Wonderful. I am thankful that there are car nerds that make sure cars like this are preserved. And yes, only car nerds keep cars like this going. Any millionaire can buy a vintage Ferrari.
I drove for an airport taxi company for a short while during a recession sometime in the '80's and the owner bought some '77 ex police cars which were Chevy Impala's and Pontiac Catalina's. Really enjoyed driving those when I got the chance compared to other cars they had. The Catalina's were even nicer than the Impala's. Enjoyed driving both of them!
My parents owned a dealer's wife's '77 Caprice w/the LM1 5.7 & F41 underpinnings. It felt like a friggin' go-kart! 1 of my present-day rides is my personal-ordered '95 9C1 Caprice. ALL my cars have front & rear sway bars. The closest facsimile, handling wise, to Mom & Dad's '77 was my 1980 Buick LeSabre. That too was my personal-order police package Buick....honest to God, Buick called it their "Lawman" package!
I have a ‘95 9C1 from Nassau County. Just effortlessly cruises at 100 mph and decent on mpg as long as you’re easy on acceleration. It’s no where near as utilitarian as my ‘11 Crown Vic PI.
I agree except being a GM made in the late 70s I’m not so sure about that last point. That being said I’d love to have one. My current daily driver is a retired police Crown Vic which itself hasn’t been the most reliable
Both the Caprice/Impala 9C1 and P71Vics were some of the best built sedans ever imo. I had an 87 9C1 Caprice back in 1999 with 257k miles on it, and I also had a 2001 P71 13 years ago with 225k miles on it. The Caprice eventually became too plugged up with carbon deposits and I accidentally smashed the P71 transmission pan into a rock at 25 mph… I drug both of those cars to hell and back… I’m still very impressed with how well those cars were built
He's right about how good the heavy duty suspension was. We used to race with a guy that ran one as a street stock ( oval track, asphalt). Used to be a taxi, but most taxis back then were ex cop cars. He won a lot of races with that car, he could drive right by you on the outside.
I ran a taxi for years and this was my fav kind of vehicle. Had an 84 dual fuel and a 90 stock tbi. One of my companeros ran an 85, on straight propane conversion which you would think it would be slow, but honestly it was scary when you mashed it, he had done something with the dwell. Possibly a mild cam, he wouldn't say. Best was, these cars would turn a tighter circle than my Mustang.
Just the moaning of those quadrajet secondaries on kick-down brings back a flood of memories to me of all those 70's & early 80's cop shows I used to watch as a kid. That sound never gets old!
@Philip BINGO about the sound of this engine! It was the go to chose for sound foley guys in film and TV who wanted engine sound effects this is certainly an unmistakable engine sound.
Hey Adam, it is absolutely amazing to me that any car from 1977 can survive with such few miles, especially a police vehicle!!! Thanks for sharing this interesting video!!! 👍👍
I'm guessing there is some story behind that as it was probably kept out of any real hard duty and served as more of a personal car to some "higher up" in the department. This car probably never ran a pursuit or even had a perp in the back.
@@kennethsouthard6042 I doubt that this would've been a 'personal issue' use vehicle. This had the base 350 and no AC, no passenger side mirror, key buzzer (which was deleted on actual police issue 9C1s) and no mounts for any accessories. Chiefs cars were typically outfitted with every available option and were the "nicest" out of the bunch. Considering that the C-body Gran Fury and Royal Monaco were still available in 1977 with the big 440ci engine, very few departments bothered with the LTDs and Impala/Caprice in '77, which left GM with a surplus of police package components at the end of every model year. What is more likely is that this is a late year model fleet vehicle outfitted with the 9C1 package. GM and Chrysler were notorious for sticking leftover "severe duty" packages on base model fleet vehicles produced late in the model year. It was a way to consolidate leftover parts laying around. For instance, I bought a 1991.5 Chevy Caprice at an auction, and it was a base model fleet salesman car (I believe it was originally purchased by Sears.) The interior was completely base, with no carpet, and it had the 350 police motor and HD suspension that wasn't even an option on the standard, non-police Caprice. GM had a surplus of severe duty packages that they mated to whatever leftover base chassis that they had in their inventory, and it was just luck of the draw whether you got the high output 350 or the weak and tired 305. Sears paid almost $3,000 less than a dealer-inventory base model, and it had the high performance engine and chassis that you couldn't even get in the top of the line dealer model. So that's probably what this is. A local business ordered a fleet Impala that had been outfitted at the factory with a leftover police package, and nobody wanted to drive it because it had no air conditioner or radio, so it sat around until being donated to a church as a tax writeoff. Those malaise era smallblocks were so detuned with vaccuum hoses and emission controls that if you planned on passing someone on the highway, it had better be a VW Beetle or AMC Gremlin, because they had no power. On top of that, they were spec'd for Premium gas, unlike the comparable Ford which could run on 87 octane, so they were costlier to keep running than the competition. Back in 1979 or so, I rented the Oldsmobile equivalent of this Impala from Hertz, and it had the 307 Olds engine. I had a minor panic attack on I95 when I tried to pass a semi. He was in the right lane going 60mph, and I had that Oldsmobile floored trying to get it up to 65 to go around him, while all the traffic in the left lane had slowed down while I tried to push that boat down the road. I think it was two years later when they bumped the compression slightly and added another 20hp to the 305/307, which it badly needed.
@@RockandrollNegro Adam stated that he actually traced this car down to the Chicago Transit Authority Police and further found out that they were forced to procure their cars from Chicago PD which did not spec them with A/C. Another poster stated that police cars in Chicago at the time did not have A/C as they felt that officers in cars with the windows down would make them more accessible to the community. Having a car that was only used by you or a select few would have been a big perk no matter how it was equipped. I worked for a time for the City of Los Angeles, and it was common to see police cars parked outside of certain offices that were not driven much on a day-to-day basis. These cars were also significantly older than the ones on patrol but looked almost new. I think this car led a similar life.
@@RockandrollNegro Question, did the base '91s come with crank windows? I've heard some whales had cranks but I don't even know how or where you'd put the cranks in. It sounds like your '91 Fleet had very few options. I've even heard some whales had the 4.3L V6 with 140 hp. My grandma had a '91 LTZ and she said it had a 350 but it only had a 305 (She's knowledgeable about vehicles otherwise). That would be cool. It reminds me of the '97-'01 Camry CEs that had the V6s and 5-speed sticks, but NO options. Car & Driver called the CE V6 the "Road Runner of the '90s."
@@kennethsouthard6042 Even with no air? LOL. But there's something to be said for having a private car. Similar to living in a house with multiple bathrooms instead of just one. I'm glad GM used up the special service components to get rid of them, rather than just junking everything. I'm sure those who bought the whales were in for a nice surprise when they saw the 350 under the hood and not a 305!
It’s great to hear the admiration in your voice for every car you own. Any new owner of a car can have excitement for a new acquisition, but you’ve owned this one for ten years and your passion for the car is clearly still there. Really cool.
Adam, those seats, homely as they are, & because they're part & parcel optionally w/the 9C1 package, do in fact possess HD springs & additional foam insulation if BS1 is checked off on the order sheet.
Just can't find simple, no-nonsense cars like this today. I'd drive this any day, instead of any of the new-tech-laden, over regulated so-called things that are supposed to pass for cars.
I’m with you. Back in those days I drove cars with lots of options, but today, simpler is definitely better. I would gladly go back to crank windows. After you pay the bill to repair some of this junk, you ask yourself “Is this really necessary?”
I had a 1979 very base Impala 4 door with a 305 V8 I bought in 1981. I used it as a winter car in Maryland. It had 93,000 miles on it. I treated it bad and it would not die. I had the alternator rebuilt and that was it. I kept it 4 years and sold it with 175,000 miles for more than I paid for it but I did polish up the dull gold paint and fix the driver's seat which had broken springs. That cost me nothing.
I've been watching more and more episodes on your channel and I'm being totally drawn in. It took me a while, because malaise era cars with 4 doors are not really my cup of tea. But what grabbed me was your low key, very down to earth presentation and the history of these cars. It's also simply awesome to get insight on the pros and cons because you're one of the very few ones who are in a position to compare the competing cars of the era.. In a nutshell: I love the channel and I'm beginning to appreciate cars I otherwise wouldn't give a second glance. Fantastic job and proof, you don't have to do a lot of flashy window dressing to make a UA-cam channel entertaining.
