Chevy Caprice

[Morris Minor]

I saw a new Caprice this morning - without a PPV decal, in civilian clothes, no police packages, and with a regular registration plate. It was just a normal sedan. Strange. I thought these were sold only to those who serve and protect.

[MX793]

I saw a new Caprice this morning - without a PPV decal, in civilian clothes, no police packages, and with a regular registration plate. It was just a normal sedan. Strange. I thought these were sold only to those who serve and protect.

Early on, a relatively small number were sold to civilians.  IIRC, GM stepped in a reprimanded dealerships that were selling them to regular consumers.  It's possible this was one of those cars.  That or GM has reversed direction and started selling them to anybody.  Or, if still fleet-only, it was sold to a non-LE fleet (e.g. rental fleets).

[2o6]

They sell detective models, with no apperance package and hubcaps.

[Mustangfan2003]

I figure it was just an unmarked car.  BTW I did see an Alabama trooper in a new Caprice the other day.  First one I seen in a while as most of the local cops seem to be going with the Charger, Tahoe, Taurus, or Explorer. 

[Gotta-Qik-C7]

They sell detective models, with no apperance package and hubcaps.

Yup.....

[Mustangfan2003]

Those cars are going to make great buys when they are up for sale. 

[MrH]

They're so ugly and boring though...

[68_427]

They're HUGE.  The interior dwarfs the LX cars.

[Gotta-Qik-C7]

They're HUGE.  The interior dwarfs the LX cars.

Everyone that sits in the back of my car comments on how roomy it is... The trunk is huge too!

[68_427]

Everyone that sits in the back of my car comments on how roomy it is... The trunk is huge too!

Now add 4in of rear legroom and 8in total length, now you've got the Caprice.

[cawimmer430]

I know I'm going to get stoned for this, but GM should build the '81 Caprice Classic again and just add some new engines into it. Cops and prisoners riding in style. 

[Raza]

I know I'm going to get stoned for this, but GM should build the '81 Caprice Classic again and just add some new engines into it. Cops and prisoners riding in style. 

[cawimmer430]

It's not a joke. I'm a sucker for '70s and early '80s car design. I genuinely think that the '81 Caprice Classic is a sexy and beautiful design. I'm dead serious.

[Mustangfan2003]

Yeah well that's the worst period for American car design.  I could've designed cars back then all I needed was a ruler to make straight lines.  European cars looked pretty good back then except for the stupid looking 5mph bumpers. 

[cawimmer430]

Yeah well that's the worst period for American car design.  I could've designed cars back then all I needed was a ruler to make straight lines.  European cars looked pretty good back then except for the stupid looking 5mph bumpers. 

I love boxy cars. '70s and '80s Caprices are hot.

[dazzleman]

I know I'm going to get stoned for this, but GM should build the '81 Caprice Classic again and just add some new engines into it. Cops and prisoners riding in style. 

Now THAT'S what I think of when I hear Caprice.  The '77 Caprice was actually groundbreaking at the time, and a huge seller.

[Gotta-Qik-C7]

IMHO that body style has aged gracefully......

[cawimmer430]

Now THAT'S what I think of when I hear Caprice.  The '77 Caprice was actually groundbreaking at the time, and a huge seller.

It's beautiful, sexy, elegant and classy. Love it.

[cawimmer430]

IMHO that body style has aged gracefully......

Exactly. Looks hot. 

[dazzleman]

Exactly. Looks hot. 

Yes, in the same manner as a 70-year-old with missing teeth, heavy mileage on her face, and a long blond Farrah Fawcett hairdo. 

[Mustangfan2003]

I saw a new silver unmarked Caprice in traffic the other day and it would be easy for a non car person to not give it much thought. 

[cawimmer430]

Yes, in the same manner as a 70-year-old with missing teeth, heavy mileage on her face, and a long blond Farrah Fawcett hairdo. 

'70s car design is awesome - to me.

It's a personal opinion. 

[Soup DeVille]

'70s car design is awesome - to me.

It's a personal opinion. 

All opinions are personal man.

You start having other people's opinions or some sort of collective opinions and you'd better see a specialist.

[cawimmer430]

All opinions are personal man.

You start having other people's opinions or some sort of collective opinions and you'd better see a specialist.

Indeed.

I just wish the guys on 'Spin would share the love of Malaise Era metal!   

[dazzleman]

Indeed.

I just wish the guys on 'Spin would share the love of Malaise Era metal!   

I drove those cars in my early years of driving.  Only willfully blinkered nostalgia could make me like them.  I think the cars from 10-20 years earlier are a lot better as classics.  My grandpop had a '56 Ford Fairlane (that he gave to my parents) and a '65 Ford Galaxie and I think either of them would be a great classic car.

[cawimmer430]

I drove those cars in my early years of driving.  Only willfully blinkered nostalgia could make me like them.  I think the cars from 10-20 years earlier are a lot better as classics.  My grandpop had a '56 Ford Fairlane (that he gave to my parents) and a '65 Ford Galaxie and I think either of them would be a great classic car.

I don't doubt that the quality on '70s American cars wasn't that good, but you at least gotta admit that from a styling point of view cars like a '73 Buick Riviera, '70 Cadillac Eldorado, '74 Dodge Monaco, '72 Oldsmobile Delta 88, '76 Chevy Caprice Classic etc. are all gorgeous designs. 

[dazzleman]

I don't doubt that the quality on '70s American cars wasn't that good, but you at least gotta admit that from a styling point of view cars like a '73 Buick Riviera, '70 Cadillac Eldorado, '74 Dodge Monaco, '72 Oldsmobile Delta 88, '76 Chevy Caprice Classic etc. are all gorgeous designs. 

I prefer the designs from 1-2 decades earlier.  I particularly don't like the Eldorado.  It was a pimpmobile.

[Soup DeVille]

I prefer the designs from 1-2 decades earlier.  I particularly don't like the Eldorado.  It was a pimpmobile.

Later versions, yes: the '67 Eldo was awesome though. The '70 was good because it was the only Caddy ever that had a forged crank 500; but that also means that most of them have been gutted now and the engines donated to air boats.

[280Z Turbo]

All opinions are personal man.

You start having other people's opinions or some sort of collective opinions and you'd better see a specialist.

[cawimmer430]

I prefer the designs from 1-2 decades earlier.  I particularly don't like the Eldorado.  It was a pimpmobile.

I like car design as a whole from the 1930s to the mid/late 1970s. Very few cars from the '80s and '90s look good to me.