Throughout the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s, Chrysler did a big business providing patrol cars to various law enforcement agencies across the country. Dodge seemed to be the product of choice by many and in 1968 it was the Polara that was ordered by the California Highway Patrol. This long-retired example wears its original service paint and has a rebuilt engine and transmission (both numbers matching), though neither is in the automobile. This could be an interesting restoration project if you can find the right use for the vehicle.
While this car’s history after the CHP isn’t mentioned, one of the photos shows it wearing faded blue paint at one time. That has been carefully stripped off to get back to the CHP black and white color scheme. Besides the drivetrain, a lot of pieces have already been rebuilt or replaced, including the fuel tank, radiator, and ignition components. Some period-correct CHP hardware has also been sourced, including the spotlights, cop radio, siren, shotgun bracket, and more.
We assume the rebuilt engine is a 440 cubic inch V8 and the transmission a TorqueFlite automatic transmission (heavy duty for police work?). The vehicle has been registered as “non-op” in California so no back fees should apply to in-state buyers. I remember here in Florida that you could buy one of these cars when they went out of service for only a few hundred dollars. And you could still bury the needle with one!
As mentioned, you’ll need a purpose for restoring this police vehicle, such as renting it out to production studios to use in the filming of vintage movies set in the 1960s/1970s. The car is currently at a shop in Santa Cruz, California, and is available here on eBay. The current bid is $3,050 but the reserve is unmet. But if you buy and restore it, don’t try to give out any speeding tickets!
That would be a really cool project car.
I remember when I was in grade school,a CHP
officer brought a 1965 Dodge cruiser over to show
us (the CHP station was next door to the school).
I can still recall the sound of horsepower as it idled,
like it had a radical cam in it!
“It’s got a cop motor, a 440 inch plant, cop tires, cop suspension, cop shocks, what do you say”? “Fix the lighter”,,,
Cool car. Likely not many exist. The exhaust manifold on picture #6 doesn’t look like the HP manifolds used on the performance B and RB engines.
It’s unique, but won’t be cheap, nor should it be. The last time the seller ran it through an eBay auction the high bid was $6,138.87 but didn’t meet reserve.
Steve R
Love the White CHP steering wheel
Man, I used to hate it when these lit up your rear view mirror…
Lot worse now – any police vehicle’s lights are so bright they would light up a whole neighborhood & everyone lookin out their window would see you – pulled over. Enough lights/brightness on any 1 current police vehicle for the entire 1968 police fleet! Ridiculous.
& those LED lights can vary from too bright to inSANEly bright. Regarding the latter, once i was tempted to yell out to the cop as i passed ,”adjust those damn lights or shut them off! you almost blinded me!”. But i was afraid he might come after me – instead. lol
Where’s Broderick Crawford when you need him?
He wants 14K.
Don’t you think that we’ve taken this ”collector car” thing a little too far?
Umm……..specially engineered and ordered high performance car, about as rare as 60’s era super stock cars. CHP units were designed to run a constant 100 MPH for 100 miles in 100 degree desert weather. No more than a handful left in existence. Seems collectable to me.
The New York State police ran 440 powered Fury I’s in ‘68, and there were a lot of decommissioned trooper cars around my hometown. I knew of a 440 that powered at least three vehicles: the original ‘68 Fury I, then a ‘65 Coronet 500 that was drag raced, then my friend’s ‘64 Dodge 330 post sedan.
This looks a lot like the 68 NJ state police cruiser I bought wrecked to take the 440 out of and put into my 65 sport fury after my brother blew up is 383
We added a 6 pack set up to it and shift kit and that car was a street race demon
Polished off lots a muscle cars with that baby
New Jersey State Police used the 68 Ford Custom I thought and I uess the 68 Polara as well.
It was actually a fury not a dodge polara but looked like this from the side
There’s a reason why so many police, fire, and taxi companies used Mopars! I had a friend years ago who was PA State Police, back when they had the 72-73 Furys with 440 interceptors. He loved those cars. Then they gave him a Malibu, which cut his patrol time in half. He said it had to be shopped at least once a week for something. Another guy I once knew, a VA statie, has/had a ’72 Polara with the same engine that he bought from Virginia when they retired it. How many cops buy their cars when they’re retired?!
New Jersey Turnpike had a number of ’68 Monaco wagons that were 440 equipped, and had pusher bars on them. Always hoped to see one. Does anyone know if any of them survived?
This was the king of the pursuits, with a top speed of 148 mph. It wasn’t surmounted until the mid-late 1990s B-body Caprice, with reverse cooling system LT-1and 4L65E finally surpassed it. At one time,There was a limited but fanatical market of Police Cars enthusiasts, until the rear wheel drive cars went away. Then, cars like The Impala SS on a 9C1 Caprice police chassis or the Mercury Marauder on a Ford Panther Interceptor Chassis proved to young families that Interceptors and Pursuits were muscle cars that could carry the wife & kids. The Charger Pursuits continued that tradition until last year.
Now just to be clear, who did you say was surmounted here?
god bless the 440.
These former CHP units are unlike other police package cars. They were special order and co designed by CHP engineers. I own and 61 Polara, and just love it. 6 grand seems to be the right price point considering what has to be done to bring it back to in service condition and still remain above water on value. I have seen restored units priced in the 60K range…..but they never sell.
Of course they never sell! I can’t imagine that the market for a mid sixties full size four door sedan is particularly hot. Frankly, I’m quite surprised at the amount of attention this thing has received.
I was looking a website about CHP cruisers,& was amazed
to find out that they didn’t have A/C until (I believe) the lte ’60’s.
I can’t imagine an officer down in Southern California driving
one in the desert.
Even worse, patrolling in humid south Florida – in august.
The right use? Paint it yellow, sell the 440 to a street racer, swap in a Slant 6 and head out looking for fares!
Well, maybe if this was 1972.
I live in the area of Ca where Dirty Mary and Crazy Larry was filmed, this would be awesome at car shows here. If that car could talk!!