Highway Patrol Survivor? 1969 Dodge Polara
In the 1960s and 1970s, Chrysler sourced a lot of rolling stock to police departments and highway patrols. When equipped with big-block engines and beefed-up suspensions, these cars were hard to get away from on the interstates. This 1969 Dodge Polara is purported to be a survivor from the Nevada Highway Patrol and has emerged from a lengthy stay in a desert warehouse. It looks good and runs well, but pundits may have already found the car online and suggested it could be a clone. Located in Carson City, Nevada, this muscular Mopar is available here on craigslist for $20,000. Our hat’s off to T.J. for this interesting tip!
Capitalizing on the “Space Race” craze with catchy names like Galaxie, Starfire, and Comet, Dodge jumped aboard by naming one of its cars Polara in 1960. The nameplate would hold various positions in the Dodge lineup through 1973. From 1969 on, it played second-fiddle to the Monaco in terms of trim and creature comforts. The C-body platform was updated that year to take on a “fuselage” sort of look with broad shoulders on the side panels. Rather mundane in appearance, the Polara was popular with various highway patrols, and one of them using a 375 hp, 440 cubic-inch V8 set a top speed record of just shy of 150 mph.
According to the seller, this 1969 Polara was assigned to the Nevada Highway Patrol. The odometer is low suggesting that the mileage tracker has turned over at least once. But it was supposedly tucked away in a warehouse for years and still wears the tricks of the trade from its prior employment (radio, antenna, spotlight, graphics). It’s said to run well and looks good with a spot of patina on the trunk lid and hood.
If this is the same car, folks on ForCBodiesOnly maintain that this is not a real police car but a tribute that wears an older restoration. From the condition of the interior, that could be possible as things look awfully nice for a car that may have in excess of 100,000 miles. And is that a fire-breathing 440 under the hood or possibly a 383 as one of the members suggests? We also wonder if these autos wouldn’t have been air conditioned since its pretty darn hot in Nevada. We don’t know, but paperwork verifying the car’s authenticity should be required before forking over $20,000.
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Comments
The MOPARS 440 4 BBL 727 were awesome radio cars!! Nothing beat them. Fords never came close. Always so slow.
In the early 70’s Oldsmobile came out with a 455 400 Turbo police interceptor which was a good police chaser.
But MOPAR was the best!! Always.
I’ll have to disagree on you comment, Al, that “Fords never came close.” Probably the fastest car I ever had (and I’ve had my fair share of pretty quick muscle cars) was my ’69 Ford Custom with a 428 Police Interceptor. Not the best out of the hole but from 50-60mph and up it was an absolute beast. I liked putting the peddle to the floor on the highway and I went against quite a few fast cars and never lost when it came to top end. Lots of guys backed off when it came to triple-digit speeds but the few that hung in there couldn’t pass me. Yeah, Mopars had some great cop cars but don’t tell me Ford couldn’t keep up. That’s just bull.
We had a police chiefs wagon that had a 428 in it. Don’t remember the year but it was fast and he drove it like he stole it. He was “burning the carbon out of it” one day and destroyed the engine. I think they auctioned it off.
My 1971 Ford Custom 429 P.I. would smoke a ’69 or ’70 428 P.I. I owned a 1970 428 P.I. also. Actually, my ’72 429 P.I. was extremely fast also, and faster than the ’70 as well.
The ’72 429 PI had lower compression compared to previous big block PIs so it definitely wasn’t faster than previous models. As to a ’71 429 PI being faster than a ’69 428 PI? Maybe, maybe not.
Back in the day I had a 428 stock mustang . Sorry to say it was a slug slow. Any 440 magnum Dodge Charger could beat it
The only thing that could beat a radio car was the radio.
Except that this car is a fake, and is a 383, lol.
It has a certified speedo, I believe it is real. Might have been a captains car, no need for 375hp when 330hp would do.
I don’t think Nevada would have had non-airconditioned cars so I call fake.
