Image Gallery 1977-1979 Chevrolet Impala 1980-1985 Chevrolet Impala 1986-1990 Chevrolet Caprice

1977-1990 Chevrolet Impala/Caprice Introduced in 1977, the new downsized, full sized police car for Chevrolet was the Impala. The car rode on the new for 1977 version of the GM B platform (also known as GM B body) that had been the full sized platform for GM cars. The new 1977 Impala shared it's platform with cars from Buick, Pontiac and Oldsmobile, who also offer (less successful) police package versions of their B body cars. At Chevrolet, the Impala was the lower priced version of the nearly identical Caprice. While the 1977 Impala was not the most popular police vehicle, as compared to the highly successful Dodge Monaco and Plymouth Fury of the late 1970's. In the 1980's the Impala got restyled and grew in popularity. By 1982 competition began to fade and the police Impala sales took off. The body style continued under the Caprice name in 1986, and sales continued to grow. In the 1987 model year, Chevrolet offered a limited edition model to police departments in Canada called the Biscayne 9C1, with slightly different tail-lights and hubcaps. The new 1977 Impala had been greatly reduced in sized from the prior year, going from 121.5 in wheelbase in 1976 to 116 in in 1977. (1) The large engines of the prior cars were also gone. For 1977, engine choices were 350 ci 4 bbl V-8 with 170 hp, or 305 ci 2 bbl V-8 with 145 hp, or 250 ci 1 bbl inline 6 with 110 hp. (2) The 9C1 police package was available on the 2 door coupe and 4 door sedan.Changes for 1978 Impala included slightly updated grill and tail lights, engine choices remained the same as prior year. Ford 1979, style changes were made to the front end, with a smaller grill. Engine choices for 1979 were carried over from prior year. 1980 would see a slight restyle for the Impala, with a lower hood line in front, and a higher rear deck with a change to the angle of the rear window. The 1980 Impala was 100 lbs lighter weight than the prior year (2)  The police package 9C1 was again available on the 4 door sedan and 2 door coupe.(2) A new V-6 was the base engine for the police Impala for 1980, a 3.8 liter 229 ci 2bbl V6 with 115 hp. (2) Optional engines for 1980 included the 305 cid 4 bbl V-8 with 115 hp, or the 350 cid 4 bbl V-8 with 165 hp. (2)  Due to emission rules in California, only the 305 cid V-8 was available in that state. Ford 1981, the front grill was slightly restyled. Engine choices for 1981 remained the same as prior year (2).  Style remained the same from 1981 to 1985. For 1982, engine choices for the Impala were reduced to the 3.8 liter 229 cid V-6 with 110 hp, or the 5.7 liter 350 cid V-8 with 150 hp. For 1982, the Impala was chosen by the California Highway Patrol as it's enforcement class vehicle, the first Chevrolet to win the contract in 30 years. For year 1983, the Impala gained a new 4 speed automatic overdrive transmission for the 5.7 liter V-8 engine. (2) The 1983 Impala continue be be available with the 3.8 liter V-8 with 110 hp, and the 5.7 liter V-8 now with 155 hp. (2) Only a 4 door sedan was available with the police package for 1983 and after. Ford 1984, engines were the same as the prior year. For 1985, a new 4.3 liter 262 cid V-6 with 130 hp and fuel injection was the base engine. The 5.7 liter 350 cid V-8 with 155 hp was also still offered.  For 1986 the Impala was discontinued. The Caprice,  with a fresh new grill and tail lights, and a bow tie emblem on the hood above the grill, became the full sized police model. Engine choices for 1986 were a 4.3 liter 262 cid V-6 with 140 hp, or a 5.7 liter 350 cid V-8 with 155 hp. For 1987 the Caprice got composite headlights, and a stand up hood ornament, giving it a more modern look. 1987 also saw updates to the 5.7 liter V-8 engine, now with 180 hp, a gain of 25 hp. (2) The 4.3 liter V-6 continued with 140 hp. Year 1987 saw the Caprice win the bids for contracts with the California Highway Patrol and Michigan State Police. The Caprice would remain the choice of the Michigan State Police for each of the next 10 years (2) . For 1988 the Caprice would continue with no major changes. For 1989, the Caprice saw updates to it's available engines.  There was a 4.3 l 262 cid V-6 with 140 hp that featured throttle body fuel injection. Next was the 5.0 liter 305 cid V-8 with 170 hp, also with featured throttle body fuel injection. And the top of the line engine was a 5.7 liter 350 cid V-8 with 190 hp also with featured throttle body fuel injection. The Caprice became the choice for many state police and highway patrol agencies for 1989, including California, Michigan, Virginia, Indiana, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Missouri, Iowa and many more. The 1990 caprice had a shorten model year run, as Chevrolet prepared for the new redesigned Caprice to come for model year 1991. Changes for 1990 included new door mounted shoulder belts. (2) The 4 speed automatic transmission was updated. (2) 1990 was also significant as it was the first year that there was no competition from Dodge or Plymouth, and the very successful Dodge Diplomat and Plymouth Gran Fury police cars had ended production in 1989. This left the Chevrolet Caprice and the Ford LTD Crown Victoria competing the full sized police sedan market.

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