LS-powered Caprice Police Car Lays Down the Law
With a fifth-gen Camaro drivetrain, this Caprice is already a high speed demon but with a few upgrades, it will be untouchable.
When we think of police cruisers, we are much more likely to recall sedans like the good ol’ Crown Vic. But there are some pretty remarkable police vehicles out there. Even more surprising, the Chevy Caprice Police Pursuit Vehicle (PPV), has quietly been the fastest production police vehicle in the United States. With top speeds of 155 mph and an LS under the hood, it is one tough ride.
Alex Palmeri of Legit Street Cars has always appreciated police cars. From the 1974 Dodge Monaco in The Blues Brothers, to the 1987 Mpoar-powered Caprice in Tommy Boy; Palmeri loved these tough, fast cars. But he found that a PPV can be the perfect canvas to turn an already powerful car into a hardcore horsepower machine.
Having purchased his 2012 Caprice PPV for only $7,500, Palmeri is planning to turn this into a “Legit Pursuit Vehicle.” While most police cars can be found for a good price, they have also been ridden hard. Not so, in the case of this Caprice. It comes from Florida, and is in very nice shape. (A police car from Florida, oh the stories it could tell….)
As it will now be in Chicago, Palmeri knows the first order of business is prepping it for the climate, and keeping it well protected from the elements. First he cleans up the paint, and then he applies ceramic coating by Avalon King.
It takes very little time, but makes a world of difference. It really makes everything from the bumper to the door handles look brand new. And, as a nice treat to viewers, he includes a discount code in the video. He also applies it to the glass, windshield, and headlight lenses. Which are also looking cooler with the addition of LED lights.
There are a few modifications that Palmeri is keen to do, all to boost performance. However, he does want to retain the cop car style. Mainly, he wants more speed, but honor its roots.
To that end, Legit Street Cars has started raising funds for the Chicago Police Memorial Foundation, and their “Get Behind the Vest” program. Avalon King has joined in, and will give a portion of proceeds to the organization. Very cool, guys.
Palmeri gives us a lot of background on the Caprice. It was sold only to law enforcement from 2012-17. Palmeri says the long wheelbase car is “basically a stretched Pontiac G8.”
As we get a tour of the car, it is in great shape, but will need some upgrades. The backseat is still ready for perps, with plastic seats, and windows that do not go down. But, as it was built for police, the Caprice is equipped with bigger breaks, upgraded suspension, and even has custom front tires. (One says “Justice” and the other “Pursuit.”)
The LS drivetrain is the real draw here. Under the hood is the 6.0L L77. It has 355 hp and 385 lb-ft of torque.
“It’s the cheapest way to get into a modern LS vehicle with a really rock-solid transmission and rear end,” says Palmeri.
And it is a great LS platform. With a big cam, headers, torque converter, and sticky rear tires; it will easily be able to hit 500 whp. After doing that, Palmeri will see how much oomph he gets from naturally aspirated. He may have to bring in some extra firepower with a nitrous kit.
He takes it for a test drive, and it runs beautifully and sounds solid.
“It is an absolute blast,” he says. “You have such good control over this car. The upgraded suspension and braking really shows.” It drives very much like a fifth-gen Camaro, and can hit 0-60 in a bout 6 seconds.
We will be following along to see what comes next as the mods start to take shape. Stay tuned!
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