I saw an article on Police cars of the past and funny enough they said the 69-71 440 Polara was the fastest of them all! With Hi-Way gears in the rear these cars had a top speed of around 150, and would pull quarter mile times of (with all the gear and (2) 200 lb cops in it) at 14 flat to as good as 13.86! No Ford even came Close to those times in the quarter mile, but would hit 140 wide open. When arguing which was faster they were close flat out wide open speeds, but, when in persuit it’s not how fast they go, it’s how fast it gets there! In that situation NOTHING topped the Mighty Mopars!!!
Thats funny, il bet those articles you seen were written by ED SANOW! who doctored alot of his stuff as he loves Dodges too much. I have article with professional driver who ran a best 15.1 in a 69 Polara 440 pursuit and top speed of 134 Mph! thats a BEST of 15.1 out of many runs he made that day!
the 429 Police Interceptors blew the 440’s away! Consistent 14.1 1/4 mile times confirmed by magazine article who witnessed it. Look up 429 Police Interceptor on Wiki, youll see the magazine article there
It looks like a clone car.Under hood looks like it was all
redone recently – look at the fresh wiring.And I don’t think that
the Nevada Highway Patrol would sell a vehicle with the lettering
not removed.
This one would be much cooler after stripping all the patrol
stuff off of it.
It has a certified speedo, police package most likely. Do a vin check if possible and see who the owners were
The car is completely fake.
You get ‘em, Ford Guy!
Well, apparently, here’s the 411 on this car. According to the “Mopar C bodies” forum, this is an actual Nevada State Patrol car, and some thought it was a 383. In that forum, almost 10 years ago, the car looks the same, but the motor was a lot dirtier. Operating old police cars for personal use laws vary, and most required some sort of “out of service” name. Sorry, I admire ALL LEOs, they have an unbelievable job, but I have no reason to “impersonate” one in real life, and you can’t fool me, only a cop wannabe that didn’t get into the academy, would drive around in an old police car.
On a lighter note, Nevada State Patrol, if this car could talk, who knows what celebrity may have sat in the back on the way back to L.A., Why, old Shelby himself may have. I read, him and Nevada State Patrol didn’t exactly get along..
If this is legit, it’d’ve been in service when we had NO set speed limit in Nevada-if you were stopped for speed it was most likely due to having a car that didn’t look safe or it looked like one on the “hot” sheet. NHP cars were generally run to 100,000 then sold at auction or “sold” (for $1) to a Nevada county sheriffs office or police department-usually those economically challenged.
A HS friend of mine bought one as his first car, a 1965 Dodge Polara with a 413-very spartan of course but what a hoot it was to cruise downtown on Saturday night. Maybe not as cool as the Chevelles an Mustangs the popular guys were driving but it caught more than a few by surprise.
This car is nowhere close to legit. It’s not even a 440…that is a 383 and not even close, option-wise, to an actual NHP car.
Did Nevada have property ID tags on their cars back then? I own a ’70 Fury III ex-Washington State Patrol car. My car has a property ID tag by the driver’s door light switch. I have the factory 1969 Dodge Polara Police brochure. This car is a 383 car. The present owner is not the best in proving responses to my questions.
Pete, IDK beyond a reasonable doubt but anecdotally I can tell you that when a good friend was hired as the state motor pool director his first realization of the extent of this “record keeping” was a new box of property tags he came across-sealed with a property tag.
OK, I did want to be a Cop from years of watching “Dragnet” “Adam-12” “CHiPs” “Miami Vice”. always thought ex Cop Cars were sorta Cool, as that’s what we drove in Driver’s Training in Cal, then the “Blue’s Brothers” sort of clinched it.
Was too short to be a Cop, so became a Doctor (no minimum height) but I like cop cars because I like Body on Frame/Rear Wheel Drive/V-8 Powered Sedans and don’t want to spring for a BMW or Mercedes (don’t know/care, are they body on frame?) And if you think my 03′ Crown Vic is following you, that’s a “you” problem,
No Offense,
Frank
Hi Frank, none taken. Fact is, sometimes I’ll say things just to get some kind of response. Thanks for your story. I can honestly say, however, I NEVER wanted to be a LEO. In the late 60s, there was an infatuation with police shows, Dragnet 1967 was ground breaking, in that, previously, nobody actually showed what police officers go through. One of the 1st “you were there” shows. Adam-12( also a Jack Webb show) was the 1st “ride along” police show, and read, Kent McCord(80) and the late Martin Milner actually rode along in an L.A. cruiser for several months before the show.
