There are bonus points for ANY pre-fuel-injected 9C1 Caprice that had the air cleaner lid flipped over.
Essentially, turning the lid upside-down produced an inexpensive open-element air cleaner, with about a 3" gap between the base portion and the lid. The sound at WOT was magical. I even saw a used Caprice or Impala at a municipal auction once, and apparently the officers had learned this trick. There was a stern warning label on the dashboard that read: "DO NOT FLIP AIR CLEANER LID OVER!"
So, obviously, the guys who handled movie cars knew about this too. So in lots of '80s films where there was a Chevy cop car ("To Live in Die in LA" was the ultimate example), my friend and I would go nuts when we'd hear one on the big screen.
Usually, there was an split-second bog from the Quadrajet when it started sucking in all that air, then blammo!
Something like: "BWUH-WAUGGGHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!" as the car accelerated toward the camera. What made TLaDiLA so cool was that the stunt guy driving the car in the wrong-way freeway chase was on and off the gas all the time. "WAUGHH...WA...WA...WAAAAUUUUUGGGGHHHHHH!!!!" beating the engine and the rest of the car within an inch of their lives.
Unfortunatly, fuel injection kind of ruined the party.
@Jono: Yeah, it's also right up there with the "car wreck" where even if a car is just pulling out of a driveway, there's a whine, a squeal of brakes, and a crash with broken glass. Used constantly on TV.
The thing about the caprice that left me with the biggest impression was the rear seat legroom. I was never a small kid but always found rear seats to be small-kid sized, that rear seat seemed to have acres of room on tap.I was also impressed by how comfortable the seat was as well... even with my arms behind me.
Let me take a look at your menu there...
Yeah, three cheeseburgers, two large fries, two chocolate shakes and one large coke.
And some flapjacks.
...
Too early for flapjacks?
I appreciate the Capricegasm today, but isn't this a bit much just for the "Caprice" name? The Caprice only became a cop car in '86, when the Impala name was dropped and only lasted through '96.
Although, really, the model name is secondary on Chevy and Ford cop cars anyway, since they've changed so many times. No matter what you call them, though, for a twentysomething like myself the '77-'90 Chevy 9C1 and '79-'91 Ford LTD are pretty iconic cop cars - they're the first ones I remember and they were on the road forever.
If FromaBuick6 has to watch one more Chevy commercial, he's going to punch Howie Long in the face was starred
If FromaBuick6 has to watch one more Chevy commercial, he's going to punch Howie Long in the face was unstarred
Anybody else notice they give a prisoner in the backseat instant access to a shotgun and an assault rifle as a reward for busting through the divider? Awful sporting of the cops.
@skaycog: There are two of these in Military Police livery in my town that come out every year for the 4th of July parade. I think it should be somewhere on the list of the best looking cars of all time. Classic.
The 1994-1996 LT1 Caprices are where it's at it. The only thing we here in SoCal feared more were the CHP Camaros, and even the Camaro cops respected the top-end and sheer inertia that those Caprices could generate.
@pauljones: No point whatsoeva. I am in complete agreement with you. In hindsight I see how this might have seemed as some sort of critique of your statement but just ended up being a threadjack.
This being Jalopnik, the E30 chase popped in to my head. If anything the cops drove like a dipshit and the kid hooned it like Hakimullah Mehsud. The shoulder shrug fake that got the cop to crash the SS was pretty good to watch though...
@VeeArrrSix: Those darn E30s, always breaking down. Still, as the general public's cars increase in performance and handling, the performance and handling of some stolen vehicles will also increase. The police need a car that is faster, more fuel efficient and that can handle a corner or two.
Ahh yes, today has been a wonderful day for me. My first car was an '87 Caprice cop car, I believe I took ownership of this beast when it had some 120,000 miles on it. I only had it for a few years, and may have only put 30,000 miles on it or so, but I'm sure the aging beast felt like it was more around 100,000. None the less, this was one of the funnest vehicles I have ever owned, and it was definitely the only car I've owned that I felt could take the kind of abuse I wanted to give. Granted it could get stuck in the middle of a road with snow pack only 2 or 3" thick, but you learned to not stop. :) I will forever remember this car, as well as the constant antics performed in/around it. Snow, gravel, or tarmac, it just loved doing doughnuts and 360's...she will be missed.
10/06/09
Essentially, turning the lid upside-down produced an inexpensive open-element air cleaner, with about a 3" gap between the base portion and the lid. The sound at WOT was magical. I even saw a used Caprice or Impala at a municipal auction once, and apparently the officers had learned this trick. There was a stern warning label on the dashboard that read: "DO NOT FLIP AIR CLEANER LID OVER!"
So, obviously, the guys who handled movie cars knew about this too. So in lots of '80s films where there was a Chevy cop car ("To Live in Die in LA" was the ultimate example), my friend and I would go nuts when we'd hear one on the big screen.
Usually, there was an split-second bog from the Quadrajet when it started sucking in all that air, then blammo!
Something like: "BWUH-WAUGGGHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!" as the car accelerated toward the camera. What made TLaDiLA so cool was that the stunt guy driving the car in the wrong-way freeway chase was on and off the gas all the time. "WAUGHH...WA...WA...WAAAAUUUUUGGGGHHHHHH!!!!" beating the engine and the rest of the car within an inch of their lives.
Unfortunatly, fuel injection kind of ruined the party.
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You forgot the 2000-06 (generation eight) Impala 9C1.
The one in the tenth picture came in 2006 as the ninth generation.
10/05/09
10/05/09
Yeah, three cheeseburgers, two large fries, two chocolate shakes and one large coke.
And some flapjacks.
...
Too early for flapjacks?
10/05/09
Although, really, the model name is secondary on Chevy and Ford cop cars anyway, since they've changed so many times. No matter what you call them, though, for a twentysomething like myself the '77-'90 Chevy 9C1 and '79-'91 Ford LTD are pretty iconic cop cars - they're the first ones I remember and they were on the road forever.
10/05/09
Crown Vic: $$
Charger: $$$
Caprice: $$$$
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No, just me?
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I don't know if this has been posted earlier or not. This 1955 Chevrolet is definitely a part of police car history.
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There's also a lot more to a car chase than sheer speed, as the video illustrates.
10/05/09
This being Jalopnik, the E30 chase popped in to my head. If anything the cops drove like a dipshit and the kid hooned it like Hakimullah Mehsud. The shoulder shrug fake that got the cop to crash the SS was pretty good to watch though...
My apologies to all.
10/06/09
10/05/09