These were so damn durable; 318 LA is close to the slant 6 in that way. This one may be one of the nicest ex-cop cars I've ever seen; they're usually trashed once sold off and run into the ground by some taxi company. Darn right I'd own it. - Ed on the Ridge
Produced from 1981 through Dec, 1988 (as '89s), the M- body Diplomat and Gran Fury/Caravelle AHB Police cars came with a standard 3.7 225ci Slant Six or 5.2 318 V8 with a 2bbl Carter BBD, A998 3-spd Torqueflite, and an 8.25 rear. Optional through 1983 was an A727, a High Performance 318 with Carter TQ (using 5.9 heads revised in 1983), and a SureGrip rear differential. In 1984, production shifted from Windsor, ON, to Fenton MO. The Six was NLA, and the 4-bbl cars got a beefed up A999 in place of the A727 (still available under special order). The Fury with this combo cleaned up at the MSP tests. In 1985, after Carter ceased production, the Holly 6280 2-bbl and Rochester Quadrajet carbs were used, through the very end in '89. 2-bbl cars received a revised 318 with hydraulic roller lifters and can, along with a higher 9.0 comp ratio. In 1986, the A999 received a new torque convertor, and 4-bbl cars got a new ESC/EFC computer with revised emissions calibrations and more aggressive timing schedules. This made the '86 cars very quick and fast for the time. A new CHMSL appeared on the rear parcel shelf. Some municipalities and agencies started reporting trouble with front wheel alignments about this time. In 1987, stainless steel exhaust was introduced, with full 2.25" diameter on the 4-bbl cars. A new steering wheel was used. Late in the '87 model year, M-body production shifted from Fenton, MO, to Kenosha WI. In 1988, several colors were changed, the dashpad and vents were dechromed, new alternators, new starters, new sound systems were introduced, and the rear suspension got new gas shocks, revised spring rates, and stiffer bushings. Front suspension problems came to a head about this time, with many departments complaining of repeated loss of alignment, brake pull, locked steering, and cracked engine cradles. After the usual circus of finger pointing, Chrysler revised the front cradle and lower control arms. That, along with a driver's side airbag, were running production changes made in April of 1988. On Dec 23, 1988, the last Plymouth Gran Fury, Dodge Diplomat, and Chrysler Fifth Avenue rolled off the line at Kenosha, and 1 month later, the plant was reduced to rubble. Chrysler would not have another V8, RWD passenger car until late 2004, when the new LX Magnum and 300 were born. In 1996, Chevy retired the Caprice/SS, and would go to 2011 without a 4-Dr V8 sedan. The Caprice is slated to end production when the Holden facility ends production in 2017. In 2011, Ford retired the Crown Vic and Town Car, replacing the CVPI with the new Taurus and Explorer. The Town Car was not replaced. In 2006, the new Charger was introduced, along with the Charger Pursuit - a genuine 150+ mph police car, not seen since the '69 Polara and Fury. In 2014, Dodge added AWD to the Pursuit option sheet, and they never looked back. The new 2015 Charger Hemi Pursuit AWD set a new record at the annual Michigan State Police tests in the dynamic/handling course (as did the 2012 Charger), with the Fords experiencing very pronounced understeer - a very real and potentially dangerous problem that has resulted in several accidents, and something not easily fixed.
Good overall history review. The 84 M bodies were the fastest according to the Michigan State police tests, with a record that stood until 91. They also had the least down time, before Chrysler started importing front sub frames from Mexico ala 85-87 ( which sagged ) . This is an interesting video for old Mopar cop car nuts like myself.. The ELBs and later Delco computers on US cop cars were relocated from under the hood to under the dash for cooling purposes. Also, most certified US cop cars got the auxiliary gage package ( which this 1 doesn't have) consisting of an oil pressure gage and a true engine temp gage, and some had a trans temp gage. State police cars also had an auxiliary trans cooler as well. 1 thing of note.. I've seen several cars fitted with the 9.25 rear gear, from the factory, with 2.94 and 3.21 gearing.
+Adam Trombino The '86 cars were fastest, as they had the final calibration to the ESC/EFC computer (no such thing as ELB after 1989). The times given in 1984 were for 1 car, and there was a lot of variability between cars back then. The idea that the '84 cars were the best is a myth perpetuated only by the police car book. The cars were improved a little each year. The QuadraJet was definitely the better carb - it held its tune far longer, and still has plenty of parts support even today. The transmission was improved in late '86, and again in '88. Build quality improved. Options improved. The k-frame issue was worst with the '85 through early '88 cars. In May of '88, the new k-frame and driver air bag were installed. By then it was too late, of course, because Iaccoca announced the end would be in December, or less than half way through the '89 model year.
