(first posted 6/21/2018) The police vehicle. It’s something we’ve talked about here sporadically and while most people don’t want to encounter one under self-detrimental circumstances, they serve a highly beneficial purpose and are always welcome during times of distress.
A recent outtake by Edward Snitkoff discussing the 2020 Ford Explorer prompted thoughts about those atypical police offerings from times past. The police have used everything imaginable, but let’s focus on cars purpose built by the manufacturer (there is an exception or two) and aren’t the typical full-sized sedans that seemed to be the law enforcement stereotype until recently – although, there are a few full-sized sedans but by a brand you might not have anticipated.
To keep it all manageable, we’ll look at the time period of 1959 to roughly 1990 – truly the sweet spot for what we like around here. This list is not intended to be comprehensive or all-encompassing.
1959 and up Studebaker Marshal
Studebaker had been making police cars for a while, but their physical downsizing in 1959 gave new dimension to their offerings. The good folks at South Bend continued offering police vehicles until almost the bitter end, some of which could be had with optional supercharged Avanti engines.
The Lark based Marshal’s kinship to the Marshal from a few years earlier is unmistakable.
1961 and 1962 Chevrolet Corvair
Just because a car has a police package with various heavy duty components doesn’t mean it is meant for ground-pounding pursuit and patrol. In the case of the Corvair police package, it was advertised as being a car willing to tackle various miscellaneous duties.
Given Chevrolet also had a taxi package for the Corvair during these two years, a police package was hardly a stretch as the differences between the two would have primarily amounted to paint color and door decals.
From literature about it:
Big cities will like the Corvair’s maneuverability in traffic. Local sheriff’s offices will like the way Corvair handles a hundred-odd jobs quickly and willingly.
To say the Corvair police package was unsuccessful is a charitable way to put it.
It was, however, either successful or memorable enough to be made into a child’s toy by, among others, Ichiko Toys of Japan.
1962 and 1963 Chevy II
Available with the choice of a four or six-cylinder engine, the police Chevy II coincided with the release of the retail Chevy II. The GM Heritage Center shows the chassis and drivetrain was Option Code 599 for 1962 and nearly everything from seats to suspension hardware was heavy duty or reinforced.
The police Chevy II continued until 1964.
1961 to 1964 Chrysler Enforcer
Once upon a time, one hundred twenty-two inches was the magical wheelbase length for many law enforcement agencies. Other than the Newport, Chrysler had no other offering with this wheelbase length. Since the Newport was it, Chrysler Corporation made a bunch of bids with a Chrysler brand car, which was a first, and dubbed it “Enforcer”. From all accounts the word “Newport” didn’t appear on it anywhere.
As an aside, DeSoto offered similar in at least 1957. As the Newport could be viewed as the replacement for the DeSoto, it does make some degree of sense.
For 1961, the only power plant was a four-barrel 383 V8, an engine that was not available in any retail Chrysler. The Car Life article seen above would clock a 383 powered Enforcer (a two-barrel 361 was standard for the 1962 model) at a top speed of 131 mph with the blast to 100 mph taking 24.1 seconds.
Given the downsizing elsewhere at Chrysler in 1962, it’s easy to see why the Enforcer was reasonably popular. With Chrysler going back to a perceived full-sized C-body for 1965, the Enforcer was likely seen as redundant and was canceled.
1963 Rambler
This is one I stumbled upon when looking for other pictures but sure enough Rambler offered genuine police cars. They didn’t limit their efforts to 1963 only.
It all makes sense; Nash had been offering police cars for a while (or at least they did if you’ve ever seen episodes of Superman from the early 1950s) and the Rambler simply continued this offering, such as this 1957 model. It also bridged the gap from the 1950s Nash offerings to the 1970s AMC offerings discussed below.
Incidentally, they also built the “Rambulance”. It’s amazing what turned up while searching for pictures of other cars featured here.
1967 Oldsmobile Delmont 88
Breaking with their long standing relationship with Chrysler Corporation for a year, the California Highway Patrol used Oldsmobiles in 1967. All were reported to be powered by a 365 gross horsepower 425 cubic inch (7.0 liter) V8.
For a long time, the Patrol in California required its car to possess a minimum wheelbase of 122 inches and a base curb weight of 3,800 pounds. The Olds filled this role quite nicely but not well enough to entice the boys in blue to use them again in 1969 as they went back to Dodge.