I’ll second this. Just discovered your channel a few weeks ago and love your taste in cars and your style of videos. Great job on this one…love this car!
When my wife and I returned from England (USAF) in 1992 we went to the Chevy dealer in Ada Oklahoma and they had just traded in a 88 Caprice. An 81 year old guy had bought a new Chevy and traded the 88 model in. 24,000 miles. He had ordered it new with the police suspension. It was best highway car I ever drove even though the three years that we owned it, the national speed limit was 55. I was stationed in Missouri so there were plenty of windy roads to contend with. The 305 was adequate but did no have a lot of torque. At 55 mph going into a very strong headwind one day the trans shifted down to keep the speed at the set speed. Nonetheless it was a good family car. My wife, a school teacher wanted a minivan which was all the craze at the time. She bought a new 95 Windstar. I placed an ad in the local paper and was buried in phone calls as the Caprice was a very popular car in rural Missouri. Sold it to a lineman with a large family. It was around town another eight or so years but by then was looking pretty worn out. Also got postcards from some company trying to buy it for the Saudi used car market. I guess they were popular there as well.
That color on that body style is to die for. About 12 years ago I almost bought an 81 Imperial in that color (foolishly i waffled and didnt get it) Chrysler’s name for that green is called “seaspray green”
I drove an early 80s model of this car for work sometimes, and it definitely handled very well for a big car of its day. I was happily surprised with what I was able to make it do. Nice car for sure.
I remember being so disappointed when the boxy downsized GM first cars came out, feeling that they really had lost something, until I started driving them. What a revelation on how superior they were for handling and over all drivability...i was sold. I can only imagine how nice this Chevy must drive with its upgraded suspension
@@Richard4point6 They got a little better in '82 in my opinion. They weren't totally horrible looking, but they weren't what I wanted. Although I would've taken a '79 Cutlass with a '69 350 Rocket, and enjoyed that.
My first car was a 1978 Impala. Plain, few options. It was this exact color, green interior, cloth seats. It did have the heavy duty rear end, 305 2 bbl engine, I believe 3 speed auto trans. It also did have air conditioning. Was a very reliable car. We traded it in at 187K miles, still ran and drove fine. Total road sofa, great highway car, handled like a waterbed. :P And I miss it.
ngtflyer, Chevy 305 CID engines were slow as hell gutless turds. I had a '77 Impala with a 305 engine. Going uphill, it didn't have enough vacuum and the A/C, and heater, would cancel out until the car was on flat road again. Highway speeds, passing another car was a problem as well. I got rid of the car after a few months and replaced it with a Ford 4.6 Crown Victoria. Far better car and I drove it for 250k miles.
It's such low mileage because it only traveled from the station to the local donut shop a couple times a week. It's a plain Jane, but still a decent basic family sedan. Affordable and relatively reliable for a time when so many pieces of junk were rolling off the line.
I remember riding in a '77 Caprice Classic station wagon when they first came out. Even in standard non-police form, the downsized Chevrolets were just nice driving cars and exactly the right size for everyday use. And, they had a roomy feeling inside that the '73-'77 GM mid sized sedans (with similar exterior dimensions) did not.
Thanks for the Video Adam! My first car in 1998 was a well worn 1983 base Impala with a 305 and a lot of Bondo and tin riveted floor pans (Canada eh!) it was light blue with light blue cloth interior that had no front centre armrest and no rear door switches for the dome light, It did have the full wheelcovers but I always wanted to add the dog dish "poverty" caps. People used to pull over to let me pass on the Highway as they thought it was a cop car. Overall it was was quite reliable until the camshaft flattened out a lobe but since I was getting paid good mileage money through work and it had already paid for itself 3-4 times over ( it had about 245,000 Km's on it at the time). I replaced it with a 1988 Oldsmobile 88 Brougham with less than 60,000 miles which promptly stripped the nylon teeth off the timing chain on the 3.8 v6 (not 3800) luckily while starting and not while running. I redid the timing chain and replaced the bent pushrods in my driveway and she ran and rode beautifully the rest of the time I owned it... which was all it did beautifully because it must have been built on a Friday afternoon before a holiday.It was by far and above the most troublesome car I ever owned (mostly small things that were designed cheaply aside from the timing chain but something was constantly going wrong and turned me off of GM products, especially front drive products for the last 20 years. I still love the rear drive full and mid size cars from the 70's to 90's from all American car brands. My family (Father, grandfather and uncles) was pretty much a GM family and we had the following units through the 70's and 80's that I remember fondly and provided decently reliable service (mostly with 350 and 305 v8 engines) :1974 oldsmobile Cutlass supreme wagon, 1975 Malibu sedan, 1975 Caprice Town sedan, 1976 Oldsmobile Delta 88 Royale Town Sedan, 1978 Oldsmolbile Delta 88 Royale, 1978 malibu sedan, 1979 Chevrolet 20 pickup, 1978 Chevrolet 10 pickup, 1984 Impala sedan v6, 1987 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme sedan v6, 1987 Caprice Classic wagon HD trailering suspension and steering ( this one probably handled the best but was underpowered with it's smooth reliable 307 4bbl) I see another comment here about the 77-90, 91-96 B bodies being derived from the previous "collonade" A bodies and I know from my own experience briefly owning a 1975 Buick century sedan that the underpinnings were very similar but the driving dynamics were different, especially in winter, as they seemed very nose heavy . The doors were definitely heavier as well as seeming to have thicker sheet metal for use in the fenders and quarters. If this is the case I was unaware until recently this was done. I would be interested (and maybe others too?) in seeing a Porch Chat series about how different manufacturers "reused" their old mid size and compact platforms when downsizing in the late 70's and early 80's. For instance: - Did Chrysler derive their 1979 "downsized" full sizers like the Chrysler Newport (and platform mates) from the earlier Plymouth Satellite/Fury Dodge Monaco platform. -Did Ford derive the "panther" platform, 1979 LTD/Grand Marquis/Lincoln Town Car from the Torino/LTD II/ Cougar platform. -Did GM derive the 1978 G-Body Cutlass/Regal/Malibu/Lemans from the earlier Nova platform ( this one is tricky because the Nova was unibody with Subframe at the front and leafs at the back while the G-body was full frame and 4 coil springs, although the rear section was very weak and many examples I've seen up here in Northern Ontario have rusted through long before the body has even rusted through. If you look at ads from the 70's the NOVA sedans seemed to have the same trunk pan /spare tire placement design as the G-bodies and the later G-Body sedans adopted the same rear roof profile as the 76 Seville( NOVA platform) for the 4 door sedans once the Seville was restyled and changed platforms.(looking at pictures I definitely see similarities between the bodies of the cars as well as the overall outside dimensions. - I have read that the Rear Wheel Drive 1980's Dodge Diplomat/Chrysler 5th Avenue was derived from the Dodge aspen platform and have read that the front door from any Dodge aspen will fit the front door from any RWD platform Diplomat or 1980's Rear wheel Drive 5th avenue with the bump strips and aluminum trim being the only difference. -I have also read that the Ford Granada (1st generation) was Based on Maverick underpinnings. Thanks for reading this and I look forward to your next video!
Hey Adam, I am enjoying your videos tremendously. This is another example of your passion for real vehicles that anyone could enjoy. Vehicles that are a pleasure to drive on a daily basis and not seeing how fast or quick they can be. Keep them coming.
I had a 79 caprice classic, so similar cosmetically, just some nicer parts inside and underneath. When I wrecked mine, I fixed it with junk yard parts from a 77 Impala.. and painted it with spray cans of touch-up paint!! after that debauchery it really looked like your car ;-D
4:31 Drum brakes in the rear are still viable. Due to the laws of physics there is a weight shift to the front under hard braking. Even without taking that into account, rear brakes only do about 35% of the work. And drum brakes are immune to dirt, sand and gravel being thrown up from the rest of the car, unlike exposed disc brakes.
