> my takeaway was, the cars have to be maintained really well and have reliable engines and tires,
Not true. A department I interned with would use civil asset forfeit vehicles as-is for undercover jobs.
New tires and engines aren't important; they aren't using these for pursuits, and authenticity is the #1 most important form of camoflauge in these situations-- your agent's life is often at risk. Having such obvious tells (like whitewall tires, no hubcaps on govt vehicles, etc) is a good way to get them killed and your investigation compromised.
It isn't limited to whitewalls specifically-- tire styles are passing fads like any other. When specific tires start falling out of favor with consumers, any vehicle still rocking (new) ones of the deprecated type was presumed to be part of a fleet or motor pool. Fleet procurement tends not to concern itself with staying trendy.
Police spycraft has advanced since the 60s though so to avoid these issues they borrow from the pre-auction pool.
Not true. A department I interned with would use civil asset forfeit vehicles as-is for undercover jobs.
New tires and engines aren't important; they aren't using these for pursuits, and authenticity is the #1 most important form of camoflauge in these situations-- your agent's life is often at risk. Having such obvious tells (like whitewall tires, no hubcaps on govt vehicles, etc) is a good way to get them killed and your investigation compromised.