1970 Mercury Montego
Watching the original Gone In 60 Seconds will yield a bumper crop of these Mercury cruisers. The Los Angeles police were likely the largest and highest profile user of these 429 (7.0 liter) powered cars.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c-Q75Xm9lA4
Incidentally, information I found while researching this stated these Los Angeles cars were ordered without power steering. Navigating a big block car through town for 8 hours without the assistance of power steering sounds like a great upper body workout.
1971 and 1972 AMC Javelin
When AMC (formerly Rambler which was formerly Nash and Hudson) ramped up their police car efforts in the early 1970s, it wasn’t limited to the Matador and Ambassador. The Alabama State Police purchased 100 specifically prepared Javelins in both 1971 and 1972. All were powered by the 401 cubic inch AMC V8 and hooked to an automatic transmission.
So when California began using pony cars, they weren’t plowing new ground; Alabama had done so 8 years earlier.
1976 Dodge Dart and Plymouth Valiant
Despite being their last year on the market, Chrysler opted to offer an A38 (Mopar speak for police package) Dart and Valiant.
Available with the 225 slant six, 318, or 360 with dual exhaust, testing of these Daliants showed its performance was approaching Chevrolet’s police Nova – likely a prime motivator in Chrysler producing these. If memory serves, a periodic commenter here has mentioned their 1976 police Dart which had had its first life in or around Seattle.
1977 Ford Maverick
Like the Dart, a police specification Maverick was introduced for its last year of production. Complaints about the Maverick were so rampant Ford ceased production after making only 350 of them, leading to theories these may be the rarest Ford police cars ever. Such a Maverick sounds like this was not one of Ford’s better ideas.
While it is easy to find pictures of police outfitted Mavericks from all years, particularly in military use, Ford only offered them as such for one year.
1978 Mercury Marquis
Mercury had been offering cruisers on their full-sized cars for at least 20 years by this time, with states such as Indiana and Missouri taking frequent advantage of their bodacious-ness.
Yet by 1978 having a police cruiser with covered headlights and a brilliant red cloth interior just wasn’t the norm. This car was purchased new by the Missouri State Highway Patrol and was one of many they purchased that year. It is on display in a museum ten minutes from where I sit writing this.
As an aside, long ago I had a conversation with a Trooper who had once been assigned one of these Mercurys. He had just gotten fuel when he had a call that involved an extended chase. After apprehending the person, he realized he needed fuel again, so he checked his mileage. With his foot in the throttle during the chase, he had achieved 4 miles per gallon with his 460 (7.5 liter) powered Mercury.
1978 to 1980 Ford Fairmont and Mercury Zephyr
For the various resources I’ve used for this article, most of which have pictures of actual units during their service lives, the bulk of the Fairmonts appear to be found in western states. Is this indicative of anything? Likely not, although we at least know where some were used.
These tended to make a good deal of sense, especially if used in an urban area. Piloting one of these in a dense city would be easier to do than with the Mercury Marquis seen directly above.
1979 Buick LeSabre
With the preponderance of B-body Chevrolets used in police service, extending the package to the Buick wasn’t a big stretch. Powered by a 155 horsepower 350, testing by the Michigan State Police revealed acceleration to be lackadaisical with a blast to 100 mph taking 46.4 seconds – nearly twice that of the Chrysler Enforcer seen above.
These Buicks were used by the Missouri State Highway Patrol in 1979, along with the R-body Chrysler Newport. In the same testing in Michigan, it was found the 360 powered Newport made the same dash to 100 mph in 31 seconds.
While quite young at the time, I can remember these Buicks being in service.
1979 Chevrolet Camaro Z28
Due to the ongoing downsizing conflicting with the long-held dimension standards of the California Highway Patrol (the minimum wheelbase length of 122″ was held for a long time), a special vehicle study was conducted in 1979. Three Camaros were included in their mixture.
Axle gearing, brakes, and tires deviated from retail cars and all were powered by a 160 horsepower, four barrel 350 (5.7 liter) V8. Installation of police equipment, from lights to pushbars to the shotgun rack all posed unique challenges that were eventually overcome.
The results of the 18 month study were favorable for the Camaro, leading the Patrol to bid sport coupes for 1982. The Camaro Z28 was bid at $11,445 each; the Ford Mustang, powered by a 302 V8, was bid at $6,868.
They purchased 400 Mustangs.
1980 Chevrolet Citation
While they were all retail cars, the New York City Police did procure a number of 1980 Chevrolet Citations for patrol use. They were withdrawn from service within two months.