Also a lighter setup overall. Some old school drag racers even swap back to drum setups in the front for weight savings. Fortunately brake fade isn't an issue because they only have to heat up once lol
My first nearly new cars was a 79 Impala 4 door, only had the 305 2 bbl, gold on gold cloth with an AM radio and rear defroster. Great car. Even the base suspension was a revelation compared to earlier 70’s cars. Those 77-79 B cars were wonderful cars. Basically they were just rebodied 73-77 A bodies. The frame and powertrain were carried over but they made a much more space efficient body. At the time I missed the hardtop body style but grew to like the honest boxy look. It was quite roomy but it didn’t have the interior width of the earlier full sized car. Being in the north east it’s end came from rust. It didn’t rot everywhere like early cars but on mine the frame behind the back wheels got soft and the biggest problem was the window frames on the front doors got soft where they weld onto the doors. The windows no longer stayed snug against the body and the wind noise and water entry drove me nuts. She went to scrap
John...good observations, but note the 73 frame was 121.5" wheel base and the 77 was 116" ! Also allot narrower, and was completely revised suspension design in 77, you missed his points about the significance of the 77 changes.
Thanks, for the video. I drove one like this one back in 1979-80 when I worked as a transit analyst for the New Orleans Office of Transit Administration. They were great for doing field work. Used them to trail buses and do passenger on/off counts. Had them on the road 8-9 hours per day. These had the 305 or 350 V-8 and were very reliable and comfortable. I think they also had the heavy duty suspension also. Thanks, for your videos. Love your UA-cam site.
Car & Driver did a review of the 9C1 Malibu back in 78 or 79 and hinted that if you knew someone at the dealer, a civilian could order one in that spec. We had Impala's for drivers ed back in 1980. It was a solid car even loaded with 6 people. I still remember the sound of the 4 barrel opening up while accelerating onto the highway. Thanks for the memories!
Adam-I worked for an oil drilling company in Houston, TX from 1978 thru 79 and the Treasury of the company had a 4 door 77 Impala with the 350 4 barrel but it was light metallic blue with light blue velour interior. Of all the company cars my company had which included the large late 70s Fords and Mercurys the Impala was the quickest best handling of any of them. Steering was quick and little effort for the time. My favorite of the company cars. Later my father bought a low mileage buckskin color 77 Impala 6 passenger station wagon with a tweed interior and the 350 4 barrel used from Enterprise and it had the same handling and was quick as well. My father loved that car.
I can hear the "BOO's" already, but I liked the 305. In 1978 I used to drag my buddy's 350 and he couldn't gap me to 100 + MPH. Same exact engine internals except for the pistons. The 305 has thicker cylinder walls. Revved it 'till it wouldn't rev anymore at every shift. Beat on that motor and still got nearly 300,000 on that car. The wheels were literally falling off of it and still ran great. Caprice station wagon.
Great review Adam. My dad bought a 1978 Impala wagon off the showroom floor. I was 12 then and boy, what an impression that left. He loved that car as it was his daily driver and also pulled our camper. He took me along when he was shopping and test drove a Ford and Chrysler wagon. The Ford wagon was huge on the outside but less room on the inside compared to the Impala and the Chrysler was very noisy. It sounded like the transmission was inside the car. The Impala was a much more solid feeling car according to him with the only problem he ever had was a soft camshaft which GM replaced under warranty.
My Dad bought a 79 wagon we called it the Tank, he pulled our camper with it and took it on roads that people today would probably not take their 70K SUV's on. Plus the 350 4barrel was a blast (The last year they offered it)
Those were very nicely done, I recall riding in a 77 Impala wagon that was used as a shuttle vehicle for an airport parking lot, it was smooth and extremely quiet, even under that harsh use I was very impressed. I never had one, but years later I had a 78 Cutlass Calais with the 305, I was shocked at how rock solid that was, cam notwithstanding.
That is a BEEEEAAAAUUUUUtiful car and you are so fortunate to have found it in the condition it is in. My uncle had an Impala of the same vintage and his was almost as spartan in the interior. It did have AC and an AM/FM radio but he rarely used the AC, even in the summer. He was an engineer and he thought of cars as pure Point A to Point B machines, nothing more. He was very smart, though, and knew the Impala with the right engine and undercarriage options would be the best choice. I loved that car, and I love this one too. Great video.
I love everything about this car, it’s perfect! I wonder how much heavier it is compared to my 1977 Chevy Nova. The reason I’m wondering is because my 2 door hatchback Nova had the 250 six, and it was an awesome little engine! Super peppy, and pretty good on gas. An Impala with the same engine might not have been that bad for civilian use.
Yeah Adam. I love it that you love showing these cars that were of the everyday norm. Back in the day. They were cars i grew up in as a young kid. Grandpa had a 78 chevy caprice classic. Parents had an 84 Buick LeSabre Limited. Lots of good memories. Thanks Adam.
I had an 83 Impala as my first car. It had the powerhouse LG4 305. I flipped the air cleaner lid and drove it like it was a Trans Am. It wasn't fast but at least it sounded cool when the secondaries opened up.
Just prior to L.A.P.D. going to this era Caprice they had a mix of Plymouth Fury's and Matadors(one of my favorites) and the Sheriff's department was using Chevy Nova's. Then both departments started using the Caprice. I don't think either went to Crown Vic's until the 90's Panther body.
This is an amazing car, Adam. Wonderful condition! Over here in the Netherlands, we didn't get many of them of course, except a couple of hearses (the wagon version) and a handful of taxi cabs. But most of those were the Caprices. Back in the day, my uncle had a 1978-ish LeSabre which he ran as a taxi, I can remember riding in it, it was amazing and probably quite similar to this Impala. Thank you for everything you post for us to enjoy 👍🏻😀
I had a 1979 Caprice Classic sedan with the 305 2bbl. It was a very quiet engine as well......exhaust was very quiet.....catalytic converter absorbed alot of the exhaust sound...It was geared for economy with 2.56-1 axle ratio so despite it having a 3 speed automatic without overdrive, the engine did not spin too fast at highway speeds.....It returned around 19mpg on highway trips.
That is a beautiful car, the engine is so smooth and quiet and so clean. What a gem. The older I get the more I love these clean original cars that were once boring but today are fascinatingly elegant in their simplicity.
If I am not mistaken the police pack for GM Holden cars was called 9C1. Basically similar upgrades to that impala. Largest 6 cylinder or v8 option, FE2 suspension, largest steel wheel/tyre combo, bigger alternator, upgraded brakes. From your reviews it seems it was wise to option the heavy duty suspension to minimise the floaty ride. The revelation in Australia was when Holden rejigged the suspension of the local cars and called it "RTS radial tuned suspension". Suddenly the previously understeering Kingswood (sorta impala equivalent) had well controlled suspension system that allowed the car to both handle and ride well. It forced Ford and Chrysler to rejig their own big car suspension systems.
We had the TH200 transmission, and surprisingly lasted for 100k miles. Once it died (wouldn't shift out of 1st), we replaced it with the 350 transmission.
Back in high school, I did a lot of "rocking horses" burnouts with my 78' impala lol 😆 replaced a few U goints in the process but had a lot of fun with that car haha 😄 great videos! Love the classic cars . 👍
You're frickin nuts man, I like to light tires and run them all the way to their max speed but, I wouldn't do that crazy rocking horse or neutral drop shit on my worst enemy's car.
Others have mentioned this, but the first thing I thought of when I saw those seats was "Taxi!". Easy to clean and durable vinyl seats that I really miss. Thank you for this video.
Absolutely love this green Impala! My father had a ‘77 Pontiac Parisienne (Canadian), two tone green, with the 350 ci. I got my drivers licence with that car. Every night when we went cruising, the first thing I did was flip the air breather cover over. It made a beautiful loud moan when you opened the quadrant fully. Give it a try! Thanks for sharing.
Brings back great memories of my buddy's 78 Caprice, he had the f41 suspension also. I wonder why one of the transit police didn't buy this car back in the day? Perhaps they did, then stored it away. Glad it is in your care now.
Those box Caprices were a death trap the rear end was so light it would swap ends under hard braking or bumpy roads with a curve, Thankfully the Bubble caprice in 91 solved the issue by moving the driveline back towards the rear giving much better weight distribution.
