Driving a police car clone (the actual police car from the 1st Transformers movie)

[87CUBuff]

Hello, I live in Lake Jackson, Texas. One of the three Saleen Mustang police cars that was actually used in the first Transformers movie (i.e. 'Barricade' Decepticon) will be going to auction soon. As a car collector, I am considering bidding on it. I would like to drive it to car shows and local events as I believe it would be a positive highlight. My concern is that it of course looks like a police car, and I therefore do not want to break the law while driving it. Clearly I can not use it to stop someone, but is it illegal to have it say "Police" on the sides of the car along with its blue & red lights? If so, do you have any suggestions (besides trailer it)? Thanks. best regards, Paul

[basher52]

My friend in NYC owns several restored NYPD (70's vintage) patrol cars, including a copy of Car 54. We drive them all the time to different shows and events, but we are all cops. I suggest you get magnetic stickers to cover the door seals in transit and an out of service cover for the light bar. You should be good to go.

[Kimble]

I suggest you get magnetic stickers to cover the door seals in transit and an out of service cover for the light bar. You should be good to go.

If you don't do what basher suggests above, you're probably going to need to put it on a trailer. Driving around in a cop car (even a fake one) could easily break police impersonation laws in some states.

I'm going to sound like a dork by saying this, but as a guy who grew up on Transformers, I'm jealous of anyone who owns one of those Baricade style Mustang... if you make it to south VA (assuming you buy it), I want to test drive it!

[87CUBuff]

My friend in NYC owns several restored NYPD (70's vintage) patrol cars, including a copy of Car 54. We drive them all the time to different shows and events, but we are all cops. I suggest you get magnetic stickers to cover the door seals in transit and an out of service cover for the light bar. You should be good to go.

Thank you for the fast response. Also a big thanks for the work that you guys do putting yourselves in the line of fire each day for the public's safety.

[Samuel]

Check your local vehicle codes/statutes. In CA you can't drive anything resembling, especially the color scheme...