The quadrajunk was a terrible carb. The GM sourced ECM was too slow to respond to the Chrysler V8 and several Prom chips were implemented to improve drivability as well as emissions and mileage which was terrible, down from 15.5 mpg to just 12.7. I know, I worked on them. I was part of the original Illinois Air Care emissions team, pre obd 2. ( I later helped in the implementation of the current odb2 testing) The original Carters worked the best, had a more simple design, and used less parts.The air bleed system worked wonderful when set up correctly, whereas GM's metering rod dwell system was problematic at best The fact that 1 can still get parts for 1 is irrelevant. I also have read 3 other articles besides the police book which you've mentioned that said the 84s were the fastest M body and had the 2nd best fuel economy of all the M cop cars. I agree that the trans was improved with better clutch materials, and fluids. What needed to happen was EFI and an AOD trans borrowed from the truck line, but as you said, the powers that were poo pooed the plan in favor of an all FWD fleet.
Ahhh, gear reduction starter!!! I had the same thing called a Dodge Diplomat in High School!! I'd cruise really slow at night to parties. The headlight configuration from the distance would inspire a mass exodus of drunken High Schoolers yelling "oh shit, it's the cops!" Lol!
In 1990 I had picked up one of these as an ex cop car, ex taxi cab, and then as an insurance write off. We turned it into a dirt track round-d-round stock car. It came with a 360 four barrel (lean burn?), which we ran the first season, and then shoe horned in a 440 four barrel (originally out of '74 Road Runner) for the second season. It then handled like a shopping cart, but had awesome power down the straightaways. But unfortunately the 440 became weather seized, when I took on a huge reno project and the stock car sat around unattended for a few years (shed a tear).
this looks to be the same design as the Lebaron ?, the 318 motors were always a power house with good gas mileage . I always liked the Chrysler motors for power and sound . they always had that distinctive start up sound as well . Thanks for sharing . Ray in Pa U.S.A.
I've got 85 Gran fury down here in Florida, it was a next Daytona Beach detective's car. The guy I bought it from had the engine rebuilt at a speed shop with pro Comp internals a more aggressive cam got rid of all the lean burn crap which was the main crutch for these cars and put a demon 650 for barrel on it, long tube headers and full dual exhaust. pulled the 904 trans and put a four-speed auto in it with a shift kit and 8.25 positraction outback. It makes right at 325 horses to the rear wheels which by today's standards isn't a muscle monster but it's still lots of fun to drive and surprises a lot of people because it is fast and powerful and it will burn both back tires like nobody's business. It was my daily driver and I took it all over Florida and Georgia, it was so sweet on the freeway but when gas got more expensive I couldn't afford to drive it everyday, The one saving Grace about the lien burn setup is they're really good on gas and they're all right when they work but they suck when they don't. now I go for a cruise every now and then keep it in tune till I can afford the gas again lol My 87 Jeep Cherokee gets much better gas mileage. But I wouldn't trade my old Gran fury for any modern car.
i think there must be a place for old cars that dont looks as good and cost as much as famous classics like muscle cars. i think every car deserves someone who likes and drives it. i like watching the a-team and its always this policecar that crashes into something haha. i dont really like thefront but it kinda makes it cute
I had a 1985 Plymouth Caravelle it was a Windsor Ontario cop car it ran on Propane and I converted it to gas and it had the same interior as that did with the same rims I pulled the 218 and put a new rear main seal and front seal because they were leaking and I did the Valve seals too that thing ran like a top it had a big 9 1/4 inch rear end in it with big brakes that thing hauled ass for 318 I only paid 350 back in 98
+coldwarmotors Thanks brother! I'm a cummins tech I had a 93 myself! Do you have an email I could reach you at? We have a few old Chryslers in yard......
Wonder if this car use to belong to Virgil Tibbs from "In the heat of the night " lol / just kidding but it's the same car he drove when the show was on t.v.
I remember riding these as taxicabs in Vancouver and Toronto. I also drove a 1981 Chrysler LeBaron which was an ex Vancouver police car that was for sale.
Here in the US these were Dodge Diplomat or Plymouth Gran Fury. Very common cop cars through the early to late 1980s. Unfortunately the transmissions in these things were terrible and they would go through 2 or 3 a year. My dad would have the radar gun out and throw it into drive to go get a speeder and they would just blow the trans. Supposedly they used nylon sheaths to make the gears quiet and they would just shred.