Thank you for taking me on a trip down memory lane! My father had a 78 caprice classic it was very similar to your 77 impala. Growing up it was always my favorite car my father owned. I love your channel and thank you for all you do!
This one brings back memories for me too. Spent several years of my childhood in a 77 Caprice. This review is full of amazing auditory reminders of those days. Hearing that turn signal, seatbelt buzzer, and even the starter brought back instant memories from 40 years ago.
I absolutely love these cars! I had a 1979 Caprice with the 350 4bbl and the F41 package. It was one of the best cars I have ever owned. My parents bought it new, and when I eventually got it I cut the single exhaust and cat off and put dual exhausts on it, I put turbo mufflers on it but I eventually got tired of the loudness so I put stock mufflers back on, it really did help with its performance and you are right about the cornering ability, it would not lean no matter how sharp a corner was! I ended up driving the wheels off of it. I thought about a restore/refresh but the Michigan winters were just too hard on her, the body was still solid and rust free but the frame and floors were not good, not to mention the Dukes of Hazard jumps I put her through, yes, all four wheels off the ground! Thanks for the review on that awesome car, I really enjoyed it, especially when you hammered it. #fondmemories On a side note, we have the same taste in cars, I had a ‘72 Mercury Marquis like your brown one, it had the 429 and it was a beautiful green with a white vinyl top and color match hubcaps, and I still have one of the first cars I have ever bought, it’s a 1974 Buick Riviera, it’s Ruby Red with a black vinyl top, with Houndstooth interior and Rallye wheels. I’ve had it 41 years!✌️
THIS is my favorite Chevrolet of all time. Ford and Mopar speak to me more than the General. But I LOVE the 77 thru late 80s 'sheer look' Caprice/Impala. Forgive me Corvette lovers.
Great car! I agree that the poverty hubcaps were an upgrade visually, which is heresy from a man who covets wheel bling like I do. I am consistently impressed with your ability to compare and contrast contemporary offerings from different manufacturers on such a variety of points --minutia, really--and so seamlessly. It's as impressive as it is appreciated.
The poverty caps were a definite improvement as the fullsized wheel covers often turned into Frisbees on patrol cars. Replacing those hubcaps on a regular basis got pretty expensive.
Nice story. Nice car. I had a 1977 Plymouth Fury. Ex police car with the slant 6. The University police used it. I paid $76.51 for it in 1990. It would run 123 mph according to radar. The 1988 Highway Patrol Chevy like yours could only go 125. The notch back Mustang (HP) beat us both at 132. I hope you enjoy that car for a long time. Out in our neck of the woods, we called them dog dish caps.
My grandfather had a 1977 Delta 88 Oldsmobile and I would say that car and this one were very similar. He had the same drivetrain as yours and he pulled a twenty foot travel trailer all over the country with it and it pulled it quite easily. My grandparents were so awesome about spending time with us and taught us so many things that I still remember. I think if I were to do anything with that would to add air-conditioning to it, but that's it. The air conditioning in my grandparents car was spectacular. His car because he pulled a trailer had rear air bags underneath it and what a ride that it had even when he wasn't pulling the trailer. On long trips without the trailer was so comfortable and it would just glide over any bumps that was before it. I do remember seeing these unmarked police cars back in the day and I always loved the look of these. Where I live is in south Mississippi gets very hot down here and these unmarked cars had the windows blacked out and with it's cb antennas made the car look so sophisticated. Hey, thanks for sharing your amazing find here. It's very rare to see a car like this one kept in original form. Keep the videos coming. ✌️🙂
Interesting car. Our Department all got Novas of this vintage for Squad and unmarked vehicles back when these were new. They had replaced the Monocos with Chevys. I had watched a later one of these Caprice squad cars race another LEO in the force that had gotten a new Crown Vic and that Chevy ate it up. Our Force went X body, G Body, then these B body cars.
The amazing part of the redesign of these was that even though the car was smaller externally, most of the interior dimensions grew in comparison to the 1971-76 cars
The 9C1's of that era were badass. I had an 82 9C1 former CHP (California Highway Patrol) car many years ago (probably like 1991 or 92). It had 260k miles on it according to the records I got when I bought it from a private security company. IIRC, I paid a whole $300.00 for it! That 350 sure felt like it had more than 170 HP! The Quadrajet made a great noise when it opened up. The handling was spectacular! I used to scare my buddies on cloverleaf on/offramps. The sign would say 25 MPH, I could double that. Lots of my friends wouldn't ride with me again after I took them for a REAL ride! Haha! Sure would like to find one again. And, yeah, those swaybars were HUGE. My 9C1 ended up a parts car after I parked it behind a local gas station overnight to go to a party, and damn thieves stole the carb, distributor, battery, and some other stuff from it. I didn't have the cash to replace all the stolen parts, so I took what I could and the rest got hauled away by the local police dept. The front and rear swaybars live on to this day in my 1967 Chevelle Malibu Sport Coupe, which I have owned for over 32 years. Yes, my 67 handles VERY well! Hotchkiss 1 inch lower springs with higher rates, Bilstein shocks, and those 82 9C1 swaybars are an awesome combo!
Yes to the excellent ride and handling of this model! I had a 1980 wagon and put Bilstein shocks on it. We have massive frost heaves here and that car could take them with aplomb without slowing down at all. Many vehicles today are inferior in that regard. Great video, I totally enjoyed it.
Man, that Impala right there is my dream car! Amazing survivor you got there. I had an unmarked detective car in the late 00's with only 69k miles, it was a 1996 with the LT-1 engine, but looks-wise, I love the simplicity of these early down-sized B-bodies. It's too bad most all of them got driven into the ground and scrapped over the decades but if I can't ever find a 9C1, I'd settle for a 77' Impala coupe with the rear wire window.
As a teenager I was a lead foot. My father had all kinds of company vehicles, many with big blocks. I knew good power! He had a Caprice Classic loaded up with 2 tone paint. Big and roomy, but a slug in the power department for sure! Nice car you have! Amazing mileage!
The 1977 Impala Wagon hauled me and my siblings from New Jersey to Ohio during 1980s summers. Ours was seaweed green and the air conditioning did not work. Loved that car!
Great video! Spent 2 years in a 9C1 Chevy Caprice. Same car as this one, they just changed the car name. They were way quicker than the Ford Crown Vic’s we also had.
Man, I could listen to that Quadrajet open up and sing all day long.... I know the LS is a superior engine but that old small block will always have a special place in my heart. Lol
I learned to drive my mother’s blue ‘84 CC, then my brother got a Navy blue ‘84 Impala. Now he drives an ‘89 CC, nearly identical to mom’s, light blue but has the Brougham top. I’m an outcast because I have a ‘95 9C1, white, I call (Dove bar soap)
Great vid, I’ve had many 80’s 9C1 Caprice’s, they ride and handle great. I believe the weight of the vehicle was right on par and contributed greatly to this . 👍
very beautiful car. I've always loved the 77 - 90 Impalas and Caprice. One of my uncles had a white 77 with that neat back window. It was a two door with the landau top. Another uncle of mine had a 1986 Caprice brougham; awesome cars! Any luck finding a grill for the '71 Merc?
Until my 91 Caprice 9CO1 it was the best law enforcement vehicle I ever drove. Not the fastest (the 70 Dodge Polara police 440 was, hands down), but braked, handled and protected you with comfort and steel. Also had an 82 Impala 9CO1 that did not have the guts of the 77 but, with Goodyear Blue Streak tires, drove like it was on rails. The 91 was the apex police pursuit vehicle.
Oh, forgot to mention....the detective or undercover units are THE ones to get! Not all clapped-out like the marked units, usually. Mine had bucket seats with no console, column shift (of course), the rubber floor covering, and the "poverty caps" on it. The security company I got it from had installed GoodYear Gatorback VR50's which I think was the OE tire. 225/60/15? And that quick-ratio steering box....man, another thing I wish I would have yanked from that 9C1 after it was so rudely stripped by those damn thieves. Being a California car, and still being in Cali, it had ZERO rust. I have no doubt that I would still have that 9C1 to this very day if it hadn't been stripped the way it was. I was so frigging mad about that! In fact, I am still angry about it!
