The Chevrolet Caprice is known for many things: long-lived, comfortable, and available with Corvette-grade power in later years. But it was also a staple of the American landscape, used for livery and police services for years. It seems that sometimes, the Panther platform sucks all of the air out of the room when it comes to recognizing just how embedded into the bedrock of society these big American sedans were. This particular Caprice is a former pursuit-spec police car, according to the seller, and it has been lightly restored to freshen up some rough cosmetics. The auction ends today so check it out soon if you’re interested.
If you’re like me and enjoy old police cars, you likely know how hard it is to find one with its department livery still attached. Most of these vehicles were scrubbed of any identifying signs as to which municipality they represented once retired, so finding one that escaped into the wild with the various decals and emergency equipment still attached is darn near impossible. The seller doesn’t tell us much about the story behind this Caprice or how it emerged with the shield of a town named “Frederick” still attached, but I’d love to know the details. Frederick, Maryland actually isn’t all that far from where I sit near Annapolis.
The radio equipment that clutters the center console area is all still present, along with the obvious light bars and spotlight on the exterior. Unlike the SSP Mustang we wrote up the other day where space was always a concern when trying to jam a police officer and his service belt into the cockpit, the Caprice (and the Crown Vic) offered plenty of room for police and perps alike. The interior of this Caprice is still in tidy condition, which is surprising for an ex-police car, and the driver’s seat shows surprisingly few signs of wear and tear. The bench in the back is cloaked in vinyl, which is also in good shape.
The seller claims they installed “…new headlights, taillights, grill, window felts, door handles and more,” which is a very specific list of improvements. I honestly wasn’t expecting to see the window felts have been replaced, but who knows – maybe they perished after years of outdoor storage. Now, as a 1993 model, this predates the most desirable year of a Caprice, as in 1994, the 5.7L LT1 became optional. In 1993, the larger 5.7L V8 saw a bump in power to 205, and while it certainly held its own, the current crop of pursuit vehicles would handily out-perform the old-school Caprice. Still, you’re buying this one for the rare opportunity to own a police car that hasn’t been returned to its plain-jane street clothes, and that alone is worth the price of admission. Check it out here on eBay.
Clean looking Caprice but it has 209 000 miles on it. Hard miles probably.
Fun cars these old cop sedans. Cowboy Cadillacs 🤠 👢
Last weeks Leno video on YouTube has a great segment on a cop car.
Panther platform was Ford..the superior copcar ;) total bias :P
I’d still like to have a n ex-police cruiser,but the
affordable ones are pretty used up.
Jeff,I didn’t know you lived in that area.We visited
it quite a few times when our oldest Son attended & graduated
the USNA (Naval Academy) there.
These were absolute rockets…in a straight line.
These Caprices looked so much better with the full rear wheel well open. The earlier versions had a half closed wheel well which made them look more bloated than they already are.
Nice looking car. I love these early 1990s Chevy Caprice and Caprice Classics. I’ve always loved police cars. I’d buy one if there was one near where I live. The only thing I’d do is have someone remove the police decoration and lighting. I’d have it inspected, to make sure everything on the car works like they should.
I can remember when the Seattle police first started getting them the wrecked a lot of them, because they had the anti lock brakes and the Dodge diplomats they were switching from didn’t so if multiple cars were heading to a call the Chevrolet would slow for a turn and the Dodge couldn’t slow fast enough not to hit them. Then there was the one that hit a power pole so hard they just cut the pole and towed it back to the shop with part of the pole in the engine bay
Great looking car these old Caprice are. I could do without the police livery. The 350 had decent low end torque and compared to the earlier 305s was almost a rocket.
Strip it for parts and squish it, it’s ugly.
Like on the later ’90s f-bodies & Pacer with too much glass, i would not want to drive 1 of these in the hot summer with broken a/c.
Tryin to picture what this bathtub big chevy would look like as a 2 door – probably why they didn’t make any, tho the 2 door “cousin?”
1989 Cadillac Solitaire concept looks interesting, but it has frameless side glass & hidden(or no) wipers.& i seen it in 1 or more sci-fi movies.
Do Police really listen to the factory radio(on this car) while on patrol? – if not, i guess chevy wanted the xtra money for it, or didnt have a cover plate for the resulting big hole in the dash?
That looks like a custom gage panel & those numbers for temp & oil press are there for a good reason!
Odd no barrier between the officer & crook.
Don, the 2 dr 1989 Caddy Solitaire & 4 door 1988 Cadillac Voyage cousin concept cars have covers on all 4 wheels! lol
Ended at $3,299.
Reserve Not Met.