The A999 wasn't really a bad trans. The problem was it had wide ratio 1st to 2nd gearing and would make a ton of heat. Illinois hiway patrol cars used a non lock up converter and auxiliary cooler. That fixed the longevity problem.
I had the same car a 1985 Plymouth Caravelle with a 318 it was a Windsor Ontario Police car it had a 9 1/4 rear end in it with HD suspension HD brakes but the thing ran on Propane but I put a 4bbl off a old 360 on it and that thing would roast tires. The car was lot's of fun I ended up junking the car because the floor was rotten due to Ontario salted roads in the winter but I put the engine in my friends 1982 D150 short box and thing still runs like a top.
I've had one F-body cop car & three M-body cop cars. I just got given an '89 Gran Fury ('Murican Caravelle) that the guy bought in '92, drove a bit, then parked in his barn next to his '74 Gran Fury State Patrol car (440 & all). It's silver & black, which is the State Patrol colors here in NC...the car is from the PNW, so I'll be bringing across the country. What ever happened to this car?
The lean burn system kicked in on the hiway at a steady cruise. It upped the gas mileage at least 25%. I had a big Gran Fury 2 door hardtop with a lean burn 360 that got over 20MPG on the hiway. No Chev Caprice 350 or Ford Crown Vic 351 would do that.
This M-body would've been known as the Caravelle Salon when the E-body front-drive Caravelle went on sale in the fall of 1982. For 1983-84 that car was known as the Chrysler E-Class in the U.S.
@@juliancrooks7559 Good point, that works too! I have read though the '84 was the best, as it was the only one to run 8.4:1 compression through a wide-ratio 727 with a BBD carb. The others didn't have that--the later ones used Rochester 4MV, a 904/998, and 8.0:1 compression instead and were slower from '85 to '87. Earlier '81 to '83 models had a close-ratio 727. The '88s and '89s were almost as fast as the '84s, strangely, despite the GM carb. Source: Bellah and Sanow.
I know it's not as cool as a muscle car, but I would jump at the chance to own a full size sedan with a big V-8. If it's a former police car, so much the better.
Chrysler really wanted to confuse people since, at the same time, in the United States, it sold a stripped down version of the K-Car FWD Chrysler New Yorker as the Plymouth Caravelle.
The young drivers between the ages of 18 and 25 will not know that all the loaded standard power options of today's cars was at one time either optional or not available in certain cars. Roll down windows manually adjustable seats were the norm. Power seats power windows power door locks and climate control were all luxury items when this car was built and had to be ordered as optional.
I am 38 but I even remember late '80s cars as a preschooler not having an AM/FM radio, just an AM radio. And faceplates where power window switches could be. Think GM N-bodies or A-bodies. Even your basic '86 Taurus had the right-side mirror OPTIONAL!
in the u.s that plymouth was called gran fury. new york had a big contract with chrysler corp., they had horrible reliabilty, after 1986, new york went to the chevy caprice.
Hey, thanks for the note! Agent 0826 has been asked several times about selling the car, but he wants to keep it. He actually just bought a 1977 RCMP Fury 440 to keep beside it, haha... I think we'll feature it here on our channel soon. All the best from us here!
coldwarmotors if he ever decides to sell it...I will make a great offer on it. I used to own four ex rcmp dodge st.regis and one 1984 ex rcmp dodge diplomat. Love these cars!!! Never mind the five other Winnipeg police cars that I had as well.
If he ever wants to sell it, let me know! I'm just acrost the border in Montana. I'd like to a add a 1980's boxy-looking car to my collection. Plus, I just love bucket seats and the acres and acres of blue vinyl.
we call this the gran fury, if plymouth had a version of the diplomat/ lebaron, it would have be a caravelle salon. the features on the r.c.m.p cars, would have been std. on gran fury and diplomat state police cars.
It looks like the car on the Tv show In the heat of the night and the movie Fast money and also the movie Bandit Bandit goes cross country and it is the same car and the same color
That is the worst sounding gear reduction starter I've ever heard! Hope you've restored that thing since. Didn't RCMP use an A-pillar spotlight on their patrol cars? Or was this an unmarked?