Wonderful video. I remember the 1985 Impala 9C1s. Great cars too. The best of the breed was the 1989-90 Caprice 9C1s. The last of the breed. Beautiful car. Hard to believe that she was shielded from the Chicago winters and survived intact.
I've always been a fan (moreso of the 2 door 1977 Impala re-style). The crisp, modern for the day lines was a great look, and especially the G body redesign for 1978. Love the content on your channel, Adam. I hope that you can laugh at this......I've felt that you have a Ned Flanders thing going, and the "pretty darn good" comment and the mention of the church sale made me smile. What I like about your style, is that you don't have the typical car guy tastes, and the vehicles that you like reflect this. It's something different and unique and I watch because of your knowledge of more forgotten cars from the 70's and early 80's or things like the Lean Burn Chrysler system.
My sister's husband had a 77 Impala he won at a raffle. It was a 2-door burgundy coupe. I loved that car, great ride. He put an aftermarket Clarion cassette player in it and we were ready to cruise.
I had a blue 1977 Impala sedan when I was in college. It had the 305 v8. Pretty basic features. It was comfortable, reliable and lovable. Also, people thought it was an unmarked cop car... so no one sped around me.
I've been looking forward to seeing a video on this one since Adam first showed a preview. In general, not a fan of a lot of post-'72 GM products, but this down-sized Impala/Caprice was one of GM's good moves. And there is something about a 'plain Jane' that holds appeal. And yes, by comparison, the big Fords, not yet downsized, were wallowing barges that squealed the tires at even a hint of a corner. What a great find!
I grew up with one. We had a 1977 two door with the bubble window. My uncle worked at an auction in Wheeling IL upon purchase. It's amazing that car lasted all of those years in Chicago without salt damage. Our Impala eventually succumbed to salt damage. I did not like riding in that vehicle while wearing shorts on hot summer days. 🤣
It's still so friggin' hilarious to think that this was the "compact/downsized" model of the Impala/Caprice, really, same thing. And that car still was the same thing up to 1990
Great story about how you found a ultra low mileage super rare police package Caprice! I wish I was that lucky! I’m a big fan of police package vehicles 👍👍👍
Wonderful. I am thankful that there are car nerds that make sure cars like this are preserved. And yes, only car nerds keep cars like this going. Any millionaire can buy a vintage Ferrari.
I drove for an airport taxi company for a short while during a recession sometime in the '80's and the owner bought some '77 ex police cars which were Chevy Impala's and Pontiac Catalina's. Really enjoyed driving those when I got the chance compared to other cars they had. The Catalina's were even nicer than the Impala's. Enjoyed driving both of them!
My parents owned a dealer's wife's '77 Caprice w/the LM1 5.7 & F41 underpinnings. It felt like a friggin' go-kart! 1 of my present-day rides is my personal-ordered '95 9C1 Caprice. ALL my cars have front & rear sway bars. The closest facsimile, handling wise, to Mom & Dad's '77 was my 1980 Buick LeSabre. That too was my personal-order police package Buick....honest to God, Buick called it their "Lawman" package!
I have a ‘95 9C1 from Nassau County. Just effortlessly cruises at 100 mph and decent on mpg as long as you’re easy on acceleration. It’s no where near as utilitarian as my ‘11 Crown Vic PI.
I just had to watch this again. I really want this car.
I love the clean, simple, yet stylish appearance of these honest sedans. I've had one eye open for a nice example myself.
Your not alone👀.
Wonderful car with a great colour! I love American cars from that era. Phil from the UK.
I loved these cars. But never driven one. Thanks for videos. 😊
Such a nice, straightforward sedan. Simple, roomy, and well built.
No frills.
I agree except being a GM made in the late 70s I’m not so sure about that last point. That being said I’d love to have one. My current daily driver is a retired police Crown Vic which itself hasn’t been the most reliable
Both the Caprice/Impala 9C1 and P71Vics were some of the best built sedans ever imo. I had an 87 9C1 Caprice back in 1999 with 257k miles on it, and I also had a 2001 P71 13 years ago with 225k miles on it. The Caprice eventually became too plugged up with carbon deposits and I accidentally smashed the P71 transmission pan into a rock at 25 mph… I drug both of those cars to hell and back… I’m still very impressed with how well those cars were built
He's right about how good the heavy duty suspension was. We used to race with a guy that ran one as a street stock ( oval track, asphalt). Used to be a taxi, but most taxis back then were ex cop cars. He won a lot of races with that car, he could drive right by you on the outside.
I ran a taxi for years and this was my fav kind of vehicle. Had an 84 dual fuel and a 90 stock tbi. One of my companeros ran an 85, on straight propane conversion which you would think it would be slow, but honestly it was scary when you mashed it, he had done something with the dwell. Possibly a mild cam, he wouldn't say. Best was, these cars would turn a tighter circle than my Mustang.
I think Rick Hunter loved to get these cars sideways.
Am I nuts, or were the copper HD suspension versions a bit higher (ground clearance) and had taller rubber?
@@bradford_shaun_murray he drove the Monaco..
@@71plymouth. ok, yeah the Dodge Monaco, that's right, usually in brown.
Just the moaning of those quadrajet secondaries on kick-down brings back a flood of memories to me of all those 70's & early 80's cop shows I used to watch as a kid. That sound never gets old!
@Philip
BINGO about the sound of this engine! It was the go to chose for sound foley guys in film and TV who wanted engine sound effects this is certainly an unmistakable engine sound.
Hey Adam, it is absolutely amazing to me that any car from 1977 can survive with such few miles, especially a police vehicle!!! Thanks for sharing this interesting video!!! 👍👍
I'm guessing there is some story behind that as it was probably kept out of any real hard duty and served as more of a personal car to some "higher up" in the department. This car probably never ran a pursuit or even had a perp in the back.
@@kennethsouthard6042 I doubt that this would've been a 'personal issue' use vehicle. This had the base 350 and no AC, no passenger side mirror, key buzzer (which was deleted on actual police issue 9C1s) and no mounts for any accessories. Chiefs cars were typically outfitted with every available option and were the "nicest" out of the bunch. Considering that the C-body Gran Fury and Royal Monaco were still available in 1977 with the big 440ci engine, very few departments bothered with the LTDs and Impala/Caprice in '77, which left GM with a surplus of police package components at the end of every model year.
What is more likely is that this is a late year model fleet vehicle outfitted with the 9C1 package. GM and Chrysler were notorious for sticking leftover "severe duty" packages on base model fleet vehicles produced late in the model year. It was a way to consolidate leftover parts laying around.
For instance, I bought a 1991.5 Chevy Caprice at an auction, and it was a base model fleet salesman car (I believe it was originally purchased by Sears.) The interior was completely base, with no carpet, and it had the 350 police motor and HD suspension that wasn't even an option on the standard, non-police Caprice. GM had a surplus of severe duty packages that they mated to whatever leftover base chassis that they had in their inventory, and it was just luck of the draw whether you got the high output 350 or the weak and tired 305. Sears paid almost $3,000 less than a dealer-inventory base model, and it had the high performance engine and chassis that you couldn't even get in the top of the line dealer model.
So that's probably what this is. A local business ordered a fleet Impala that had been outfitted at the factory with a leftover police package, and nobody wanted to drive it because it had no air conditioner or radio, so it sat around until being donated to a church as a tax writeoff.
Those malaise era smallblocks were so detuned with vaccuum hoses and emission controls that if you planned on passing someone on the highway, it had better be a VW Beetle or AMC Gremlin, because they had no power. On top of that, they were spec'd for Premium gas, unlike the comparable Ford which could run on 87 octane, so they were costlier to keep running than the competition.
Back in 1979 or so, I rented the Oldsmobile equivalent of this Impala from Hertz, and it had the 307 Olds engine. I had a minor panic attack on I95 when I tried to pass a semi. He was in the right lane going 60mph, and I had that Oldsmobile floored trying to get it up to 65 to go around him, while all the traffic in the left lane had slowed down while I tried to push that boat down the road. I think it was two years later when they bumped the compression slightly and added another 20hp to the 305/307, which it badly needed.
