I’m a big fan of vintage police cars that have retained all of their in-period livery and decor. Regardless of the specific make or model, this is a hard car to come by because so many were stripped of their identifying qualities once retired and sent to auction. This 1983 Plymouth Gran Fury is a former New York State Police car with a documented history that has survived with its iconic yellow and navy paint scheme intact, a color combo that NYS Troopers still use today. This Plymouth is listed here on eBay with bids to $12,100 and the reserve unmet.
The Gran Fury was a familiar site in the 1980s as a local and state police vehicle, but relatively few seemingly survived intact. Of course, many were simply retired and returned to normal passenger vehicle use with no marking intact, so who knows how many were just put into service as a commuter car and scrapped like any other old sedan? Movies like The Blues Brothers also made mincemeat out of remaining inventory, and while that ultimately represented just a small part of the national stock of Gran Fury cop cars, it certainly didn’t help with survival.
Yes, the Monaco was the predominant vehicle destroyed in that movie, but plenty of Gran Furys were sacrificed as well. This one was bought by a private owner when it was retired from the police force with just 74,000 miles on the clock. The current owner bought it from that individual and it both caretakers have placed an emphasis on preservation. The Gran Fury retains all of its A38 police package-spec bits, including a 318 – 4 bbl engine, 727 automatic transmission, 125 mph speedometer, manual fast idle, and ticket light.
You have to appreciate the effort that has gone into keeping this police car in such remarkable shape. No mention is made of a respray, so I’m choosing to believe this paint is authentic. Other photos show a remarkable amount of originality, including a Kustom Hawk radar that was apparently the radar system of choice when this Gran Fury was active. The seller notes that it has been on display in a museum and used in multiple car shows and parades, always drawing a crowd. I’m sure it will continue to be a crowd-pleaser with its next caretaker.
These rugged Mopar police pkg cars..Gran Fury, Diplomat, Caravelle….Not fast, but fast enough🚨
I may or may not have outrun a couple of these back in the day…so maybe fast enough or not.
Carry on please Duke 🎙 lol
All the cops that thought themselves smart about car stuff started flipping the air intake cover-don’t know if it made them any faster but you sure could hear them coming!
Here’s a show you might like to see some time, Jeff, if you’re anywhere near central California at the time-
https://www.riponmenloparkpolicecarshow.com/
I know a retired Nevada Highway Patrol trooper that bought the NHP Camaro he drove before retirement; he shows up every year with the all the authentic equipment still intact!
Growing up in 1980s NY, you definitely didn’t want to see this in your review mirror. Really cool find.
I am wondering if this COULD be street-legal in New York, given its obvious obsolescence, out-dated police radio (that would not work to contact the police to-day) and no longer used radar system. Obviously, if you attempted to pull someone over with lights and siren, you would be in heap big trouble. But just to CRUISE in it? I don’t know. If you live in New York State (as I do), I would imagine that your driving the highways and byways in this vehicle would cause OTHER drivers to keep within the speed-limit! (except for motorcyclists and Canadiens on the Northway who drive at about 140 m.p.h. with inpunity, RIGHT PAST cop-cars patrolling that road between Rouse’s Point and Glens Falls! Wonder what the current speed-limit is in Quebec?
That yellow-over-blue paint job brings back memories.
Bad memories
“Step out of the car, please…”
It’s not street-legal with those state police labels and equipment. Enjoy looking at it, but that’s as far as you’re getting.
Jeff – it says right in the ad the car was repainted in 2011….
Devil is in the details…
The last time the seller listed the car on eBay, the auction ended on July 2nd, 2026, the high bid was $17,600 which did not meet reserve. There was a BIN price of $25,000.
It would have nice for the seller to let potential bidders know if the car is street legal in New York in its current configuration.
Steve R
Those cars had way better leg room in the back not like the Malibus or Ford Expeditions they use nowadays.
Are you speaking from experience?
Someone had to ask….
LOLOLOL!!!!
Oh boy, NOW I’m starting to sweat, thanks Jeff, if I can repay you with some unpleasantness from YOUR past, just let me know. Just kidding, I know, what, Mr. Memory Lane can’t handle a little panic? Nah, any shenanigans that I incurred in my trucking years, surely have expired by now. Wait, with “AI”, maybe not. What? A bad mud flap, that was 40 years ago,,:D
,Ex-police cars seem to be a big draw here for some reason. Let me tell you son, well it ain’t no fun, in the back seat of a car with no inside door handles. The fun stops there. Relax, I never got “hauled into jail”, something I’m actually proud of considering my past, mostly because I was always cordial and polite to any LEO, and it worked wonders. I knew hooligans that would argue with the cop and get in worse trouble. I guess cops did use Gran Furys, just not with cushy seats and vinyl tops.
Like all my views on these, I believe Fred is correct, it has to have “out of service” or something, and depending on the mood of the LEO,,”you could be in a heap o’ trouble, son” I read, impersonating an officer has dire consequences, from a misdemeanor and jail time up to 180 days, to a felony 5 years in prison and thousands in fines., again, depending greatly on the officer. Besides, you want someone come running up to you screaming bloody murder,,HELP!!,let a real cop handle that. I remember these well, especially in a pursuit, they really hauled aXX. You best move over, cop on your tail “advertising”( lights a flashing) not that I’d be in the left lane anyway. A salute to our LEOs, they have an incredibly difficult job, and isn’t going to get any easier anytime soon.