The first Caravelle (Gran fury) I've seen with no factory A/C. The Lean burn was used from 1977 though the 1989 model year. The Lean burn was a 2BBL carburetor also used on the 5.2L(318CID V-8) from 1977-1989. This was used on the Dodge Aspen (1976-1980), Plymouth Valarie (1976-1980), Dodge St Regis (1980-1981) Chrysler New Yorker (1978-1982), Chrysler Fifth Avenue (1984-1989), Plymouth Caravelle(Canada) Gran Fury(US) from( 1982-1989), Dodge Diplomat/Diplomat SE (1977-1989). Also interesting fact is that the M bodies replaced the failing Aspen/Volare line for the 1981 model year as Chrysler's Mid Size Rear Wheel Drive always till its demise after the 1989 model year. Gran Fury and Diplomat were discontinued as the C body Dynasty/ New Yorker were the replacements as of the 1988 model year by 1990 the C body replaced the M body to go to front wheel drive all C bodies lasted until 1993. The C Bodies were Chrysler's Mid Size offerings which included Dodge Dynasty base/ Dynasty LE (1988-1993), Chrysler New Yorker Mark Cross(1988-1990) Chrysler New Yorker Base(1988-1993), Chrysler Imperial (1990-1993), Chrysler Fifth Avenue(1990-1993). These C bodies transmissions were junk with the overdrive stay away.
No we need to save as many of these as possible. They are the collector cars of the future. In 1980 you couldn't give away a late 60's car. Most were crushed. Look how much they are worth today.
we called the 1985 plymouth the gran fury, after 1979 (with just 2 cars) i thought plymouth was going out of business in u.s, 1980 gran fury was a copy of the st. regis and newport, and in 1982 gran fury became a twin to the diplomat. (chp used diplomats in the 1980's)
The first police car I drove was an 80 Dodge Diplomat when I became a cop. It was a POS but the car was abused for years. Blew the rear end out of it after about a million miles on it to get a new Crown Vic. Never was a Mopar fan. But a Hemi is one helluva motor.
These were so damn durable; 318 LA is close to the slant 6 in that way.
This one may be one of the nicest ex-cop cars I've ever seen; they're usually trashed
once sold off and run into the ground by some taxi company.
Darn right I'd own it.
- Ed on the Ridge
Listen to that starter crank -- you can tell it's a Plymouth without even looking, just by hearing that starter. :-)
Great Car! Love old cop cars!!
Produced from 1981 through Dec, 1988 (as '89s), the M- body Diplomat and Gran Fury/Caravelle AHB Police cars came with a standard 3.7 225ci Slant Six or 5.2 318 V8 with a 2bbl Carter BBD, A998 3-spd Torqueflite, and an 8.25 rear.
Optional through 1983 was an A727, a High Performance 318 with Carter TQ (using 5.9 heads revised in 1983), and a SureGrip rear differential.
In 1984, production shifted from Windsor, ON, to Fenton MO.
The Six was NLA, and the 4-bbl cars got a beefed up A999 in place of the A727 (still available under special order). The Fury with this combo cleaned up at the MSP tests.
In 1985, after Carter ceased production, the Holly 6280 2-bbl and Rochester Quadrajet carbs were used, through the very end in '89. 2-bbl cars received a revised 318 with hydraulic roller lifters and can, along with a higher 9.0 comp ratio.
In 1986, the A999 received a new torque convertor, and 4-bbl cars got a new ESC/EFC computer with revised emissions calibrations and more aggressive timing schedules. This made the '86 cars very quick and fast for the time. A new CHMSL appeared on the rear parcel shelf. Some municipalities and agencies started reporting trouble with front wheel alignments about this time.
In 1987, stainless steel exhaust was introduced, with full 2.25" diameter on the 4-bbl cars. A new steering wheel was used. Late in the '87 model year, M-body production shifted from Fenton, MO, to Kenosha WI.
In 1988, several colors were changed, the dashpad and vents were dechromed, new alternators, new starters, new sound systems were introduced, and the rear suspension got new gas shocks, revised spring rates, and stiffer bushings. Front suspension problems came to a head about this time, with many departments complaining of repeated loss of alignment, brake pull, locked steering, and cracked engine cradles. After the usual circus of finger pointing, Chrysler revised the front cradle and lower control arms. That, along with a driver's side airbag, were running production changes made in April of 1988.
On Dec 23, 1988, the last Plymouth Gran Fury, Dodge Diplomat, and Chrysler Fifth Avenue rolled off the line at Kenosha, and 1 month later, the plant was reduced to rubble.
Chrysler would not have another V8, RWD passenger car until late 2004, when the new LX Magnum and 300 were born.
In 1996, Chevy retired the Caprice/SS, and would go to 2011 without a 4-Dr V8 sedan. The Caprice is slated to end production when the Holden facility ends production in 2017.
In 2011, Ford retired the Crown Vic and Town Car, replacing the CVPI with the new Taurus and Explorer. The Town Car was not replaced.