@@RockandrollNegro Adam stated that he actually traced this car down to the Chicago Transit Authority Police and further found out that they were forced to procure their cars from Chicago PD which did not spec them with A/C. Another poster stated that police cars in Chicago at the time did not have A/C as they felt that officers in cars with the windows down would make them more accessible to the community.
Having a car that was only used by you or a select few would have been a big perk no matter how it was equipped. I worked for a time for the City of Los Angeles, and it was common to see police cars parked outside of certain offices that were not driven much on a day-to-day basis. These cars were also significantly older than the ones on patrol but looked almost new. I think this car led a similar life.
@@RockandrollNegro Question, did the base '91s come with crank windows? I've heard some whales had cranks but I don't even know how or where you'd put the cranks in. It sounds like your '91 Fleet had very few options. I've even heard some whales had the 4.3L V6 with 140 hp. My grandma had a '91 LTZ and she said it had a 350 but it only had a 305 (She's knowledgeable about vehicles otherwise). That would be cool. It reminds me of the '97-'01 Camry CEs that had the V6s and 5-speed sticks, but NO options. Car & Driver called the CE V6 the "Road Runner of the '90s."
@@kennethsouthard6042 Even with no air? LOL. But there's something to be said for having a private car. Similar to living in a house with multiple bathrooms instead of just one.
I'm glad GM used up the special service components to get rid of them, rather than just junking everything. I'm sure those who bought the whales were in for a nice surprise when they saw the 350 under the hood and not a 305!
My Dad had a 79 impala station wagon. It was a great car. I got my drivers license on it. That was in 81
That 9C1 is a true time capsule…love it! So glad you purchased it and have preserved its originality. What a machine!
It’s great to hear the admiration in your voice for every car you own. Any new owner of a car can have excitement for a new acquisition, but you’ve owned this one for ten years and your passion for the car is clearly still there. Really cool.
It helps having so many to choose from. You never get tired of a vehicle.
Adam, those seats, homely as they are, & because they're part & parcel optionally w/the 9C1 package, do in fact possess HD springs & additional foam insulation if BS1 is checked off on the order sheet.
Just can't find simple, no-nonsense cars like this today. I'd drive this any day, instead of any of the new-tech-laden, over regulated so-called things that are supposed to pass for cars.
I agree 100%
And you won't find big rwd car like this for sensible money either.
Which is unfortunate, if you can even find them at all.
I’m with you. Back in those days I drove cars with lots of options, but today, simpler is definitely better. I would gladly go back to crank windows. After you pay the bill to repair some of this junk, you ask yourself “Is this really necessary?”
@@dave1956 Teslas will destroy car culture.
I’m not sure what it is, but something makes me love this plain, simple vehicle. It is a really well-preserved example. Thanks for sharing it!
I had a 1979 very base Impala 4 door with a 305 V8 I bought in 1981. I used it as a winter car in Maryland. It had 93,000 miles on it. I treated it bad and it would not die. I had the alternator rebuilt and that was it. I kept it 4 years and sold it with 175,000 miles for more than I paid for it but I did polish up the dull gold paint and fix the driver's seat which had broken springs. That cost me nothing.
I've been watching more and more episodes on your channel and I'm being totally drawn in. It took me a while, because malaise era cars with 4 doors are not really my cup of tea. But what grabbed me was your low key, very down to earth presentation and the history of these cars. It's also simply awesome to get insight on the pros and cons because you're one of the very few ones who are in a position to compare the competing cars of the era.. In a nutshell: I love the channel and I'm beginning to appreciate cars I otherwise wouldn't give a second glance. Fantastic job and proof, you don't have to do a lot of flashy window dressing to make a UA-cam channel entertaining.
Thx!
I’ll second this. Just discovered your channel a few weeks ago and love your taste in cars and your style of videos. Great job on this one…love this car!
When my wife and I returned from England (USAF) in 1992 we went to the Chevy dealer in Ada Oklahoma and they had just traded in a 88 Caprice. An 81 year old guy had bought a new Chevy and traded the 88 model in. 24,000 miles. He had ordered it new with the police suspension. It was best highway car I ever drove even though the three years that we owned it, the national speed limit was 55. I was stationed in Missouri so there were plenty of windy roads to contend with. The 305 was adequate but did no have a lot of torque. At 55 mph going into a very strong headwind one day the trans shifted down to keep the speed at the set speed. Nonetheless it was a good family car. My wife, a school teacher wanted a minivan which was all the craze at the time. She bought a new 95 Windstar. I placed an ad in the local paper and was buried in phone calls as the Caprice was a very popular car in rural Missouri. Sold it to a lineman with a large family. It was around town another eight or so years but by then was looking pretty worn out. Also got postcards from some company trying to buy it for the Saudi used car market. I guess they were popular there as well.
What part of Missouri are you from.
@@CJColvin I lived in Warrensburg but have since move to Kansas City. Miss the small town.
That color on that body style is to die for. About 12 years ago I almost bought an 81 Imperial in that color (foolishly i waffled and didnt get it) Chrysler’s name for that green is called “seaspray green”
I drove an early 80s model of this car for work sometimes, and it definitely handled very well for a big car of its day. I was happily surprised with what I was able to make it do. Nice car for sure.
The style and appointments just scream conservative reliability for the long haul. It is in fact, a wonderful car.
I remember being so disappointed when the boxy downsized GM first cars came out, feeling that they really had lost something, until I started driving them. What a revelation on how superior they were for handling and over all drivability...i was sold. I can only imagine how nice this Chevy must drive with its upgraded suspension
I was even more disappointed the next year, when the A bodies were downsized into pre G bodies.
@@DanEBoyd The downsized Montes were UGLY!
@@Richard4point6 They got a little better in '82 in my opinion. They weren't totally horrible looking, but they weren't what I wanted. Although I would've taken a '79 Cutlass with a '69 350 Rocket, and enjoyed that.
I remember an article about this 9C1 Impala and the 9C1 Nova.
beautiful, looks practically brand new!
Quickly becoming my favorite automotive channel. Keep up the good work.
My first car was a 1978 Impala. Plain, few options. It was this exact color, green interior, cloth seats. It did have the heavy duty rear end, 305 2 bbl engine, I believe 3 speed auto trans. It also did have air conditioning. Was a very reliable car. We traded it in at 187K miles, still ran and drove fine. Total road sofa, great highway car, handled like a waterbed. :P
And I miss it.
ngtflyer, Chevy 305 CID engines were slow as hell gutless turds. I had a '77 Impala with a 305 engine. Going uphill, it didn't have enough vacuum and the A/C, and heater, would cancel out until the car was on flat road again. Highway speeds, passing another car was a problem as well. I got rid of the car after a few months and replaced it with a Ford 4.6 Crown Victoria. Far better car and I drove it for 250k miles.
It's such low mileage because it only traveled from the station to the local donut shop a couple times a week.
It's a plain Jane, but still a decent basic family sedan. Affordable and relatively reliable for a time when so many pieces of junk were rolling off the line.
Yeah and they left it idling all day too.....
@@will7its Likely not. It was either a backup car or a police station staff member's car that didn't get driven much.
@@sergeantmasson3669 He said it was a railroad inspectors car, and they mostly rode the trains. So not much driving.
They were famous for premature cam & lifter wear , worn valve guides and timing chains . The transmissions were also weak .
I remember riding in a '77 Caprice Classic station wagon when they first came out. Even in standard non-police form, the downsized Chevrolets were just nice driving cars and exactly the right size for everyday use. And, they had a roomy feeling inside that the '73-'77 GM mid sized sedans (with similar exterior dimensions) did not.
WOW! I'm jealous. That is a beautiful car. What a find.
That's a beautiful vehicle and a wonderful narration too. Thanks so much for sharing!
Thanks for the Video Adam!
