Yesterday's treatise on what to look for in an unmarked car yields today's Top Ten List:
Top Ten Cop Cars.
1. 1970s Plymouth Fury III. Okay. Years and years of watching "The Dukes of Hazzard" have forever imprinted the 1970s Fury on my brain as the ne plus ultra of police cars. And I guarantee you that this is the first time that "Dukes of Hazzard" and "ne plus ultra" have ever been used in the same paragraph here at MArooned...
2. 1992+ Ford Crown Victoria. The current incarnation of the 'Vic, the very last of the full-size cars available to the general motoring public, this is probably the best known cop car on the road today.
3. 1991-1996 Chevrolet Caprice. How popular was the last model of the Chevrolet Caprice? So popular that police departments were sending them out to be rehabbed rather than trade them in on a Ford. And that's with the design flaw of the door-mounted seatbelt!
4. 1987 Buick Gran National. Yes, the Connecticut State Police used the Gran National as part of their unmarked fleet. BADASS.
5. 1974 Dodge Monaco. It's got a cop motor, a 440-cubic-inch plant. It's got cop tires, cop suspensions, cop shocks. It's a model made before catalytic converters, so it'll run good on regular gas.
6. 1955 Chevrolet Bel Air. This is a classic in anyone's book. In police car form, it's almost too good to chase after the baddies...
7. 2009 Dodge Charger. Yeah. it's got a Hemi. Yeah, that Hemi's got 370+ horsepower. You can run from it, you'll just lose. And pad your ticket... The new Charger police car has the mortal lock on the "badass" look today.
8. 1984 Chevrolet Caprice. This is a personal favorite, as it was the last MSP car to grace our driveway before my dad retired. Hey, I'm a sentimental guy when it comes to my cars...
9. 1988 Ford Mustang LX 5.0. The MA State Police used these as their interceptor vehicles in the late '80s/early 1990s, and it seemed to be a natural fit for the job. The 'Stang shown was an actual CA Highway Patrol car.
10. 1973 XB GT Ford Falcon. Oh hell yes. Mad Max's cruiser gets an honorable mention on the list.
So there's my list of my favorite police cars. Granted, none of these make the list if they're pulled in behind me with the lights on, but all are pretty darn neat in their own right.
What cool cop cars make your list?
That is all.
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17 comments:
"We got a full tank of gas, half a pack of cigarettes, its dark outside and we're wearing sunglasses..." Priceless....
Late 1990's vintage Chevy Camero. Outfitted with the LS1 engine from the Corvette and a Vortech supercharger. It was the "special purpose highway interceptor" of the New York State Police. Wicked car, and in dark blue and gold, damn pretty until it was coming to get you....
https://www.troopers.state.ny.us/images/Hist1990.jpg
Years and years of watching "The Dukes of Hazzard"
You actually admit to this? In [more or less] polite company? Sheesh, what's next? "The Brady Bunch" and "Gilligan's Island?"
Back on topic ... I believe I've seen cop-converted Trans Ams and Mustangs, but the ultimate cop cruiser has to be this missile of the motorways. At the other end of the scale is the nightmarish Super-Hummer Cop Cruiser.
Jay you've got a 57 Chevy listed, but the picture is a 55. I minor oversight I'm sure. ;-) Regardless they're both nice cars. Bonus points for the Mad Max car too.
Fort Worth PD used Z28 Camaros for thier chase cars. Gutted for wieght, slight tweeks to the engine, excellent suspension. I'd be picking one up to move around solo in the Zombie Apocalypse.
You got the Bluesmobile and "The Last of the V8 Interceptors" so I'm happy. :)
"picking one up to move around solo in the Zombie Apocalypse."
I want one of these! Sisu Pasi
Anon,
Oh hell yes. You know that was makin' the cut...
Rick in NY,
Always had a soft spot in my heart (or was it my head?) for a police package Camaro. Even if - according to my retired MSP dad - it had a nasty tendency to take flight at higher speeds...
wolfwalker,
What can I say? I was like 9...
TheUnpaidBill,
Thanks, fixed it. Had originally intended to go with a '57 but decided the '55 was cooler...
ktzf,
Dunno if the Camaro can haul enough gear. I'd think the Dodge Magnum with the hemi would be a better choice in the ZA... ;)
Arthur,
I debated over the cruisers in "Adam-12" and "Car 54, Where Are You" but figured that might be getting a little *too* obscure...
:)
"It's got a cop motor, a 440-cubic-inch plant. It's got cop tires, cop suspensions, cop shocks. It's a model made before catalytic converters, so it'll run good on regular gas."
Fix the cigarette lighter.
Hit it.
How about the early 70's Aussie Chargers? They were built on a Valiant platform, so a lot smaller and lighter then the American Charger of the day. More like the current Charger, actually. The police models could be had with a hemi, though they were small block V8s, or even a slant 6 hemi, not the massive 426. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=leYEgjwr5K8
Also, I have a soft spot for the '77 Caprice cop cars, crappy box that it was. That's because mom had a 77 Catalina which was basically the same car. That's back when very few cars on the road other then the Caprice cop cars (and mom's catalina)had dual square headlights. Mom also had a big old roof rack on it for when we went camping. Oh, and mom also worked 2nd shift back then. I lived on a pretty quiet street, and my parent's were "cool" (we know you guys are gonna drink anyway, at least do it here where you are safe), so many a Friday night in the late 70's early 80's was spent with a bunch of us just hanging out in the street in front of my house talking cars and having a few beers. And without fail, every night around 11pm we would see those small square headlights coming down the road with what looked like a lightbar up on the roof, and everyone would scramble to hide the beer.And equally without fail, the "police car" would turn into my driveway. Hi mom!
Heh, the picture of the Bel Air is actually a '57, you were right the 1st time. It's a 150 not a Bel Air though (Bel Air was a trim level). Check the hood (missles not bird) the fins, and the headlights. Although its a common mistake with the 150/210 models as they share a similar side spear.
I drive an '81 Caprice, and I tend to get a lot of sidelong glances. Wonder why?
Of course, folks calm down when they see the hair down to the middle of my back.
How about a Javelin.
http://www.dps.state.al.us/Information/Javelin.aspx
B3 Police package Camaros are smokin'! Plus they can't put anybody in the car, so they are always chase cars!!!
Ah, yes. The early '80's Caprice. I bought one of these when I was 16 (car was as old as I was) from an old lady who only drove it to church (no joke, it had 55k miles on it).
3 weeks later, I got my 1st ticket in it. 82 in a 70 zone. The Cop that pulled me over said his first cruiser was an '83 Caprice. I loved that car.
I own a 91 Chevy B-Body. The 91-96 most emphatically does NOT have door mounted seat belts.
The 55 Chevy Cop Car Comment with The Picture Has A 1957 Chevy B210"Black Widow" as The Picture! The 57 B210 "Black Widow" Was A 57 B210 Post With A Fuel Injected 283 4speed,With 55 Trim,The Only Color Available Was Black & White There Were Only 25 Built & only 3 Survive as Of 2005! They Were One Of The Fastest 57 Production Vehicles Of All Time!
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