In 2006, the new Charger was introduced, along with the Charger Pursuit - a genuine 150+ mph police car, not seen since the '69 Polara and Fury. In 2014, Dodge added AWD to the Pursuit option sheet, and they never looked back. The new 2015 Charger Hemi Pursuit AWD set a new record at the annual Michigan State Police tests in the dynamic/handling course (as did the 2012 Charger), with the Fords experiencing very pronounced understeer - a very real and potentially dangerous problem that has resulted in several accidents, and something not easily fixed.
Good overall history review. The 84 M bodies were the fastest according to the Michigan State police tests, with a record that stood until 91. They also had the least down time, before Chrysler started importing front sub frames from Mexico ala 85-87 ( which sagged ) . This is an interesting video for old Mopar cop car nuts like myself.. The ELBs and later Delco computers on US cop cars were relocated from under the hood to under the dash for cooling purposes. Also, most certified US cop cars got the auxiliary gage package ( which this 1 doesn't have) consisting of an oil pressure gage and a true engine temp gage, and some had a trans temp gage. State police cars also had an auxiliary trans cooler as well. 1 thing of note.. I've seen several cars fitted with the 9.25 rear gear, from the factory, with 2.94 and 3.21 gearing.
+Adam Trombino The '86 cars were fastest, as they had the final calibration to the ESC/EFC computer (no such thing as ELB after 1989). The times given in 1984 were for 1 car, and there was a lot of variability between cars back then.
The idea that the '84 cars were the best is a myth perpetuated only by the police car book. The cars were improved a little each year. The QuadraJet was definitely the better carb - it held its tune far longer, and still has plenty of parts support even today. The transmission was improved in late '86, and again in '88. Build quality improved. Options improved.
The k-frame issue was worst with the '85 through early '88 cars. In May of '88, the new k-frame and driver air bag were installed. By then it was too late, of course, because Iaccoca announced the end would be in December, or less than half way through the '89 model year.
(1980 on the ELB, my apologies).
The quadrajunk was a terrible carb. The GM sourced ECM was too slow to respond to the Chrysler V8 and several Prom chips were implemented to improve drivability as well as emissions and mileage which was terrible, down from 15.5 mpg to just 12.7. I know, I worked on them. I was part of the original Illinois Air Care emissions team, pre obd 2. ( I later helped in the implementation of the current odb2 testing) The original Carters worked the best, had a more simple design, and used less parts.The air bleed system worked wonderful when set up correctly, whereas GM's metering rod dwell system was problematic at best The fact that 1 can still get parts for 1 is irrelevant. I also have read 3 other articles besides the police book which you've mentioned that said the 84s were the fastest M body and had the 2nd best fuel economy of all the M cop cars. I agree that the trans was improved with better clutch materials, and fluids. What needed to happen was EFI and an AOD trans borrowed from the truck line, but as you said, the powers that were poo pooed the plan in favor of an all FWD fleet.
Yes, the correct lingo post '80 is ESC, or EFC.. Old timers like me still call um ELB's lol
I had an 85 dodge diplomat. 318 4 barrel and it was the best car I owned back then. great shape and they last forever.
Ahhh, gear reduction starter!!!
I had the same thing called a Dodge Diplomat in High School!!
I'd cruise really slow at night to parties. The headlight configuration from the distance would inspire a mass exodus of drunken High Schoolers yelling "oh shit, it's the cops!" Lol!
I'd love to have one of those!
They are fun to cruise for attention they get wherever you go
RCMP Caravelle! That is totally cool!
I want one to go with my 5th ave.
I love these kind of boxy american sedans with fake wood interior and chrome everywhere
In 1990 I had picked up one of these as an ex cop car, ex taxi cab, and then as an insurance write off. We turned it into a dirt track round-d-round stock car. It came with a 360 four barrel (lean burn?), which we ran the first season, and then shoe horned in a 440 four barrel (originally out of '74 Road Runner) for the second season. It then handled like a shopping cart, but had awesome power down the straightaways. But unfortunately the 440 became weather seized, when I took on a huge reno project and the stock car sat around unattended for a few years (shed a tear).
Lol I love these funny old cars!
this looks to be the same design as the Lebaron ?, the 318 motors were always a power house with good gas mileage . I always liked the Chrysler motors for power and sound . they always had that distinctive start up sound as well . Thanks for sharing . Ray in Pa U.S.A.