1980 and 1981 Mercury Marquis
Old habits die hard and Missouri had been purchasing Mercury patrol cars intermittently since the mid-1960s. That habit did not stop upon the full-sized Mercury being downsized for 1979.
Like the 1979 LeSabre, I remember when these were in service. There was also a series of public service announcements sponsored by KFVS, the CBS affiliate in Cape Girardeau, that featured Sgt. Joe Matthews and his downsized Mercury Marquis cruiser.
I vividly remember Sgt. Matthews, who appeared to be quite a formidable individual, politely reminding people to slow down and drive safely. While spoken in a very professional manner, one could easily read between the lines as Sgt. Matthews was really saying “Slow your ass down or we’ll make you regret the error of your ways.”
In the interest of full disclosure, my day-job is such that I have intermittent association with MSHP troopers, recently having had lunch with a group of lieutenants and the captain of a troop. They are a very dedicated and professional group of people.
1981 Chrysler LeBaron
While this was a one-year wonder M-body, providing an alternative to the M-body Dodge Diplomat, the few that were made took some high profile positions such as with New York City, the Nevada Highway Patrol, and the Wisconsin State Police.
They are so rare, it’s tough to find any decently sized picture of one. This one from Miami Beach, Florida, is the largest sized picture of an in-service LeBaron available.
Except for maybe this one – which I owned for a few years. It was originally from Florida.
Having a Chrysler name didn’t equate to it having a fancy interior.
1984 to 1986 Chevrolet Celebrity
Despite wearing Chevrolet’s “9C1” nomenclature for police vehicles, the Celebrity was intended for less vigorous, special service duties.
Powered by a 112 horsepower 2.8 liter V6 in 1984, the 9C1 Celebrity had a top speed of 110.2 mph as tested by the Michigan State Police. For comparison, the fastest full-size sedan they tested that year was the Plymouth Gran Fury whose four-barrel 318 pushed it to 121.4 mph.
Fuel injection was added for 1985 pushing the Celebrity’s top speed, again as tested by the Michigan State Police, to 116.1 mph – nearly two miles per hour faster than the 350 equipped Impala also tested that year – while getting 20.1 miles per gallon to the Impala’s 13.3.
As stated earlier, this list is not intended to be comprehensive or all-encompassing. There’s a lot to pick from and any attempt to harness everything about every Pontiac…
Buick (here from 1971), or…
Even Volvos used in the U.S. can get difficult. There has been a lot of availability of many different makes and models over the years.
But one thing is certain as the unusualness does make them all more memorable. And we didn’t even touch on wagons.
I forgot to add that these Mercury Marquis Meteors had dual exhaust too.
A co-worker in the early 1990s owned one of these ex RCMP Mercury Marquis Meteors.
A Rambulance? Ruh-roh, Rhaggy!
I remember RCMP IROC Camaros on the hi way in the early to mid nineties in my area
In my neck of the woods in Maryland in the late ’60s through ’80s, cops used almost exclusively big or mid-sized American cars from lowest-priced brands, meaning Fords, Plymouths (occasionaly Dodges or even Chryslers when a Plymouth version wasn’t available), or Chevrolets. AMC Ambassidors and Matadors were popular until they went away. Smaller cars were rare; the AMC Concord that issued me my first speeding ticket is the only Concord/et.al. cop car I’ve ever seen. I was born too late to see Stude police cruisers; the Martial was an Econ-O-Miler taxicab without the four-inch wheelbase extension for backseat riders. I did see some Studebaker Zip Vans delivering mail. For a few years in the early ’80s they used Olds 88s because the transmissions had become too weak on Chevys or something. No SUVs until 1997; it would have been interesting if they used SJ Wagoneers and Cherokees in the ”60s and ’70s now that police SUVs seem normal. We didn’t get the Fox Mustang cop cars but why didn’t Ford just put the 5.0 V8 and other upgraded parts into a four-door Fox body like the Fairmont, Granada, or LTD? (not unlike they later did with the civilian LTD LX). Also no cars from foreign-based manufacturers even now (unless you count Stellantis American-rooted cars).
An interesting variety. I remember the CHP Oldsmobiles and the Mercuries that came soon after; as a kid I thought it weird that they would use a “premium” brand instead of Chevy or Ford. In the late ‘70’s when I moved to Fremont, California, at the time home of a GM plant, the city PD used Colonnade Pontiacs which again seemed odd; why not Malibu’s? As for the pony cars, a big deal with the CHP Mustangs were that they were manual transmission. I chatted with a woman training officer at a sports car race who told me that a lot of the younger guys didn’t know how to drive a stick. This in the early ‘80s. When these Mustangs were common in CHP duty, the city of San Jose also got a few, but I don’t know if they were stick or automatic. The all-white CHP 3rd gen Camaro’s weren’t a common sight, and when I saw them they were always on rural freeways.
