The tank was a WWII era M8 Greyhound. The LAPD also had some surplus M8s of their own around this time frame.
Stephen J. Cannell (credited as Steve Cannell), known for creating such series as The Rockford Files (1974) and The A-Team (1983), is the writer, this before becoming the series' story editor in its fourth season.
Social worker Heather Braun says that Mr Endicott is 85 years old. In reality, the actor E.J. André (1908-1984) was only 63 years old.