From Mark M. – Last month I was at a car show and got a hot tip about some vintage police cars in a barn locally. I hear this a lot but usually its a clone or rust-bucket, but this time it was a HUGE WIN! When I got to this person’s “barn” (climate controlled taj-mahal), I found TWO rare squad car specimens.
The first is an 85 Dodge Diplomat, Factory Police unit from Illinois which never saw service (over ordered car), and the odometer showing only 23,000 miles!
The interior still smells brand new and the car has all of the police numbers and accessories.
The second is a 1977 Plymouth Gran Fury Factory police package that the previous owner began restoring as a New York State Police car.. HOWEVER it wasn’t correct?? I researched and found it to be a North Carolina Highway Patrol car and am setting out to return it to its former and original glory.
Nice cars. Looks like you only have 47 states to go. Good luck.
Not correct as a NYS Trooper car? I think the only issue would be color and logos.
Amazing how ex police cars went from being the bane of the used car lot to desirable vehicles in a few short years!
“Are you guys cops?”.
“No maam, we’re musicians.”.
Lmfao
We’re on a mission from God !
I once owned a 77 Plymouth Gran Fury North Carolina Highway Patrol Car, it was an unmarked unit with only 65,000 actual mi. I know they were actual because I knew the maintenance garage manager, and he told me they keep their units 65,000 mi. or 5yrs. whichever comes first. It had a 440 Magnum and was an optioned out Brougham model. It was a great running car, would pass everything but a gas station!
i love the look of the 72 in the first photo, bucket seats in the 85 and the green/black truck. it must be fun to drive/show them. great finds.
If you ever want to sell that Diplomat let me know!
Love the 85 Diplomat! I have been looking for this one for a while. Condition looks great and love the low mileage. Nice Find!!!
Any photos links for the ’72 Polara? Those push bars look like the real deal.
Heres a link for you.
http://spectr72.wix.com/sargedraft
Love those old MoPar squads! When I was in high school there was a 440 that was installed in at least three cars I knew of over a four year period – the original ’68 NYS Trooper Fury I, then a ’65 Coronet 500 that was dragged, then a friend’s ’64 Dodge 2 dr sedan street machine.
Speaking of original, are those blue and yellow Year of Manufacture NY plates on a California Highway Patrol car?
Yes sir……at first glance on the road people think its a cali plate, I do have the California Exempt plates for the car but they only go on at shows..!
I too have an original ’72 CHP Dodge Polara. It and 5 others were sold to a security business when CHP surplussed them out at 75,000 miles. All six were sold complete with lights, radio, whip antenna, push bar, shotgun holder, clipboard, etc even the original pursuit tires. Five were put into security duty and mine was parked to be used as a relief should one of the others break down. They didn’t so mine was never used. I bought it complete from the security business about 30 years ago. They contacted me to see if I was interested in buying the 440 engine and transmission as their plan was to make it into yard art and didn’t need the running gear in it. I talked them into selling me the entire car instead. The only thing missing are the CHP decals. Would like to see more photos of your ’72.
“It’s got a cop motor, a 440-cubic-inch plant. It’s got cop tires, cop suspension, cop shocks. It’s a model made before catalytic converters so it’ll run good on regular gas.”
Dan Aykroyd, aka, Elwood
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yil9wlfa0yo
I’m close to buying a 1971 Polara Sedan from my uncle. Bought brand new in 1971 by my great grandmother and has been in family since. Numbers matching 383-2 bbl auto. All original sheet metal and vinyl top and interior. He ran from the cops in it and it’s sat since the mid 1990s
Man sure glad I found this site. Just added a 87 Gran Fury ex NYC 40th pct to my car collection. Need help!!! I want to put period correct push bars on my Fury. Can’t find a set to save my life. Also, need help with a search light. Not an LED. Thx!!!