The Fast Blue Line: A Powerful Caprice Police Pursuit Vehicle
Performance
Classics
American
Have you ever wanted a four-door Camaro? Here’s your chance. No, really. This 2014 Chevrolet Caprice PPV, recently listed on eBay, rides on the same platform as the Camaro of the period. And a powerful 6.0-liter LS-series V-8 drives the rear wheels.
Chevrolet only sold the car here as a police cruiser—those PPV letters stand for Police Pursuit Vehicle. But, as patrol cars age, they find their way into driveways.
item 1 of 15
Chevrolet Caprice PPV: Detroit Muscle, Down Under
In some ways, the 1990s were dark days for American big-car enthusiasts. Full-size sedans from GM and Ford began to disappear. They were victims of fuel economy standards and our increasing appetites for all things SUV. And yet, in Australia, the big V-8 sedan thrived—built locally by Ford and by Holden - opens in new window or tab., the local General Motors subsidiary.
GM saw the demand for these cars in America. So beginning in 2004, rebadged Holden Monaros and Commodores became the Pontiac GTO - opens in new window or tab. coupe and the Pontiac G8 - opens in new window or tab.. A few years later, after the Pontiac brand bit the dust, the US saw a new generation of Aussie imports with this Caprice PPV and later the limited-production Chevrolet SS.
Most of these Australian imports were powered by the legendary LS V-8 - opens in new window or tab., making them righteous muscle cars.
The compact, lightweight LS engine is powerful and easy to modify—sometimes beyond reason. Over the past two decades, the LS has become synonymous with serious performance.
As found in this Caprice PPV, the LS-series engine is the L77. It’s a six-liter, aluminum-block V-8 producing around 355hp, driving the rear wheels via a six-speed automatic transmission. While for many, that’s plenty of horses, units with additional ponies are widely available on eBay.
A Hard-Working Interior
No, it’s not luxurious inside. It’s built to handle the rigors of all-day police work, and that’s it. So the front seats wear hard-wearing cloth, with the rears wearing vinyl. The center console carries a metal plate meant to mount all the necessary electronics for patrol.
No big deal. It’s a well-priced four-door sedan that can bring a huge grin to the face of anyone who drives it. We’d love to toss a set of sticky tires - opens in new window or tab. on it and head to a track day.
While civilian models were also available in the States—see the Chevrolet SS, like the Pontiac GTO and G8 before—the Caprice PPV for sale on eBay is comparatively a bargain next to those limited-production sedans. It’s possibly the cheapest way to get four-door LS thrills.
About the author
Share your feedback
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.