Fury,Diplomat,carravelle, Le Baron, new Yorker and 5th Ave all same basic body from 78- 87
I had a 1985 SQ Caravelle in 1988 it was quite fresh blown 318 was removed i did my first swap with a 71 340 4bbl, duals it was a cool car.
I've got 85 Gran fury down here in Florida, it was a next Daytona Beach detective's car.
The guy I bought it from had the engine rebuilt at a speed shop with pro Comp internals a more aggressive cam got rid of all the lean burn crap which was the main crutch for these cars and put a demon 650 for barrel on it, long tube headers and full dual exhaust. pulled the 904 trans and put a four-speed auto in it with a shift kit and 8.25 positraction outback.
It makes right at 325 horses to the rear wheels which by today's standards isn't a muscle monster but it's still lots of fun to drive and surprises a lot of people because it is fast and powerful and it will burn both back tires like nobody's business.
It was my daily driver and I took it all over Florida and Georgia, it was so sweet on the freeway but when gas got more expensive I couldn't afford to drive it everyday, The one saving Grace about the lien burn setup is they're really good on gas and they're all right when they work but they suck when they don't. now I go for a cruise every now and then keep it in tune till I can afford the gas again lol My 87 Jeep Cherokee gets much better gas mileage.
But I wouldn't trade my old Gran fury for any modern car.
beautiful car in a excelent shape
Wow, you got some vids of some neat little cars man!
I have an 81 Dodge D150, with a 318 cat delete, no leanburn, runs perfect.
i think there must be a place for old cars that dont looks as good and cost as much as famous classics like muscle cars. i think every car deserves someone who likes and drives it. i like watching the a-team and its always this policecar that crashes into something haha. i dont really like thefront but it kinda makes it cute
Someday I want to be a daily driver of an Edsel
I got my 85 5th Avenue to save it and I needed a cheap car. Also I don't have to worry about it getting stolen as most people can't start the car.😆😆😆
lean burn and 4 barrel seem like opposites! thanks for the video you dont see too many of these
Lean burn was first installed in 76 on 400 4 barrel
We need a road test drive. I need to hear those secondaries open up on the four barrel.
This car is well sweet and sounds awesome too
I had four of the 1979 to 1981 ex-rcmp dodge st.regis police cars back in the mid 1980's. Great cars that could take a LOT of punishment.
u.s state police, highway patrols, had the samething.
love it. i got an 83 Diplomat
There is something about these cars that suck you in and make you love them like an ugly but loving mutt.
Never heard of a Caravelle. Quadrajet carb? Nice car!
was called the gran fury in the u.s.
Love that comment, "Lets go get some bad guys"
He should have responded with: "I'd rather go get some bad girls!"
I had a 1985 Plymouth Caravelle it was a Windsor Ontario cop car it ran on Propane and I converted it to gas and it had the same interior as that did with the same rims I pulled the 218 and put a new rear main seal and front seal because they were leaking and I did the Valve seals too that thing ran like a top it had a big 9 1/4 inch rear end in it with big brakes that thing hauled ass for 318 I only paid 350 back in 98
Does Agent 0826 still have this car and do you think he's sell it? I'm from Saskatchewan. I'm serious. Thx.
Very beautifull this Plymouth Grand Fury 85
Oh my, Is that really what it sounds like. HA, I am dead!
I was expecting a 360, but after all its Canadian. Nice historical piece!
my boss purchased these as company service vehicles great cars with the 318 V 8 and auto trans.
Sturdy, Safe cars...
I got rear ended in mine, the corrola was totalled, I got a bent back bumper and am still able to drive it.
I need this car to put back to a RCMP Crusier is it for sale ?? and where is it
does he still have this?
Dudley Doright mobile! Lol!
Great old Cars! When are we going to get some videos of the red and white first gen cummins truck???
Cheers and Thanks!
+Lukas Smith Hey, thanks! I'll see if my friend will let us do a look at his sweet old Cummins... its pretty nice!
+coldwarmotors Thanks brother! I'm a cummins tech I had a 93 myself!
Do you have an email I could reach you at?
We have a few old Chryslers in yard......
Wonder if this car use to belong to Virgil Tibbs from "In the heat of the night " lol / just kidding but it's the same car he drove when the show was on t.v.
I remember riding these as taxicabs in Vancouver and Toronto. I also drove a 1981 Chrysler LeBaron which was an ex Vancouver police car that was for sale.
Here in the US these were Dodge Diplomat or Plymouth Gran Fury. Very common cop cars through the early to late 1980s. Unfortunately the transmissions in these things were terrible and they would go through 2 or 3 a year. My dad would have the radar gun out and throw it into drive to go get a speeder and they would just blow the trans. Supposedly they used nylon sheaths to make the gears quiet and they would just shred.
