* The American Association of State Troopers is up with its annual Best Looking Cruiser Contest. Here’s Illinois’ entry…

A buddy of mine at ISP says this is a “home-grown Illinois Ford Interceptor.” It’s apparently a retro design for the ISP’s 100th anniversary. The cruiser is pictured above, he said, “Outside the Blues Brothers movie set.” In other words, Joliet’s old prison.

“It’s got a cop motor, it’s got cop tires, cop suspension, cop shocks,” he said, paraphrasing the famous movie’s line about the Blues Mobile. “It’s a model made after catalytic converters so it won’t run good on regular gas.” Heh.

Anyway, as a personal favor to me, please click here, scroll down and vote for Illinois at the bottom of the page. They ask me to do this every year and I politely decline because some of the other states have much cooler entries and I’m more of a Mopar guy. But the pitch was so good this year that I couldn’t say no.

       

34 Comments - The Opinions Bureau - Tuesday, Jul 20, 21 @ 1:56 pm: C’mon, New Jersey, you’re not even trying, man. - Back to the Future - Tuesday, Jul 20, 21 @ 1:56 pm: Voted Illinois. Very good looking SUV. - Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Jul 20, 21 @ 2:01 pm: Done and done. - 47th Ward - Tuesday, Jul 20, 21 @ 2:02 pm: I held my nose and voted for it as a favor to you Rich. That big red light on top is really cheesy. They could have done better, imo. - Shield - Tuesday, Jul 20, 21 @ 2:02 pm: I vote IL for state pride, but my lord we have one of the worst photos and least inspired vehicles pictured. - JT11505 - Tuesday, Jul 20, 21 @ 2:06 pm: Voted for the home team, but I gotta admire Vermont’s bold choice of color scheme. - Cheryl44 - Tuesday, Jul 20, 21 @ 2:07 pm: I’m about to get you a bunch of comments, Rich. SUVs are inherently badly designed. - Bruce( no not him) - Tuesday, Jul 20, 21 @ 2:09 pm: I voted for ISP, with the understanding that since I voted for them, they will let me go next time. - Rich Miller - Tuesday, Jul 20, 21 @ 2:09 pm: ===gotta admire Vermont’s bold choice=== You want bold, look at Kansas. ===That big red light on top=== I think that’s what put me over the top to run with this post. - Rich Miller - Tuesday, Jul 20, 21 @ 2:11 pm: ===they will let me go next time=== A CapitolFax.com get out of jail free card would be a nice perq. I don’t think we can expect one, however. - former southerner - Tuesday, Jul 20, 21 @ 2:16 pm: Voted for the home team but I really like the way Ohio set up their shot. - Cool Papa Bell - Tuesday, Jul 20, 21 @ 2:22 pm: I missed the bubble gum light at first glance. I think that Michigan is the only state that still uses those lights on all regular state police cars. If memory serves a number of years ago they were set to ditch them and the outcry changed their mind. A very traditional look. - Captain Obvious - Tuesday, Jul 20, 21 @ 2:24 pm: Some of the photography here is just outstanding. Thanks for the link to some very cool pics I would not have otherwise seen. Voted for the home team. They need the help, some stiff competition here. - very old soil - Tuesday, Jul 20, 21 @ 2:26 pm: I did my duty - Cool Papa Bell - Tuesday, Jul 20, 21 @ 2:32 pm: Voted for IL. Ohio looks to have spent the most money on getting a shot (if it wasn’t photoshopped) NY knows how to stage a background ID cars look great in person - saw them this summer GA is a stunner in that dark blue color FL wins - I’ve never seen a Challenger cop car. The paint (the gnarly cream/white roof) awesome wheels and a hood scoop that actually works. That’s a great looking car. - Don't Bloc Me In - Tuesday, Jul 20, 21 @ 2:41 pm: I voted loyal to Illinois, but Challengers are still the best looking. As for great photos, how about Nebraska and Nevada! - workingfromhome - Tuesday, Jul 20, 21 @ 2:45 pm: Voted IL, but liked California’s classic look. Props to Vermont and NY for the whole look of the scene. Good staging. - What's in a name? - Tuesday, Jul 20, 21 @ 2:45 pm: Vote for the home team. Like to see the effort put forward by the participating states. Evidence of pride in their work. to be encouraged. Fun as well. - don the legend - Tuesday, Jul 20, 21 @ 2:52 pm: Maybe your large following of readers can put Illinois over the top but it will only be as a result of a stuffed ballot box. Not even in the top 10. - DEE - Tuesday, Jul 20, 21 @ 2:52 pm: I did double duty, laptop and IPhone, for All In Illinois. But the K’s, Kansas and Kentucky, make you want to commit a crime there just to get a ride in theirs. - Lurker - Tuesday, Jul 20, 21 @ 2:52 pm: Best looking and suv are mutually exclusive but I voted Illinois for the cool, retro red light … and for rich of course - fs - Tuesday, Jul 20, 21 @ 3:01 pm: == FL wins - I’ve never seen a Challenger cop car. The paint (the gnarly cream/white roof) awesome wheels and a hood scoop that actually works.== Kansas has one as well. Colorado…c’mon, man. All that great scenery in your State and your background is…a brick wall?? Jersey and Massachusetts are runners-up to most boring. Boston has a decent skyline, why choose that angle (and your color scheme is terrible)? It’d be like someone shooting a picture of “Chicago” buy only getting the buildings in the South Loop. - JP Altgeld - Tuesday, Jul 20, 21 @ 3:25 pm: Does it have SCMODS? - G'Kar - Tuesday, Jul 20, 21 @ 3:25 pm: I voted for Illinois, but, man, I love Kansas’ Challenger. - NIU Grad - Tuesday, Jul 20, 21 @ 3:26 pm: Can someone rescue that Delaware state trooper from the Tron universe? - Oxfordian - Tuesday, Jul 20, 21 @ 3:29 pm: Orange whip? Orange whip? 3 orange whips. - NIU Grad - Tuesday, Jul 20, 21 @ 3:29 pm: I audibly gasped when I got to Oregon. I’m happy that they’re not trying to sugarcoat what issues they’ve been facing… - Tommydanger - Tuesday, Jul 20, 21 @ 4:31 pm: As OW has said; “Done and done”. - Northsider - Tuesday, Jul 20, 21 @ 4:34 pm: Was I the only one who expected to see Buford T. Justice emerge from the Texas car? (I know he was a sheriff, but still…) - Levois - Tuesday, Jul 20, 21 @ 4:39 pm: I like that design also. Seen plenty of pics on Instagram. - DuPage - Tuesday, Jul 20, 21 @ 6:18 pm: The door insignia on the contest car looks better then what they have now. They should change to it on all new ISP vehicles. - Just a citizen - Tuesday, Jul 20, 21 @ 6:48 pm: Done - The Magnificent Purple Walnut - Tuesday, Jul 20, 21 @ 7:42 pm: I.S.P. Integrity, Service, and Pride. - Flexible One - Tuesday, Jul 20, 21 @ 8:36 pm: Actually Illinois State Police’s retro was excellent, so it got my vote Sorry, comments for this post are now closed.