And for the record,the Crown Vic ?,,um, no, LEOs haven’t used them in years. Now, a black and silver Charger, THAT’S the definition of paranoia( may David Crosby rest in peace, gave us some great music)
Maybe it’s because we’re a poorer State but lots of Georgia Departments still use the Crown Vics.
No, it is not. NHP cars were piggy-back ordered on the CHP bid and, as such, had grey interiors, rubber flooring, white (ivory) steering wheels, and were 440 Magnums. This car has made-up patina and is nowhere close to being a “real” NHP car.
You guys are drinking the seller’s Kool-Aid.
Howard, this car is a complete fake and nowhere close to being correct. The NHP piggybacked on the CHP bid for years, ordering the exact same cars in a different color scheme (NHP Blue and Silver vs. CHP Black and White). You are 100% incorrect about the police package cars. I have many acquaintances that own and love police package cars. They were true sleepers in their own right and are HIGHLY collectible nowadays. As a retired Police Officer, I can promise you…I cannot stand wannabees but, I will also tell you, there are plenty of cop car aficionados out there that definitely do not fall into that category.
Michael, retired Peace Officer here too and I admit I do still drive a 2006 Ford CVPI with 96k miles on it. I reckon I just got comfortable in cruisers and I like the way they handle and ride. Mine’s got what is referred to a the “FBI Package”, carpeted floors, nice seats and of course it’s got all the “standard police stuff” also. My old dog can’t run with the Chargers but it most definitely rides better than the ones I drove.
Hey there Howard, follow you on this site and like your commentary. But the comment about wanna B’s driving “old” police cars, I’ve had pick ups for over 40 years, driving them everyday. I have two 2008 F150s both sort of at the end of their life spans at 280K and 185K miles. I want a new truck, but with the supply chain issues and all the truck wanna Bs that have pushed the price of new trucks out of my reach and my refusal to pay $40K for a four year old F150 with 66K miles I needed a vehicle. I bought a 2017 Police Interceptor Utility with 90K miles, it’s clean, has everything I need plus it’s really fast, handles like a Vette, is all heavy duty and only cost me $15500. If it was a loaded bloviated Explorer it would have been $30K. So not a cop, not a wanna B just someone who saw a great deal, needed to get back and fourth to work (85 miles a day). I still have my trucks and drive them too, just not every day. I hope some sort of normalization happens before I retire in a few years and I can buy a new to me truck. Regards, Mark
Your in good company Mark, I visit Detroit several time a month and quite often see Kidd Rock motoring about in his old Ford Crown Vic, Police Intercepter! All the best!
I’m not o sure Nevada patrol cars were blue…My 1973 Nevada state patrol car was silver gray I think. It had 80,000 mi. on it and hardly any built cars beat it if we started at 30 mph.
Until 2003(?) ALL NHP cars/trucks/motorcycles/airplanes were painted a special shade of blue as specified by the state motor pool regardless of cost. When it was brought to light as to the cost difference they were told to discontinue the practice and use the closest shade to it. However, more than a few were bought by various law enforcement agencies within the state at the price agreed upon with the dealer in whatever color they chose.
Too, the state motor pool used to retired patrol cars utilized as “spares” for other non law enforcement state agencies to use. When the cars are too tired to maintain economically or have met the requirements for retirement the state motor pool has an auction at least annually and these other state agency-often painted different colors-are sold.
That might explain why your car was silver, Doug, and ironically 6 years ago our governor at the time had NHP change to the present silver vehicles and grey uniforms modeled after the Tennessee state patrol. The older NHP cars are still blue but as they are “timed out” of the system their replaced with the newer silver cars.