The A999 wasn't really a bad trans. The problem was it had wide ratio 1st to 2nd gearing and would make a ton of heat. Illinois hiway patrol cars used a non lock up converter and auxiliary cooler. That fixed the longevity problem.
I had the same car a 1985 Plymouth Caravelle with a 318 it was a Windsor Ontario Police car it had a 9 1/4 rear end in it with HD suspension HD brakes but the thing ran on Propane but I put a 4bbl off a old 360 on it and that thing would roast tires. The car was lot's of fun I ended up junking the car because the floor was rotten due to Ontario salted roads in the winter but I put the engine in my friends 1982 D150 short box and thing still runs like a top.
I've had one F-body cop car & three M-body cop cars. I just got given an '89 Gran Fury ('Murican Caravelle) that the guy bought in '92, drove a bit, then parked in his barn next to his '74 Gran Fury State Patrol car (440 & all). It's silver & black, which is the State Patrol colors here in NC...the car is from the PNW, so I'll be bringing across the country.
What ever happened to this car?
I can just hear peg in the background yelling "PUMP IT !!!
I love this car and the 80s early 90s mopars. hence why I traded a 2001 Volvo V70 for a 1990 Dakota. Love it?
my moms 78 Caravelle coupe 318 had the same air cleaner and "spark control computer " . The Hell was that for anyways ? didnt do squat
The lean burn system kicked in on the hiway at a steady cruise. It upped the gas mileage at least 25%. I had a big Gran Fury 2 door hardtop with a lean burn 360 that got over 20MPG on the hiway. No Chev Caprice 350 or Ford Crown Vic 351 would do that.
In the states, the lean burn computer on all the dip/gran furies was inside the car, hmmmmm
This M-body would've been known as the Caravelle Salon when the E-body front-drive Caravelle went on sale in the fall of 1982. For 1983-84 that car was known as the Chrysler E-Class in the U.S.
It's a great cruiser--it needs a 360! :)
The 318 can be bored to a 340, put on 4 barrel and duel exhaust, 4 11 gears in rear end and you got a sleeper that will run with big boys.
@@juliancrooks7559 Good point, that works too! I have read though the '84 was the best, as it was the only one to run 8.4:1 compression through a wide-ratio 727 with a BBD carb. The others didn't have that--the later ones used Rochester 4MV, a 904/998, and 8.0:1 compression instead and were slower from '85 to '87. Earlier '81 to '83 models had a close-ratio 727. The '88s and '89s were almost as fast as the '84s, strangely, despite the GM carb. Source: Bellah and Sanow.
Nice ex RCMP car. Do you still own it?
Plate C
for sale ?
AWESOME!
Hill Street Blues "!!
I know it's not as cool as a muscle car, but I would jump at the chance to own a full size sedan with a big V-8. If it's a former police car, so much the better.
Chrysler really wanted to confuse people since, at the same time, in the United States, it sold a stripped down version of the K-Car FWD Chrysler New Yorker as the Plymouth Caravelle.
The young drivers between the ages of 18 and 25 will not know that all the loaded standard power options of today's cars was at one time either optional or not available in certain cars. Roll down windows manually adjustable seats were the norm. Power seats power windows power door locks and climate control were all luxury items when this car was built and had to be ordered as optional.
I am 38 but I even remember late '80s cars as a preschooler not having an AM/FM radio, just an AM radio. And faceplates where power window switches could be. Think GM N-bodies or A-bodies. Even your basic '86 Taurus had the right-side mirror OPTIONAL!
This must be Canada, the Gran Fury United States, it was was called Plymouth Caravelle in Canada, the Caravelle was a K-car here in the states!!!
The last of the4 70's era Mopar.
Never seen power door lock/hand crank window combo like that. Only in America.
I tell if I had the money and a way to get it to the states I would buy it, those are know here as a gran fury and there are none around
and a 4bbl in 1985, in a Mopar in the US? unheard of!
Down in the states as you might well know, are called "Fury".
Carro maravilhoso
Carro show
Carro robusto
THE BEST
in the u.s that plymouth was called gran fury. new york had a big contract with chrysler corp., they had horrible reliabilty, after 1986, new york went to the chevy caprice.
state police gran fury and diplomats, had that.
Long shot but I'll try anyways. Do you still have the car? If you do, would you consider selling it?
