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Yay for Loopholes: Maryland Dealer Sells Chevy Caprices Intended for Police Department Use

For a very limited time only.

By Joshua Condon Jun 24, 2011 12:16PM
The Chevy Caprice in police guise. (Photo courtesy of GM.)Hey Maryland residents (or those willing to travel), anyone want a 355 hp, V8-powered RWD Holden ... sorry, Chevrolet Caprice police vehicle? While GM imported the vehicles specifically for use by law enforcement, they forgot to actually enforce that stipulation at the dealer level and Criswell Chevrolet of Gaithersburg, Maryland has 13 of the vehicles for sale to the public, with extra goodies like power seats and power windows added in.

GM is aware of their oversight and will add a public sale ban to any future contracts, so if you've got $31,000 to $37,000 and want a car that actually can outrun the older police models, now's your chance.

[Source: Jalopnik.]
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14Comments
Charles Goin
Jun 26, 2011 5:08AM
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Its unbelieveable that GM doesn't want to sell this car as a Caprice to the general public. I know a TON of GM fans that would buy a Caprice. the G8 was selling well until they killed Pontiac. All they have to do is create a brochure and take orders.

 

fairfireman21
Jun 25, 2011 7:04PM
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I would love to have one of these things sitting in my drive.

 

Annatar
Jun 27, 2011 6:50AM
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Our police department drives Ford Police Interceptors, they'll run circles around the Chevy's, and the Fords are Made in the USA.
Not according to Michigan state and LA police test reports, they will not. Taurus SHO held his own, but was actually the last in most tests, almost consistently behind the Caprice and the Charger. Please do not spread misinformation.
chip9372
Jun 25, 2011 6:50AM
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I've never understood why the manufacturers do not offer these "beefed up" versions to the general public. When you note all the older "retired" police vehicles being driven in civilian use it obviously indicates a market. I've owned several and would love to acquire one "brand spanking new."!
Troy S.
Jun 26, 2011 2:43PM
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Isn't it typical for GM to overlook details?
Aaron Waters (aaron.h2o)
Jun 24, 2011 4:53PM
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This is awesome. Wish I had a need for a car like this; I would totally get one.
Zerlak
Jun 27, 2011 2:18AM
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I found lots of links about Priuses being used as police cars, is that ok?
I wonder what kind of impacts the rear of the Prius can take before the battery pack will rupture.... Should be interesting to see.
Zerlak
Jun 27, 2011 7:43AM
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Taurus SHO held his own, but was actually the last in most tests

Strange, I just read the article and the Taurus SHO seemed to be rated superior to the Caprice and Charger in most tests save for top speed. The one major gripe they had about the Taurus was its use of Turbo and how police would be afraid of using that technology for a work horse vehicle.

 

True that they won't run circles around them but they will most definately keep up, or even pass depending on the roads.

Annatar
Jul 5, 2011 5:01AM
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The Chargers have been plagued with transmission, electrical issues, and loss of body integrity; I have relatives that drive them on the beat daily. Once you get the cage in the Charger there is very little room in them. They had to go to Tahoe's and Expeditions for their K9 units because the Chargers were so much smaller than the Crown Vic.
I am not really concerned with the Charger, as that car is just another conservative econobox. It had the potential to be innovative, but it got screwed up with the high sidewalls, poor visibility, ugly front grille and lack of a manual transmission. It takes a lot more than just slapping a rear-wheel drive on a car these days, to make it innovative.

The real jewel here is "the Australian", Holden. And Holden beat Ford Taurus SHO in just about everything.
Klaus Vonterinealis
Jun 27, 2011 2:48PM
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The ecoboost engine in the Ford Police Interceptor will prove to be far more durable and efficient than the GM or Fiat engine in my opinion. I've seen the test data, and Ford has put their reputation on the line with this revolutionary new concept of engines.

 

The Chargers have been plagued with transmission, electrical issues, and loss of body integrity; I have relatives that drive them on the beat daily. Once you get the cage in the Charger there is very little room in them. They had to go to Tahoe's and Expeditions for their K9 units because the Chargers were so much smaller than the Crown Vic.

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