Canadian Chevrolet Caprice Classic Cop Car
Discussion
I can’t lie, the cars are one of the factors that drew me to give living in Canada a try. Here In Saskatchewan there is no annual vehicle inspections , insurance is government run and very cheap even for a newcomer, fuel is 66p per litre and the sounds of American V8s burbling by is a regular occurrence. And yet despite checking classified ads to the point of obsession, it had been over a year I’ve been here and still no V8.
Thing is, with no annual mot like inspection, cheap fuel and insurance, there is virtually no reason to ever sell a car here… or maintain a car here for that matter. Prices are sky high compared to the UK, vehicle condition is rock bottom and with a population barely larger than Southampton sprawled across 2.5 times the land mass of the UK and ZERO public transport linking cities, the realities of buying a car in Saskatchewan are totally different compared to the UK.
I walked away from two Oldsmoible Auoras (ok but a bit bland and FWD), a Jeep Commander that had fist sized holes in the sills, blown shock absorbers and every warning light imaginable and a Grand Marquis aka Ford Crown Victoria that was advertised as mint but ended up having a cracked windscreen, scrapes down the side and only 3 matching wheels. Oh and of course, a engine management light (EVERY car in Canada seems to have a engine management light on). I had all but given up until I saw this car advertised for $3500cad or around £1900
Its a 1995 Chevrolet Caprice Classic 9C3 Detective spec car. It has a 260hp (on 87 octane) LT1 5.7 similar to the one used in the Corvette of this era mated to a 4L60-E 4 speed slush-o-matic dropped into a ladder frame from 1959 (yes, really) and had a 90s jellymould "upside down bathtub" body dumped over it. Its both simultaneously awful and fantastic all at the same time. I absolutely love it
The condition for a 30 year old Canadian police car with 162,000 miles is remarkable. It was in police service until 2002 when it was sold to the second owner, an ex police mechanic who kept it for 23 years and only did 10,000km in it in the last 13 years. Aside from it missing one of the intake resonators and having the whole filled in with a hockey puck (how canadian is that!?) it is totally standard including the $400 optional spoiler (which appears to be made of steel) and police spec black and chrome wheels.
Really lucky to get a detective spec car, has a upgraded cooling package, posi Limited slip diff, "heavy duty" suspension, 4 wheel disc brakes (fancy) and some other goodies over a civilian model, but with a proper interior and not in white.
There are a few jobs that need doing here and there, most notably a slight misfire underload, the thermostat is stuck open and some of the steering gear ball joints are leaking grease but nothing major.
I thought I'd do a reader's thread to chronical my journey with the car, I hope you enjoy
TheWokeBlob said:
Really lucky to get a detective spec car, has a upgraded cooling package, posi Limited slip diff, "heavy duty" suspension, 4 wheel disc brakes (fancy) and some other goodies over a civilian model, but with a proper interior and not in white.
You are Elwood Blues AICMFP! Love it!
If you hadn't stated that the frame was 1950s in origin, I'd have said that Chevrolet spent all its development dollars on the chassis and suddenly realised they hadn't designed a body, so hastily put one together to cover all the oily bits. But given the car's origins, it's tempting to wonder what they'd been doing for 40 or so years.
If you hadn't stated that the frame was 1950s in origin, I'd have said that Chevrolet spent all its development dollars on the chassis and suddenly realised they hadn't designed a body, so hastily put one together to cover all the oily bits. But given the car's origins, it's tempting to wonder what they'd been doing for 40 or so years.
My first visit to the USA in the 80's I was given one of these (previous squarer shape) to potter around in for 3 weeks by the company. This was mid winter in Pennsylvania, so a tad low grip on the roads. Worst car I have ever driven. It felt like it had 50BHP out of the stonking V8.
I rented an Z28 Camaro for the weekend to keep me sane. yeh ha.
I rented an Z28 Camaro for the weekend to keep me sane. yeh ha.
Thank you for the replies everyone glad to see there is some interest in this old blue whale
The amount of aftermarket support is absolutely mind boggling, probably because people have been modifying the platform for almost 70 years now!
. Gearing is about 55MPH in first and it goes rapidly down hill from there. The fact some considered this a ""muscle car"" or a """4 four corvette""" is genuinely hilarious. I wouldn't see where a 530d went...
~440 350-cubic-inch plant. It's got cop tires, cop suspension, cop shocks 
That's not an optical illusion, bad angle or the fact my car has been smashed - They're all like that, from factory
StuntmanMike said:
Saturday night and I m downtown, working for the FBI 
That does look cool, bet its a great cruiser.
Any plans for it?
I'm caught between wanting to modify (ruin) the heck out of it, but also everyone at work has told me to leave it stock as I won't find a cleaner one so it's a bit of a dilemma.That does look cool, bet its a great cruiser.
Any plans for it?
The amount of aftermarket support is absolutely mind boggling, probably because people have been modifying the platform for almost 70 years now!
macron said:
Genius! Is it in any way fast?!
Absolutely not . Gearing is about 55MPH in first and it goes rapidly down hill from there. The fact some considered this a ""muscle car"" or a """4 four corvette""" is genuinely hilarious. I wouldn't see where a 530d went...soad said:
Needs a twin exhaust.
Twin exhaust standard on LT1 cars APPARENTLY. Speaking of which it is VERY muted. Colleagues at work have small block Chevys with exhausts in various stages of falling off and they sound evil, this? Way quieter and smoother than my old x300 jaguar XJBill said:
You are Elwood Blues AICMFP!
It's got a cop motor, atog said:
Love it. Tire sidewalls look bigger than the wheels!
225/70/15s ha. bangerhoarder said:
If I listen very carefully, late at night, I can hear the sound of its tyres squealing on the westerly winds.
I hope you drive it like that everywhere!
Not too much tyre squealing on the gravel roads here even if you're being a bit naughty I hope you drive it like that everywhere!
Turbobanana said:
Love it!
If you hadn't stated that the frame was 1950s in origin, I'd have said that Chevrolet spent all its development dollars on the chassis and suddenly realised they hadn't designed a body, so hastily put one together to cover all the oily bits. But given the car's origins, it's tempting to wonder what they'd been doing for 40 or so years.
It's absolutely shocking isn't it? I think what sums the car up is how the rear wheels sit completely off center in the wellsIf you hadn't stated that the frame was 1950s in origin, I'd have said that Chevrolet spent all its development dollars on the chassis and suddenly realised they hadn't designed a body, so hastily put one together to cover all the oily bits. But given the car's origins, it's tempting to wonder what they'd been doing for 40 or so years.
That's not an optical illusion, bad angle or the fact my car has been smashed - They're all like that, from factory
fttm said:
Where you based OP , looks like Speed Creek area ? Qu'appelle valley myself
Good eye! I am indeed in swift, small world!
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