Hey, thanks for the note! Agent 0826 has been asked several times about selling the car, but he wants to keep it. He actually just bought a 1977 RCMP Fury 440 to keep beside it, haha... I think we'll feature it here on our channel soon. All the best from us here!
coldwarmotors if he ever decides to sell it...I will make a great offer on it. I used to own four ex rcmp dodge st.regis and one 1984 ex rcmp dodge diplomat. Love these cars!!! Never mind the five other Winnipeg police cars that I had as well.
Less go git some bad guys haw haw haw
Good old lakeside chrysler dodge in regina contract for rcmp cars...
If he ever wants to sell it, let me know! I'm just acrost the border in Montana. I'd like to a add a 1980's boxy-looking car to my collection. Plus, I just love bucket seats and the acres and acres of blue vinyl.
"I love what they have done to my car"...RM
did they really put a 904 in a cop car?
Yes it became standard in '84. If you think they're junk, you're wrong. Drag racers love the 904/999.
I don't think they are junk. I just thought v8s got the 727 and 6es got 904.
Its a great car... just swap out the Lean burn ignition
my dad had a 1988 Dodge Diplomat
great vacation car
land yacht
i;d buy it.
we call this the gran fury, if plymouth had a version of the diplomat/ lebaron, it would have be a caravelle salon. the features on the r.c.m.p cars, would have been std. on gran fury and diplomat state police cars.
It looks like the car on the Tv show In the heat of the night and the movie Fast money and also the movie Bandit Bandit goes cross country and it is the same car and the same color
It's turning over too slow for the Reluctor to pick up a Signal.
Ahh yes. Cop upholstery. So so luxurious. I’m wet in the mouth
If you liked the fury interior you would love the 5th Ave. Seats, they are so comfy
That is the worst sounding gear reduction starter I've ever heard! Hope you've restored that thing since. Didn't RCMP use an A-pillar spotlight on their patrol cars? Or was this an unmarked?
The first Caravelle (Gran fury) I've seen with no factory A/C. The Lean burn was used from 1977 though the 1989 model year. The Lean burn was a 2BBL carburetor also used on the 5.2L(318CID V-8) from 1977-1989. This was used on the Dodge Aspen (1976-1980), Plymouth Valarie (1976-1980), Dodge St Regis (1980-1981) Chrysler New Yorker (1978-1982), Chrysler Fifth Avenue (1984-1989), Plymouth Caravelle(Canada) Gran Fury(US) from( 1982-1989), Dodge Diplomat/Diplomat SE (1977-1989). Also interesting fact is that the M bodies replaced the failing Aspen/Volare line for the 1981 model year as Chrysler's Mid Size Rear Wheel Drive always till its demise after the 1989 model year. Gran Fury and Diplomat were discontinued as the C body Dynasty/ New Yorker were the replacements as of the 1988 model year by 1990 the C body replaced the M body to go to front wheel drive all C bodies lasted until 1993. The C Bodies were Chrysler's Mid Size offerings which included Dodge Dynasty base/ Dynasty LE (1988-1993), Chrysler New Yorker Mark Cross(1988-1990) Chrysler New Yorker Base(1988-1993), Chrysler Imperial (1990-1993), Chrysler Fifth Avenue(1990-1993). These C bodies transmissions were junk with the overdrive stay away.
No we need to save as many of these as possible. They are the collector cars of the future. In 1980 you couldn't give away a late 60's car. Most were crushed. Look how much they are worth today.
we called the 1985 plymouth the gran fury, after 1979 (with just 2 cars) i thought plymouth was going out of business in u.s, 1980 gran fury was a copy of the st. regis and newport, and in 1982 gran fury became a twin to the diplomat. (chp used diplomats in the 1980's)
lmfao, I thought that was the actually engine running when I heard an engine but nothing was moving
They weren't pretty, didn't run well till warmed up, 50 year old technology but comfortable ride and I have a lot of fun with mine
you get donuts from a local bakery
Car needs the bad cop, no doughnut bumper sticker
Cars in good shape now drop in a modern 392 hem I and u got one hell of a performance increase
my favorite police cars in the 1980's were the chevy caprice, state police got a 180 h.p 350 c.i.d or 5.7 litres, with hd 4 speed auto.
What!! No burn-out??!!!
Crappy fury ! But in some strange way it’s cool 😎!
It's a Canadian mount me car!
The first police car I drove was an 80 Dodge Diplomat when I became a cop. It was a POS but the car was abused for years. Blew the rear end out of it after about a million miles on it to get a new Crown Vic. Never was a Mopar fan. But a Hemi is one helluva motor.
Chrysler engine.
That starter is begging for attention.