silverado.  This time the Tahoe, and relatives Suburban, GMC Yukon and Yukon XL, and Cadillac Escalade, were introduced before the pickups instead of after and they adorned more smooth and flush aerodynamic look (bye-bye chrome bumpers), a car-like interior with a cleaner layout and better materials if a still bit plasticky.  The engine is the same 5.3L pushrod V8 as before that produces 320 horsepower through a four-speed automatic transmission later changed to a six-speed automatic in 2010.  While the dual panel doors are gone the police package still comes back with heavy-duty suspension, larger battery and alternator, interior with stripped out rear seat (for ballistic panel and non-carpeted rear tub for perpretrators or K-9 dogs), additional front push bar and light bar on roof, and blacked-out steel wheels.  By this generation the Tahoe was better suited for police duty and now the Tahoe is more commonly found in police fleets compared to the first-generation between 1996 and 1999.








While I have seen this truck many times at Rite-Aid in white and also having the 1:43 blue stock Tahoe there was no need for this truck, but seeing this all-black Chevrolet Police version and it was hard to try and not pick it up.  The front has detailed quad projector headlights with integrated signal and running lights, split grille with bowtie logo, foglights in the bumper, and a push bumper that nicely flows with the look of the front bumper without interfering with the grille design.  On the sides you get the boxy SUV look with four doors, running boards, blacked-out steel wheels with silver center cap (despite the low-end look I prefer them over the 5-spoke alloy wheels on the civilian version), and big badges on the doors that have GM police vehicles.  Now the Chevrolet Police models are demo models from the factory to show how the police package looks in full uniform and is not an actual police department (Ford and Dodge do the same thing).  At the rear are tall taillights, Tahoe plate, smaller badge on the left, and look how nicely integrated the trailer hitch is in the rear bumper.







The base underneath shows off the detailed drivetrain, engine, exhaust system, front suspension, and rear spare tire.  Note the 4-wheel drive system which is another reason why police departments get them in the snowy north: better traction.  The roof forgoes the roof rack in favor of a clear LED light bar that is streamlined much better than past bubble gum setups.  The hood opens up to show off the 5.3 in an engine compartment that is a bit smaller and has more coverings over the intake of the engine.  Note the detailed brake fluid resovoir and coolant overflow resovoir.  Inside the interior is more civilian than police as it still retains three row of seats (the third row would be removed for additional police gear in the back).  The dashboard is nice and clean and has straightforward radio, HVAC controls in the center, a 4-spoke steering wheel, and comprehensive gauge cluster.  To add some police duty to this Tahoe I added a control box on the center console with integrated CB radio handle; there was no room for the now standard laptop so I left it off.









All this in a sleek blacked-out package makes this Chevy Tahoe Police truck very stealthy.  Watch out in your rearview mirrors!





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