Car of the Week: 1980 Plymouth Gran Fury police car

[dodgechargerfan]

Patrick James collects memorabilia of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. As a constable on the force, buttons, tunics and other odds and ends are easy to obtain. Last year he obtained the ultimate piece of RCMP history: a restored former highway patrol car.

For decades MoPar vehicles were considered by many police officers who drove them as ideal for patrol and pursuit work. By the mid-1970s, strangling emissions regulations were having a an effect on vehicle size and performance. Among the “Big Three” automakers, Chrysler was the slowest to downsize. When revised “R” body cars premiered in the late 1970s, a Plymouth version was not available. This upset dealers who sold to police fleets. As a result, the Plymouth Gran Fury “R” body, basically a Newport with a different front grille, debuted for 1980 model year.

Read more.

 

[Dr.Jass]

:dance: Finally, a Car of the Week I can get into...




...the back seat...




...handcuffed.


But I really can get into it nonetheless!

 

[69.5CUDA]

that blue looks damn fine on it too

 

[restoman]

Nice. Don't see too many former Mountie cars around and I don't think I've ever seen an R body other than when they were in actual service.

 

[Diplomat_Wagon]

*boner*

 

[TheIronSausage]

*boner*

Ha!

 

[71ChargerRT]

I know where there's 3-4 decent, relatively complete, civilian versions sitting.

 

[TheIronSausage]

I really wouldn't mind one of these or a Dippy with a built 360 in it.. Black with police wheels.. I've never understood wanting to drive around in actual police livery, but I do like black sedans.. And the slotted wheels, and drilled dog dish caps look great on almost anything. Turns out Chrysler wheels will fit on Cherokees.. If I hadn't bought mine to thrash on in the woods, I could see it dressed in steelies and dog dishes with 30" BFG All Terrains.. However, as it came from the factory with my second favorite, turbines.. I'd have a hard time changing them, and depriving my Fury the chance to look a little more business.

 

[Dr.Jass]

Tough call between this body style and a Diplomat. On the one hand, the R-body is a big car, hundreds of pounds heavier than an M-body. On the other hand, the F/M/J-body front suspension is an unmitigated disaster when it comes to handling. Styling is too subjective to call, but I prefer the more-compact dimensions of the M-bodies... shame they're such miserable corner carvers.

If you see R-bodies lying in a junkyard, always look under the hood to see if it's got a metal "soup can" vacuum reservoir on the RH inner fender. It's the same part used for Ramcharger/Air Grabber hoods '70-'72. They still bring decent money on eßay. :dance: