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Introduced
in 1990 as an early 91 model, the Chevy Caprice was a major change in styling
over the boxy model it replaced. The Caprice had only one competitor in
the police car market now, it was the Ford Crown Victoria. The Dodge Diplomat
and Plymouth Gran Fury went out of production in 1989. New for the 1991
Caprice was a driver's airbag, anti-lock brakes, as well as the new styling.
The chassis and powertrain were carry-overs from the 1990 model.  For
the model year 1991, 60 percent of the police cars sold in the U.S. were
Chevrolets. The 91 Caprices were available with a 5.0 litre V-8 engine
with 170
hp for city patrols (such as NYPD's precint cars) or with a 5.7 litre V-8
at 195 hp for pursuit work. Most departments opted for the faster
5.7 litre. The 91 thru 96 Caprice had slight sheetmetal changes over its
6 years. The 91 Caprice had closed rear wheel well and its b and c pillars
were black. For 92 the body stayed the same but the b and c pillars were
now painted the same color as the body of the car. Changes for 1993
were open rear wheel wells, new tail lights, and
CHEVROLET printed
on the front grill. The body was unchange for 94, but on wheel covers
became optional and the LT1 engine was new. This new LT1 engine, which
borrowed technology from the Corvette LT1 engine, gave the best police
car perfermance since the big block engines of the 1970's. For 1995, the
car received a minor styling change, it had the rear roof pillar rounded
off. Each year saw the Caprice improve its performance. It fact the 94
Caprice far out performed the Ford police cars , including the 93 Mustang
(its last year as a police car) . |
