Chrysler offered B body police cars right from the first B body in 1962.
Both B and C body police cars (Plymouth and Dodge) were available to the end
of the body lines. The R body was available as a police car in 1979-81 and
was followed by the M body through to the end in 1989. Even the A body
Valiant and Dart were available as police cars in the 1970's as was the F
body Aspen and Volare.
Chrysler Newports could be purchased with the police package starting in
1961. Dodge at the time was the big supplier of police cars, but when they
decided to drop the big Dodge the police package moved over to Chrysler.
When Dodge came out with the 880 in 1963, the Chrysler police package faded
out.
Engine choices included all regular passenger car engines, including the
slant six when available, plus some special heavy-duty police package
engines. I remember the City of Winnipeg police department had some
six-cylinder 1969 Fury I 2-door sedan police cars for a while. Not all
police cars were used for highway chases, remember.
As to how to determine if it is a police car or not, during the late 1960's
and into the 1970's the second digit of the VIN would have a "K" for the
Police model. "T" was for taxi. Sales codes could include police car roof
wiring and reinforcement, dual zippered headlining, calibrated speedometer,
heavy-duty suspension, bigger brakes and wheels. Interiors were usually
plain heavy-duty vinyl - no pleats and the like.
>From 1969 through to at least 1980, "A38" was for the Police Package and was
on the data tag. Other codes were Y51 for the Ontario Provincial Police
and Y52 for the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.
Bill
Vancouver, BC
----- Original Message -----
From: "Jim Pristelski" <ajp002@xxxxxxx>
To: <L-FORWARDLOOK@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Tuesday, December 16, 2003 5:13 AM
Subject: Re: [FWDLK] Off Topic - Plymouth Police Car ID?
> A couple of additional points: Police cars were the larger size C body,
> usually the Fury I. I never saw a B body police car, but they were
> probably available. I believe that the police option also included
heavier
> duty wheels. Jim
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Jim Pristelski" <ajp002@xxxxxxx>
> To: <L-FORWARDLOOK@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> Sent: Tuesday, December 16, 2003 4:44 AM
> Subject: Re: [FWDLK] Off Topic - Plymouth Police Car ID?
>
>
> > Bill,
> >
> > My Dad was a Chrysler-Plymouth dealer back in this timeframe. I saw
some
> > of the special order police cars. They almost always came with the
small
> > "dog dish" hubcaps, but so did many other Satellites because the large
> > hubcaps were an option that cost around $15 extra. Of course, the
hubcaps
> > could also have been switched during the past 30 years.
> >
> > Of note is that the police cars often had special order paint in which
the
> > front fenders and rear quarters were a different color than the rest of
> the
> > car -- they came that way from the factory. If so, there should be a
> > special order paint code on the fender tag. I never saw a 6 cylinder
> > police car. Almost always, they were the 383 HP engine. All police
cars
> > that my Dad sold also had the police option (I would have no idea what
the
> > code number would be, but it should be on the fender tag), that included
> > heavy duty brakes (larger drums) and heavy duty suspension. Chrysler
> Corp
> > never supplied the flashing lights, siren, two-way radio etc, that was
up
> to
> > the police department to equip on the car.
> >
> > Best regards, Jim
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "Bill K." <pontiac@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> > To: <L-FORWARDLOOK@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> > Sent: Monday, December 15, 2003 9:13 PM
> > Subject: [FWDLK] Off Topic - Plymouth Police Car ID?
> >
> >
> > > Someone has offered a friend of mine a '70's Plymouth Satellite that
> they
> > > say is an ex-police car. Reason? It has small 'dog dish' caps. Now
it
> > is
> > > possible - I know where in a backyard rotting there is an ex-CHP '68
> > > Oldsmobile - but the guy might not know what he's talking about,
either.
> > >
> > > I just happened to wonder if there is anything to the VIN code on
these
> > that
> > > would ID them as a fleet order, or police special? I didn't see
> anything
> > > when I looked in my Chrysler book. He thought it might be worth
> getting
> > if
> > > it's for real, but without a motor if it's just an old 4-dr it's
> probably
> > > not worth saving.
> > >
> > > Probably better make sure the reply on this is off-list, but - if
there
> > are
> > > any specifics that apply to the Forward Look era cars in the same
> regard,
> > > that might be worth some list bandwidth.
> > >
> > >
> > > Thanks -
> > >
> > > Bill K.
> > >
> >
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