My first car in 1998 was a well worn 1983 base Impala with a 305 and a lot of Bondo and tin riveted floor pans (Canada eh!) it was light blue with light blue cloth interior that had no front centre armrest and no rear door switches for the dome light, It did have the full wheelcovers but I always wanted to add the dog dish "poverty" caps. People used to pull over to let me pass on the Highway as they thought it was a cop car. Overall it was was quite reliable until the camshaft flattened out a lobe but since I was getting paid good mileage money through work and it had already paid for itself 3-4 times over ( it had about 245,000 Km's on it at the time). I replaced it with a 1988 Oldsmobile 88 Brougham with less than 60,000 miles which promptly stripped the nylon teeth off the timing chain on the 3.8 v6 (not 3800) luckily while starting and not while running. I redid the timing chain and replaced the bent pushrods in my driveway and she ran and rode beautifully the rest of the time I owned it... which was all it did beautifully because it must have been built on a Friday afternoon before a holiday.It was by far and above the most troublesome car I ever owned (mostly small things that were designed cheaply aside from the timing chain but something was constantly going wrong and turned me off of GM products, especially front drive products for the last 20 years. I still love the rear drive full and mid size cars from the 70's to 90's from all American car brands. My family (Father, grandfather and uncles) was pretty much a GM family and we had the following units through the 70's and 80's that I remember fondly and provided decently reliable service (mostly with 350 and 305 v8 engines) :1974 oldsmobile Cutlass supreme wagon, 1975 Malibu sedan, 1975 Caprice Town sedan, 1976 Oldsmobile Delta 88 Royale Town Sedan, 1978 Oldsmolbile Delta 88 Royale, 1978 malibu sedan, 1979 Chevrolet 20 pickup, 1978 Chevrolet 10 pickup, 1984 Impala sedan v6, 1987 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme sedan v6, 1987 Caprice Classic wagon HD trailering suspension and steering ( this one probably handled the best but was underpowered with it's smooth reliable 307 4bbl)
I see another comment here about the 77-90, 91-96 B bodies being derived from the previous "collonade" A bodies and I know from my own experience briefly owning a 1975 Buick century sedan that the underpinnings were very similar but the driving dynamics were different, especially in winter, as they seemed very nose heavy . The doors were definitely heavier as well as seeming to have thicker sheet metal for use in the fenders and quarters. If this is the case I was unaware until recently this was done.
I would be interested (and maybe others too?) in seeing a Porch Chat series about how different manufacturers "reused" their old mid size and compact platforms when downsizing in the late 70's and early 80's. For instance:
- Did Chrysler derive their 1979 "downsized" full sizers like the Chrysler Newport (and platform mates) from the earlier Plymouth Satellite/Fury Dodge Monaco platform.
-Did Ford derive the "panther" platform, 1979 LTD/Grand Marquis/Lincoln Town Car from the Torino/LTD II/ Cougar platform.
-Did GM derive the 1978 G-Body Cutlass/Regal/Malibu/Lemans from the earlier Nova platform ( this one is tricky because the Nova was unibody with Subframe at the front and leafs at the back while the G-body was full frame and 4 coil springs, although the rear section was very weak and many examples I've seen up here in Northern Ontario have rusted through long before the body has even rusted through. If you look at ads from the 70's the NOVA sedans seemed to have the same trunk pan /spare tire placement design as the G-bodies and the later G-Body sedans adopted the same rear roof profile as the 76 Seville( NOVA platform) for the 4 door sedans once the Seville was restyled and changed platforms.(looking at pictures I definitely see similarities between the bodies of the cars as well as the overall outside dimensions.
- I have read that the Rear Wheel Drive 1980's Dodge Diplomat/Chrysler 5th Avenue was derived from the Dodge aspen platform and have read that the front door from any Dodge aspen will fit the front door from any RWD platform Diplomat or 1980's Rear wheel Drive 5th avenue with the bump strips and aluminum trim being the only difference.
-I have also read that the Ford Granada (1st generation) was Based on Maverick underpinnings.
Thanks for reading this and I look forward to your next video!
Hey Adam, I am enjoying your videos tremendously. This is another example of your passion for real vehicles that anyone could enjoy. Vehicles that are a pleasure to drive on a daily basis and not seeing how fast or quick they can be. Keep them coming.
I had a 79 caprice classic, so similar cosmetically, just some nicer parts inside and underneath. When I wrecked mine, I fixed it with junk yard parts from a 77 Impala.. and painted it with spray cans of touch-up paint!! after that debauchery it really looked like your car ;-D
You’re so good at these presentations. Nice to see your subscriber count climbing steadily.
What a beautiful and great driving old Chevrolet. I love it!
Love these box Chevrolets , I grew up with these full-sized RWD GM cars from 1977-1990 . They certainly rode well and very smooth .
4:31 Drum brakes in the rear are still viable. Due to the laws of physics there is a weight shift to the front under hard braking. Even without taking that into account, rear brakes only do about 35% of the work. And drum brakes are immune to dirt, sand and gravel being thrown up from the rest of the car, unlike exposed disc brakes.
Also a lighter setup overall. Some old school drag racers even swap back to drum setups in the front for weight savings. Fortunately brake fade isn't an issue because they only have to heat up once lol
My first nearly new cars was a 79 Impala 4 door, only had the 305 2 bbl, gold on gold cloth with an AM radio and rear defroster.
Great car. Even the base suspension was a revelation compared to earlier 70’s cars. Those 77-79 B cars were wonderful cars.
Basically they were just rebodied 73-77 A bodies. The frame and powertrain were carried over but they made a much more space efficient body.
At the time I missed the hardtop body style but grew to like the honest boxy look. It was quite roomy but it didn’t have the interior width of the earlier full sized car.
Being in the north east it’s end came from rust. It didn’t rot everywhere like early cars but on mine the frame behind the back wheels got soft and the biggest problem was the window frames on the front doors got soft where they weld onto the doors. The windows no longer stayed snug against the body and the wind noise and water entry drove me nuts. She went to scrap
John...good observations, but note the 73 frame was 121.5" wheel base and the 77 was 116" ! Also allot narrower, and was completely revised suspension design in 77, you missed his points about the significance of the 77 changes.
Thanks, for the video. I drove one like this one back in 1979-80 when I worked as a transit analyst for the New Orleans Office of Transit Administration. They were great for doing field work. Used them to trail buses and do passenger on/off counts. Had them on the road 8-9 hours per day. These had the 305 or 350 V-8 and were very reliable and comfortable. I think they also had the heavy duty suspension also. Thanks, for your videos. Love your UA-cam site.
Our '77 Impala was green on green.
This one looks fantastic. Thanks for sharing!
Car & Driver did a review of the 9C1 Malibu back in 78 or 79 and hinted that if you knew someone at the dealer, a civilian could order one in that spec.
We had Impala's for drivers ed back in 1980. It was a solid car even loaded with 6 people.
I still remember the sound of the 4 barrel opening up while accelerating onto the highway. Thanks for the memories!
Adam-I worked for an oil drilling company in Houston, TX from 1978 thru 79 and the Treasury of the company had a 4 door 77 Impala with the 350 4 barrel but it was light metallic blue with light blue velour interior. Of all the company cars my company had which included the large late 70s Fords and Mercurys the Impala was the quickest best handling of any of them. Steering was quick and little effort for the time. My favorite of the company cars. Later my father bought a low mileage buckskin color 77 Impala 6 passenger station wagon with a tweed interior and the 350 4 barrel used from Enterprise and it had the same handling and was quick as well. My father loved that car.
I can hear the "BOO's" already, but I liked the 305. In 1978 I used to drag my buddy's 350 and he couldn't gap me to 100 + MPH. Same exact engine internals except for the pistons. The 305 has thicker cylinder walls. Revved it 'till it wouldn't rev anymore at every shift. Beat on that motor and still got nearly 300,000 on that car. The wheels were literally falling off of it and still ran great. Caprice station wagon.
Great review Adam. My dad bought a 1978 Impala wagon off the showroom floor. I was 12 then and boy, what an impression that left. He loved that car as it was his daily driver and also pulled our camper. He took me along when he was shopping and test drove a Ford and Chrysler wagon. The Ford wagon was huge on the outside but less room on the inside compared to the Impala and the Chrysler was very noisy. It sounded like the transmission was inside the car. The Impala was a much more solid feeling car according to him with the only problem he ever had was a soft camshaft which GM replaced under warranty.
