Beater of the Day: 1989 Chevrolet Caprice 9C1 Police Package
How could we possibly deny featuring a retired police Caprice that goes by the name of Big Momma? We can't. We tried, but it was useless.
Owned by Autoblog reader 787B (an admitted Wankel-lover), Big Momma's main use is to schlep a race-ready RX7 to and fro, along with all the prerequisite track day goodies – 5,000 pounds worth.
Big Momma is optioned out with all the law enforcement-required kit and since we couldn't put it better ourselves, we'll quote her owner's Flickr description: "...she has a thicker cop frame, fuel-injected 350 cop V8, massive cop brakes, thick cop anti-sway bars, cop oil cooler, cop trans cooler, cop 'bucket' seats, cop 3.42 gears, cop 3-core radiator, cop 120A alternator, cop shocks, cop springs, and cop attitude. She's ugly, she knows it [and] she's angry about it!"
He's also added some performance springs, Bilstein shocks and Airlift airbags to keep the weight distribution a bit more manageable. Unfortunately, Big Momma's cholesterol count got the better of her and that "fuel-injected 350 cop V8" finally gave in after 176,000 miles of dutiful service. But don't cry for Big Momma, she's getting a heart transplant soon.
Be sure to check out the pics after the jump (along with directions on how to submit your own ride), including one of the best sagging headliner solutions yet and, at the risk of overloading Mr. 787B's server, check out Big Momma's website here.
Staples. Who woulda thunk it?
Yes, that an entire rotory engine AND transmission shoved into the trunk. Gotta love 'em B-bodies.
How to submit to RR of the Day:
Create a Flickr account if you don't already have one. Search for and join the group called 'Autoblog RR of the Day'. Upload up to three photos of your ride to your own account at a size no larger than 450 pixels wide if possible and include as much information about it and yourself as possible. Even if your ride is sweet, it will not be chosen if there's not a lot of info accompanying it. Click on each photo and just above the picture it will say "Send to group". Click that and select the Autoblog group. You're done, that's it!
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
gkz 10:46AM (2/09/2007)
well, this may be the first post on autoblog to make me start laughing. the pic of the car on the autocross course (and the one of the broken window on the owner's website) is just too damn funny.
on another note... i realize the replacement 350 makes excellent economical sense, but just imagine how cool it could be with a new 572 crate engine and a giant hole cut out of the hood for an excessively large carb and air filter... just a thought...
Reply
jscro 11:20AM (2/09/2007)
Why is this a beater? This should be in the normal Readers Ride column.
Reply
Chris 11:43AM (2/09/2007)
Great site; fell off my chair laughing at the headliner fix; my family has had at least 3 GM cars with that issue.....
Reply
aman 11:44AM (2/09/2007)
Sweet ride. I agree about the 572 crate thing. give it a hurst 4-speed and rwd, this thing will run around the track faster than the rx-7 it's towing.
P.S. that thing should be in the beater of the day column too.
Reply
Phil L. 12:10PM (2/09/2007)
Sadly, no more RWD sedans - or any-WD, for that matter - rated to tow 5000 pounds anymore...
Reply
John Colvin 2:33PM (2/09/2007)
This place has got everything.
Reply
Justin 12:21PM (2/09/2007)
I love this car. I grew up in a 1983 Caprice Classic with police package. My favorite part were those giant "rammers" attached to the already massive bumper.
I used staples on the ceiling of my 1986 grand am i used to own. Classic fix. Works too!
This is a great post. I'm glad it's getting fixed and kept alive.
Reply
787B 1:08PM (2/09/2007)
I'm famous! My server should stand up to the onslaught...
Gkz: I seriously considered a 383 or GM PerPo crate engine. Problem is I have to pass IM-240 emissions, and those engines are a few grand. The replacement 350 was $300.
"Why is this a beater?" Because I beat the /snot/ out of it every day on the commute to work, the trunk fills with water when it rains, there are multiple outie dimples on the rear quarters from where junk in the trunk has tried to exit it during many a hard corner, and the trunk lid is held together with rust. Not to mention the stained carpet and lovely custom office-staple headliner.
Aman: Easy there! The RX-7 is a race car, so yeah, it's a beater too...
Reply
Moose 1:23PM (2/09/2007)
...and for those Mazda spec 24 hours du Monde, I'll bet the cop search light makes for a brightly lit pit nite lite (say it 10 times, fast). Not that those early, non-turboed Wankels ever need help. Brilliant!
Reply
Phil L. 1:29PM (2/09/2007)
787B -
Great tow setup; weight distributing hitch and everything (please tell me the trailer has brakes)! Lots of modern sedans could tow this much if they were properly set up - and the OEM specs weren't written by lawyers and warranty worriers...
Reply
787B 2:12PM (2/09/2007)
Phil L: Thanks! Trailer has brakes on *both* axles, and a breakaway kit. It's an H&H trailer; not cheap. I have a top-shelf analog brake controller too. That hitch was friggin' expensive, but oh-so worth it.
First time towing with the rig, I did a brake-check when a moron pulled from the woods on the side of I-95 directly into the slow lane, right in front of me. I hammered the brakes, and smoke was /rolling/ out of the front wheel wells. But the trailer brakes did not lock-up, and the whole rig stopped pretty quick. Didn't hit him. Fresh shorts? Check....
I wouldn't try towing this much with a modern sedan. They don't have frames. I would hesitate to even tow this much with a civilian Caprice and it's thinner frame. I looked at the bad-ass Magnum when it came out, and was sorely disappointed in the unibody chassis (it's a *wagon* for pete's sake!) and paltry 3000 lb towing limit. The last of the V8 interceptors are the last sedans that can do serious hauling...
Reply
Pinkerton 3:48PM (2/09/2007)
A retired police cruiser IMHO is the ultimate beater car. It's a car that has been "beat" it's entire existence.
Reply
wes v 4:37AM (2/11/2007)
best cop cruiser that was ever made. The bubbles or
the later cruisers were too unreliable. I drove one
of these for about a year. Posi, with power window
which was very rare. And much better fuel mileage
than the fords.
Reply
bathtub gin 1:16PM (2/11/2007)
The first car I drove on a regular basis was an '85 Impala with bench seats, the F41 "sport" suspension, and a 305 with a Quadrajet. It wasn't a cop car, or an ex-cop car, but it looked like one. It was bought brand new (6 miles on the odometer) was as reliable as a rock for 10 years and 95k miles, then Mom sold it to my uncle, who drove it at least another seven years after that - he may still have it as a parts-chaser. It had, literally, no mechanical problems the entire time my parents owned it, not a single one - but I do recognize the sheetmetal blisters in the rear quarters. That must have been a common thing with that car. That's a hard car to beat when it come to "junk in the truck."
Reply
rob z 10:48PM (2/22/2007)
Any chance on selling the bucket seats? I am looking for the tan cloth bucket seats...Let me know
Thanks
Reply
MiaTurbo 1:49PM (2/21/2007)
I've seen this car in real life. My boots are still shaking...
Nice job Bill :)
Reply