On recent travels out of the US, and watching a lot of European TV shows, I’ve noticed many Kia and Skoda police cars. In Mexico I saw only Chargers. When I travelled to Taiwan a lot in the late ‘9-‘s and early 2000’s, the highway patrol cars were an eclectic variety of Ford-badged Mazda 626’es, BMW 530i’s, and even Alfa 164’s.
In my neck of the woods in Maryland in the late ’60s through ’80s, cops used almost exclusively big or mid-sized American cars from lowest-priced brands, meaning Fords, Plymouths (occasionaly Dodges or even Chryslers when a Plymouth version wasn’t available), or Chevrolets. AMC Ambassidors and Matadors were popular until they went away. Smaller cars were rare; the AMC Concord that issued me my first speeding ticket is the only Concord/et. a. cop car I’ve ever seen.
I Idon’t remember seeing police SUVs until 1997. ‘50-79s SJ Jeep Wagoneers and Cherokees would have been interesting. Stude Marshals were Econ-o Miler taxicabs without the 4” wheelbase extension for extra rear seat room. These were long gone by the time I can remember, though there were still a few Studebake Ziip Vans delivering mail. I recall in the early ‘80s cops switched to Olds 88s because the transmissions Chevy was puttin into Impalas was too feeble. All police cars to this day seem to be from traditional American manufacturers (if you include Stellantis); not a Toyota or Honda to be found.
CC Effect… on the way to work this morning on I-71 South in Columbus, Ohio I was passed by a replica 1974 era big Dodge in Ohio State Patrol livery. Complete with a red popcorn popper style light on top! This would’ve been about 2 or 3 exits north of the OSP headquarters, so I figure he was on his way to some historical function there.
A Corvair police car? Really?
Ontario Provincial Police Bombardier B12. Beautiful mittens and mukluks. And nice snowshoes.
OPP checkpoint for 1972 Millhaven Maximum Security Prison break. I didn’t know the OPP were still using two doors this late.
Montreal Police Chevy Citation.
Weirdly optioned! The full-luxe wheelcovers and white stripe tires suggest it was pulled off the dealer’s lot but the silver rather than matching spoiler and bumper fillers suggest it was ordered to spec in a special fleet color rather than repainted locally – the paint shop would’ve left them in place and not cared if the blue flaked off in service!
Excellent observations. Does seem to have contradictory packaging. Do not recall seeing these at all in Montreal, at the time. Like New York, they may have had an especially limited service run.
Quebec Provincial Police 1982 Fairmont Futura.
Back in the early 1980’s I ran deliveries out on Sanibel Island. They were using both Fairmonts and Reliant K cars.
They each had a bumper sticker that read
If you’re in a hurry, you don’t belong on Sanibel!
I wonder if that cut down on the pursuits?!!
Loved the Camaro.
So many cool cop cars ! .
Last weekend I passed a 1956 Chevy four door in L.A.P.D. livery on the Northbound Harbor Freeway………
BMW gave the L.A.P.D. two (IIRC) tiny little panda cars that were electric .
Cops flat refused to drive them so they came to the Supply Dept. where the ladies were supposed to drive them to lunch etc., they still didn’t get much use .
-Nate
LOL compared to what our police were issued all those are rocket ships, my great uncle was in the NZ police joining just after WW2 they gave him a 46 Ford coupe flathead Mercury engine like all NZ post war US Fords, replaced by a MK1 Zephyr which wasnt faster but stayed on the road better replaced by a 58 MK2 Zephyr he bought when it was retired, a MK2 in good tune will break 90mph indicated but not in reality, but its hard to outrun the RT.
Last time I was pulled over 5 or 6 years ago the sheriff deputy was driving a Dodge Durango. Never seen that one until then, but I think Williamson county sheriff, Franklin and Brentwood PD have a few.
The oddball one now days is Metro Nashville PD and their Ford Taurus. Almost every other agency has moved onto the Explorer. And those Tauruses have some age on them now, I think its been 3 or 4 years since Ford turned out the lights on its passenger car division.
You forgot to include that Checker in your listing. I understand that the Chicago Police Department used them for a short while.