Retro Police Cars Offer Cheap Fun Performance
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These immortal words from Elwood Blues, spoken onscreen in The Blues Brothers in 1980, tipped off an entire generation to the benefits of buying an old police car: “It’s got cop tires, cop suspension, cop shocks.”
These law enforcement sedans—and occasionally coupes - opens in new window or tab.—have cruised the auction landscape for decades, and while most were ridden hard and put away wet, there are more than a few cream puffs out there to make the search for former law enforcement rides worth your while.
Why are ex-cop cars appealing to a certain subset of the gearhead populace? If you decode what Elwood was trying to say about the Dodge Monaco he deputized as the new Bluesmobile, you'll discover that police cars offer heavy-duty upgrades above the standard fare found on standard vehicles.
Take this 1977 Dodge Monaco - opens in new window or tab., for example, which is very similar to the model made famous by The Blues Brothers. On the surface, it’s not much to look at, with its flat-black paint scheme and under-the-radar sedan styling. Pop the hood, however, and you’ll find a 440-cubic inch V8 good capable of producing the stump-pulling torque needed for highway intercepts.
Four-hundred-forty cubic inches of fun await the buyer of this nondescript Dodge Monaco police car.
Sometimes the upgrades are more subtle. This 1985 Volvo 240 police model - opens in new window or tab. has certainly seen its performance hopped up by way of its 114 horsepower 2.1-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine—not much by current standards, but significantly quicker than entry-level editions of the Swedish sedan. The real benefits of a Volvo police package, however, are found in the chassis department, where its stock springs and shocks have been swapped out for heavy duty units capable of taking a beating and maintaining pursuit, and stiffer front and rear swaybars installed to better control body roll.
No one would suspect that this Volvo 240 police package car is sitting on a high performance suspension system.
Police package cars have even inspired hot rodders to mix and match different eras in an effort to build the ultimate combination of style and substance. Consider this 1954 Mercury Monterey - opens in new window or tab. (shown at the top of this page), which at first glance looks like a faithful homage to the kind of police cruiser that might have pulled duty on the streets of Andy Griffith’s Mayberry.
Take a closer look and you’ll find that it’s riding on a 2004 Ford Crown Victoria Police Interceptor platform, which features a full suite of heavy-duty components to go with its 4.6-liter fuel injected V8. It’s a build that offers modern-day reliability packaged with plenty of retro design fun. Just make sure you don’t use its twin-spotlights on the highway or you might attract attention from actual cops who will likely write you a very real ticket.
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This article is meant to provide general guidance only. Automotive maintenance, repair, upgrade, and installation may depend on vehicle-specifics such as make and model. Always consult your owner's manual, repair guide for specific information for your particular vehicle and consider a licensed auto-care professional's help as well, particularly for advance repairs.