Oh boy, NOW I’m starting to sweat, thanks Jeff, if I can repay you with some unpleasantness from YOUR past, just let me know. Just kidding, I know, what, Mr. Memory Lane can’t handle a little panic? Nah, any shenanigans that I incurred in my trucking years, surely have expired by now. Wait, with “AI”, maybe not. What? A bad mud flap, that was 40 years ago,,:D
,Ex-police cars seem to be a big draw here for some reason. Let me tell you son, well it ain’t no fun, in the back seat of a car with no inside door handles. The fun stops there. Relax, I never got “hauled into jail”, something I’m actually proud of considering my past, mostly because I was always cordial and polite to any LEO, and it worked wonders. I knew hooligans that would argue with the cop and get in worse trouble. I guess cops did use Gran Furys, just not with cushy seats and vinyl tops.
Like all my views on these, I believe Fred is correct, it has to have “out of service” or something, and depending on the mood of the LEO,,”you could be in a heap o’ trouble, son” I read, impersonating an officer has dire consequences, from a misdemeanor and jail time up to 180 days, to a felony 5 years in prison and thousands in fines., again, depending greatly on the officer. Besides, you want someone come running up to you screaming bloody murder,,HELP!!,let a real cop handle that. I remember these well, especially in a pursuit, they really hauled aXX. You best move over, cop on your tail “advertising”( lights a flashing) not that I’d be in the left lane anyway. A salute to our LEOs, they have an incredibly difficult job, and isn’t going to get any easier anytime soon.
Staff, what was it THIS time? You know, it was a long comment, and I’m sure I’m not the only one with comments that don’t make it. Why is that? I’m asking the staff in public ,,why is that? Nothing ever seems to be done about that, it’s incredibly frustrating. Guess I need something better to do WITHOUT the aggravation. Out.
We spent hours on this last time and actually did fix the issue. Are you logging in before commenting?
Thanks for trying, but no potato. Apparently it’s not fixed, and several others also have problems posting. Being in the “hills”, and zero confidence in our cable provider, it could very well be on my end. Something I write, and I’m very careful about that now, seems to trigger the “filter”, whatever that is, and I just can’t get past it. Thanks again.
You might outrun my old Chevrolet…. but you can’t outrun my old 2way…. radio, that is……
“… iconic yellow and navy paint scheme intact, a color combo that NYS Troopers still use today.” Sorry, but about the only yellow (gold) one sees on today’s NYS cruisers is in the lettering!
Went into service the month and year I turned 18. Miss those days when the cops actually drove real cars.
The newer ones of any brand still have presence and honestly more speed and better handling (I’ve owned newer and older) but unfortunately the newer stuff is loaded with electronics. I think my favorite as far as looks goes was a 1983 Crown Victoria Arizona Highway Patrol units. Mine had the biggest engine available that year. 351 Windsor V8. Just a really cool body style :)
They don’t have much presence from where I’m standing. I’m sure they’re faster and handle better but I’d still take one if these.
I can respect your opinion. Just like in the classic case of Ford vs Chevy. You like what you like and don’t like what you don’t like. I completely get it.
https://www.barstoolsports.com/blog/3573100/ranking-every-state-police-vehicle-from-the-2026-best-looking-cruiser-contest
This car is usually at the New York State Fair. Parked next to a brown Diplomat that belongs to a gentleman from Binghamton. They seem to run pretty well. Best ones to pick up are the thruway cars. Not all beat and highway miles. I’d love to have one but my wife would probably divorce me! Good luck with the auction
This car is usually at the New York State Fair. Parked next to a brown Diplomat that belongs to a gentleman from Binghamton. They seem to run pretty well. Best ones to pick up are the thruway cars. Not all beat and highway miles. I’d love to have one but my wife would probably divorce me! Good luck with the auction
When I was a diesel jock I spent a gazillion miles between all corners of the Empire State. The best part of these cars was the high rise lightbar and the yellow being the top color. These guys couldn’t hide anywhere. You ALWAYS saw them. In New England, I bought a plain-clothes version of the Grand Fury. It wasn’t hot off the line like some other Big Three products, but it was real agile. With the right suspension and tires, it was hard to beat.
I am wondering if this COULD be street-legal in New York, given its obvious obsolescence, out-dated police radio (that would not work to contact the police to-day), and no longer used radar system. Obviously, if you attempted to pull someone over with lights and siren, you would be in heap big trouble. But just to CRUISE in it? I don’t know. If you live in New York State (as I do), I would imagine that your driving the highways and byways in this vehicle would cause OTHER drivers to keep within the speed-limit! (except for motorcyclists and Canadiens on the Northway who drive at about 140 m.p.h. with inpunity, RIGHT PAST cop-cars patrolling that road between Rouse’s Point and Glens Falls! Wonder what the current speed-limit is in Quebec?
Harrison, I can guarantee with great confidence that all the Canadian driver’s here in North Florida drive like they’re scared out of their wits. They live in the right lane at 100 km and they stay there. The limit here on I-95 is 70, but let’s say that’s a suggestive guideline. If you do the speed limit, you’ll get rear ended.
I’m a huge fan of ex law enforcement vehicles. Heavy duty suspension and cooling system bigger alternators to keep the battery happy because of all the police related electronics. I’ve owned several and bought and sold a few too. Despite it’s age and the fact that it says New York State Police I can honestly say that the combination of the light bar and especially saying State Police, no matter which state, definitely wouldn’t fly trying to drive it as is in several states. Yes it is very nice and I really like these body styles, the seller is EXTREMELY optimistic on their price. Yes I know a 318 is a good engine and the old expression you can’t outrun the radio. I really think a 360 would be a better choice. This from a person that really likes Mopar, I have a retired Charger police unit and more than a few Mopar products and several retired LEO vehicles. Yes I think the seller is very optimistic.
Not sure why there so much chatter about being able to drive it on the street. Put a canvas bag over the light bar, and magnetic “out of service” signs over the NYST writing – Bob’s your Uncle – not complicated, and not expensive.
Hadn’t THOUGHT of that!