Of these cars at auction, Some are wrecked, some are an accident looking for a place to happen but more than a few are well taken care of and can fetch the same money as asked for on a used car lot.
For sure that is not a 440 engine, it’s a B series low deck, 361, 383, 400. I haven’t seen a VIN, data plate or broadcast sheet. Regardless, its a nice car over all, doesn’t need too much but overpriced at $20K. Once you find out what it really is you can decide how much it’s worth.
Not sure about that.
I can see the raised pad under the throttle return spring bracket that has the engine code on it.
That pad was not on anything but the RB engines.
Bryan, sorry, you are incorrect. You need to look again and compare it to a photo of an actual RB engine. The engine in this fake cop car is a B block and, likely, a 383.
Not an expert on Mopar Police Packages but shouldn’t it have a “Calibrated/Certified” Speedometer, oil/trans cooler, anti roll bars the “Civilian” Sedans didn’t have? First Cop Car was a 1978 Ex GA State Patrol LTD with the 460 (only 202 HP by then) almost bought a 78′ Fury with the 440, but was a shady used car lot and the owner took the week off, so bought the Ford, as cool as she was, my current 2003 Crown Vic is a much better car,
Frank
It has a certified speedo
Yes, out of a real cop car, lol!
the 460 Ford Police cars were 202 Horsepower, the 460 Interceptors were 260 Horse! thats been proven already… look it up, there was a 460 PC car and a 460 PI car!
the 460 PC was a basic 460 engine, the 460 Interceptor had the higher lift cam, better flowing heads, the Electric in tank fuel pump in it for speeds in excess of 120+ mph etc etc… I have an article where they call the 460 Interceptor “The Ultimate Street Sleeper” and topped out above 130+ mph!
That’s because the timing chain was zero degrees! In 1972 Ford advanced the crank gear on the timing chain 8 degrees so that it could pass CA emission requirements on all the V8 engines from 1972 up which took almost 60 horse out of them big 460’s, but Police Interceptors were exempt and a totally different breed as they had hotter cams, closed chamber heads, 10 to 1 compression, basically making it the 365 horse 68-71 Lincoln Mark III motor, just rated differently at a much lower RPM and at the rear wheels coming out to around 260 horse! I read all this stuff from a shootout test of Police vehicles of the 60’s & 70’s and that’s what they said about the Ford LTD from 72-78 460 P.I.
I have had a few ex cop cars, a 90, 96 and a 2008 crown vics. Never really liked the 08, rode to rough and never got the gas mileage of the 96. The 96 I paid 300 for it at a city auction, had some motor problems and 63000 miles on it, it was four years old. I never found the topend on that thing, if I stepped on it from a standing start and held it you were doing a 100 in around 20 seconds and was still climbing fast, 40 year old me didn’t have the guts to see what it would do, 17 year old me probably would have died seeing what it could do
The ’08 CVPI is quicker, faster, gets better fuel mileage, is way better built, and is, basically, a ten-times better car than any ’96 CVPI and worlds better than a ’90 CVPI. Facts.
had 2011 Vic for awhile, (8,000 Idle hours Bad) better on paper, but didn’t handle as well subjectively, and the taller headrests (I’m 5’7″) reduced visibility to the Passenger side.
Agreed. I have an ‘08 P71. Picked it up in October of 2017 with less than 9k on the clock and 22 – yes, TWENTY TWO idle hours. Dept of Homeland Security supervisors car. Used Fed police cars are the way to go as they see little use compared to local and state municipality cars, and I believe they have to dump vehicles after a certain amount of years regardless of mileage. You’ll pay a bit more, but they’re also generally better maintained. Dependable as all hell and cheap to maintain when things do need to be replaced.
Genuine? This car has inside rear door handles. Most cop cars had them removed for obvious reasons.
No, it is not genuine but, that being said, that’s not something that every department did.
That’s true, Michael Berkemeier. I know NHP replaces them and take out the lights, radios etc. when they put them up for auction or move them on to another agency.
For that matter NHP use to put whoever they’d arrested in the FRONT seat until about 1985 when they final started installing the inside rear barrier!
all of mine have had rear door handles, but they don’t work (for obvious reasons) great joke to play on my parent’s when we’d go out to eat.
Hey Frank, my 68 Fury, 440 Police had door handles in the rear too! My friends 1974 Dodge 440 Police did not have the handles! We did a bit of drag racing (light to light) my Fury was quicker! All the best, thanks for the memories!
This car was identified as a “Clone” many years ago.
…and a bad one, at that.
Love the dialogue on this Hwy Police car. I had a 1968, 440 Police Fury and it was hot! One set of details that you can look for is an abundance of grounding straps under the hood and attached to firewall. (for radio & radar) Mine also had no A/C. The carpeting seems out of place, mine had rubber. Of course looking for dual exhausts on the provided photo still seems to be the mystery. While I had other Furys with the 360 C.I. I really cannot I.D. this one as a 440. ……. and the plot thickens, LOL
The earliest cop show I remember is The Untouchables with Robert Stack, after that was Highway Patrol with Broadrick Crawford, then came Dragnet
Broderick’s car was a 55 or 56 Buick Century, pretty hot car for that day!
Thanx for the memory lane trip Mark!
The CHP Buicks were actually Specials with longer Century front clips. They were specially built for the CHP.
More on the Buick Century Highway Patrol cars from California:
https://youtu.be/pZTUSpFarq4
For like one season, then he went to Dodge and Mercurys
Just in case none of you noticed the tiny radiator. I decoded it for you…
2949041 1969 C-body 383 22″
Of course, I’m sure, the NHP certainly wanted the smallest radiator possible. It’s normally very cool there year around and, sometimes, it’s downright cold in the summer.
My grandfather was a deputy in central Ga in the 60’s and 70’s. He had to purchase his own vehicle until 1974. He had a 68 and later a 72 Plymouth PI. He would race the GSP out on Ga 341 at night. They drove Fords, he never lost. Of course his was also modified by the local garage. He once caught a 428 CJ in a 69 Torino with the speedo dropped straight down at an estimated 150 plus. That was his 68, he said the 72 was faster. He loaned me the 72 for a week as a junior in HS… almost got me killed. I was in the car with him in 1969 when he chased the CJ down. He later caught a SD Trans Am that had eluded LEO in 3 counties headed north out of Perry Ga up 341. That ticket was 145mph. He was 56 in 1969 when he caught the CJ and probably 65 when he caught the TA. He had nerves of steel and so much more.
nothing gets past this group
If it is indeed police issue there should be remnant’s of pastries under and around the seats
Thanx Gary…looks like most on this site forgot about the obvious….Dunkin Donut coffee cups, too! LOL
No Dunkin’ Donuts in Nevada until 2001 or so..😱
Unless it’s was Las Vegas, but even they didn’t have them here when these were on the road lookin’ for the errant tourist.
I’d question things like the carpeting , and the rear door handles and window cracks, as I’d assume like most cruisers they dont want the criminals to jump out again..
Maybe it was made for a movie ? There were a lot of movies filmed out west in the early 70s that involved the police. Maybe it was used for a movie like Vanishing point ? Now that would bring the value up for sure , real or a fake !
The Polara’s replaced our Dodge Coronets in my police department in the early ’70s. While faster and roomier, the Coronet was the better police vehicle as it actually had brakes that wouldn’t fade after 2 hard applications, would take the corners much, much better, and was more tossable, and a driver’s automobile. The Coronets had 383’s with a 4-barrel carburetor. The Coronet was actually thought to be the best cop car we ever had. I believe the Polara had the 383 4-barrel set up but I can’t swear to it.
Umm the 440’s were quick to 60 with their 3:23 axles but then the Fords would catch them and walk away from them after that!! TRUST ME! also the 429 Torino Police cars ran consistant 14.1 in 1/4 mile, and this was verified by a magazine NOT by a dodge lover names Ed Sanow who doctored his stats in his book and I can prove that too!
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8b/429-460_Police_Interceptor.jpg/1280px-429-460_Police_Interceptor.jpg
While doing research on my CHP 1970 Mercury Monterrey pursuit with 428 CJ I learned that all CHP /NHP pursuits were ordered with no air conditioning because they had a tendency to throw the belts above 120 mph. I was able to authenticate my Merc when I turned the blower motor on full blast and had a bunch of L&M butts hit me in the face. All of them smoked right down to the filter.
Mine was a retired 1968, Fury 1, Wisconsin Hwy Patrol car, no power steering, certainly this thing was made for high speed pursuit….the torque was so apparent….it had Mallory ignition, don’t know if that was original or not, paid $400. for it in 1979, yes it did outrun my friends 74 Dodge 440 Police, by a bunch…such fun, LOL
https://youtu.be/xmcLQEgY3Zw
I wonder what % of police cars had crank windows & no a/c back in the day- i would have thought only those in Alaska.
Any 4 speed Polaras made – police or civilian?
Is steering wheel taped up, or is that a factory wheel or some kind of vinyl cover?
Can i assume u MUST cover up the decals on the doors & back end b4 driving this on public roads, even in states other than Nevada? If you MUST & do NOT, i wonder what the penalty(ies) would be for driving it around as pictured here, say for runnning errands, as opposed to going to a car show.
Wouldn’t it be impossible to clone/transfer over such weathered highway patrol decals, espec seen on the passenger door & rear?
When power windows and A/c were an extra charge (as opposed to a “standard option”) they were extra, hence the officers with more experience/job longevity per agency bidding the late swing or graveyard shift in the summer and day shift in the winter months. Most cars didn’t have FM radios for many years so some of the guys with “take home” (on call) cars bought their own FM converters and mounted them in hidden areas.
Never saw a manual shift on any but dedicated pursuit cars (some Camaros and Mustangs) but it probably could be special orders though steering and working the radio would be that much harder when you throw in shifting..
In Nevada, the decals are required to be gone before you hit the road lest we have an impromptu and momentary “Blues Brothers” remake! Especially the ending at city hall. The real end result will have a gas saving but expensive ride to an impound lot.
RE: the weathered look decal “clone” idea-it’s amazing what graphics companies can do with a “wrap”!
Hi Joe, My 68 Fury 1 Highway Patrol 440 had no A/C and had crank roll up windows as well manual bench seat adjustment….it also had no power steering…my car retired from Wisconsin Hwy Patrol…it had rubber floor covering……a basic, no nonsense brute!
All the best to you.
Been collecting police cars and Mopars for over 40 years. There are a lot if indicators that point to this not being a real trooper car. My eyes spy incorrect paint colors under the hood and frayed carpet. Package cars of the day generally would have rubber floor mats and the engine bay would be blue. Had the vin been displayed, it would be clear as to its heritage. Yet it has a certified speedometer……we need a true investigation.
The VIN # “G”, indicates a 383 2V carb motor.
Glenn, your comment is incorrect. The letter “G” is for a 383, it does not denote if for a 2 bbl or a 4 bbl. The HiPerf 383 is a different letter. I have the factory 1959 Dodge Police Car Brochure. It states that the 383 can be had as a 2 bbl or 383 4 bbl. Here is the breakdown of the 1969 Dodge vins. . https://www.tpocr.com/dodgevin4.html
The VIN seems to be missing a number or is incorrect, My reference book does not list an “L” code for 1969? Does not appear to be a package car. VIN DL41G9D300198
D: Polara or Monaco
L ——- Does not code out?
41: Four Door Sedan
G: 318 V8
9: 1969
D: Belvidere
Sequence 300198
The VIN is correct.
The “L” is for the low trim level. Polara 500 was the “M” or medium trim while the Monaco was the “H” or high trim.
The G is for 383-2 barrel
the Ford 429 Interceptors would leave these in the dust! https://www.mediafire.com/view/jwr32eb7ld7fs63
Not the Polara with no lites in “Dirty Mary, Crazy Larry” chasin the Charger.
But a telephone pole fell right on the hood of that Polara – not good.
Back for sale after being donated with no reserve auction
https://www.ebay.com/itm/404573610668
Or is it the same seller?