My Dad bought a 79 wagon we called it the Tank, he pulled our camper with it and took it on roads that people today would probably not take their 70K SUV's on. Plus the 350 4barrel was a blast (The last year they offered it)
Those were very nicely done, I recall riding in a 77 Impala wagon that was used as a shuttle vehicle for an airport parking lot, it was smooth and extremely quiet, even under that harsh use I was very impressed. I never had one, but years later I had a 78 Cutlass Calais with the 305, I was shocked at how rock solid that was, cam notwithstanding.
That is a BEEEEAAAAUUUUUtiful car and you are so fortunate to have found it in the condition it is in. My uncle had an Impala of the same vintage and his was almost as spartan in the interior. It did have AC and an AM/FM radio but he rarely used the AC, even in the summer. He was an engineer and he thought of cars as pure Point A to Point B machines, nothing more. He was very smart, though, and knew the Impala with the right engine and undercarriage options would be the best choice. I loved that car, and I love this one too. Great video.
I love everything about this car, it’s perfect! I wonder how much heavier it is compared to my 1977 Chevy Nova. The reason I’m wondering is because my 2 door hatchback Nova had the 250 six, and it was an awesome little engine! Super peppy, and pretty good on gas. An Impala with the same engine might not have been that bad for civilian use.
Yeah Adam. I love it that you love showing these cars that were of the everyday norm. Back in the day. They were cars i grew up in as a young kid. Grandpa had a 78 chevy caprice classic. Parents had an 84 Buick LeSabre Limited. Lots of good memories. Thanks Adam.
I had an 83 Impala as my first car. It had the powerhouse LG4 305. I flipped the air cleaner lid and drove it like it was a Trans Am. It wasn't fast but at least it sounded cool when the secondaries opened up.
Just prior to L.A.P.D. going to this era Caprice they had a mix of Plymouth Fury's and Matadors(one of my favorites) and the Sheriff's department was using Chevy Nova's. Then both departments started using the Caprice. I don't think either went to Crown Vic's until the 90's Panther body.
This is an amazing car, Adam. Wonderful condition! Over here in the Netherlands, we didn't get many of them of course, except a couple of hearses (the wagon version) and a handful of taxi cabs. But most of those were the Caprices. Back in the day, my uncle had a 1978-ish LeSabre which he ran as a taxi, I can remember riding in it, it was amazing and probably quite similar to this Impala. Thank you for everything you post for us to enjoy 👍🏻😀
@Karl Bush I love this colour, it matches the pale green walls of police stations etc from that time 😂
I had a 1979 Caprice Classic sedan with the 305 2bbl. It was a very quiet engine as well......exhaust was very quiet.....catalytic converter absorbed alot of the exhaust sound...It was geared for economy with 2.56-1 axle ratio so despite it having a 3 speed automatic without overdrive, the engine did not spin too fast at highway speeds.....It returned around 19mpg on highway trips.
That is a beautiful car, the engine is so smooth and quiet and so clean. What a gem. The older I get the more I love these clean original cars that were once boring but today are fascinatingly elegant in their simplicity.
If I am not mistaken the police pack for GM Holden cars was called 9C1. Basically similar upgrades to that impala. Largest 6 cylinder or v8 option, FE2 suspension, largest steel wheel/tyre combo, bigger alternator, upgraded brakes.
From your reviews it seems it was wise to option the heavy duty suspension to minimise the floaty ride.
The revelation in Australia was when Holden rejigged the suspension of the local cars and called it "RTS radial tuned suspension". Suddenly the previously understeering Kingswood (sorta impala equivalent) had well controlled suspension system that allowed the car to both handle and ride well. It forced Ford and Chrysler to rejig their own big car suspension systems.
We had the TH200 transmission, and surprisingly lasted for 100k miles. Once it died (wouldn't shift out of 1st), we replaced it with the 350 transmission.
I had a 1984 Caprice and it came with a 700R-4.
Back in high school, I did a lot of "rocking horses" burnouts with my 78' impala lol 😆 replaced a few U goints in the process but had a lot of fun with that car haha 😄 great videos! Love the classic cars . 👍
You're frickin nuts man, I like to light tires and run them all the way to their max speed but, I wouldn't do that crazy rocking horse or neutral drop shit on my worst enemy's car.
Others have mentioned this, but the first thing I thought of when I saw those seats was "Taxi!". Easy to clean and durable vinyl seats that I really miss.
Thank you for this video.
Absolutely love this green Impala! My father had a ‘77 Pontiac Parisienne (Canadian), two tone green, with the 350 ci. I got my drivers licence with that car. Every night when we went cruising, the first thing I did was flip the air breather cover over. It made a beautiful loud moan when you opened the quadrant fully. Give it a try! Thanks for sharing.
Meant to say quadrajet, spell check kicked in.
Brings back great memories of my buddy's 78 Caprice, he had the f41 suspension also. I wonder why one of the transit police didn't buy this car back in the day? Perhaps they did, then stored it away. Glad it is in your care now.
Yeah, the Betts' 78 Caprice was a great car indeed. I think my parents regretted buying their 77 Monte instead of one of these....
Those box Caprices were a death trap the rear end was so light it would swap ends under hard braking or bumpy roads with a curve, Thankfully the Bubble caprice in 91 solved the issue by moving the driveline back towards the rear giving much better weight distribution.
Thank you for taking me on a trip down memory lane! My father had a 78 caprice classic it was very similar to your 77 impala. Growing up it was always my favorite car my father owned. I love your channel and thank you for all you do!
This one brings back memories for me too. Spent several years of my childhood in a 77 Caprice. This review is full of amazing auditory reminders of those days. Hearing that turn signal, seatbelt buzzer, and even the starter brought back instant memories from 40 years ago.
I personally have always wanted one of the 9C1 equipped Caprice or Impala since I was a kid.
I absolutely love these cars!
I had a 1979 Caprice with the 350 4bbl and the F41 package. It was one of the best cars I have ever owned. My parents bought it new, and when I eventually got it I cut the single exhaust and cat off and put dual exhausts on it, I put turbo mufflers on it but I eventually got tired of the loudness so I put stock mufflers back on, it really did help with its performance and you are right about the cornering ability, it would not lean no matter how sharp a corner was! I ended up driving the wheels off of it. I thought about a restore/refresh but the Michigan winters were just too hard on her, the body was still solid and rust free but the frame and floors were not good, not to mention the Dukes of Hazard jumps I put her through, yes, all four wheels off the ground! Thanks for the review on that awesome car, I really enjoyed it, especially when you hammered it.
#fondmemories
On a side note, we have the same taste in cars, I had a ‘72 Mercury Marquis like your brown one, it had the 429 and it was a beautiful green with a white vinyl top and color match hubcaps, and I still have one of the first cars I have ever bought, it’s a 1974 Buick Riviera, it’s Ruby Red with a black vinyl top, with Houndstooth interior and Rallye wheels. I’ve had it 41 years!✌️
THIS is my favorite Chevrolet of all time. Ford and Mopar speak to me more than the General. But I LOVE the 77 thru late 80s 'sheer look' Caprice/Impala. Forgive me Corvette lovers.
Along with this car, your Casio calculator watch is pure class. 😉
Great car! I agree that the poverty hubcaps were an upgrade visually, which is heresy from a man who covets wheel bling like I do. I am consistently impressed with your ability to compare and contrast contemporary offerings from different manufacturers on such a variety of points --minutia, really--and so seamlessly. It's as impressive as it is appreciated.
The poverty caps were a definite improvement as the fullsized wheel covers often turned into Frisbees on patrol cars. Replacing those hubcaps on a regular basis got pretty expensive.
Nice story. Nice car. I had a 1977 Plymouth Fury. Ex police car with the slant 6. The University police used it. I paid $76.51 for it in 1990. It would run 123 mph according to radar. The 1988 Highway Patrol Chevy like yours could only go 125. The notch back Mustang (HP) beat us both at 132. I hope you enjoy that car for a long time. Out in our neck of the woods, we called them dog dish caps.
Excellent presentation. Thanks for sharing this beautiful piece of automotive history!
My grandfather had a 1977 Delta 88 Oldsmobile and I would say that car and this one were very similar. He had the same drivetrain as yours and he pulled a twenty foot travel trailer all over the country with it and it pulled it quite easily. My grandparents were so awesome about spending time with us and taught us so many things that I still remember. I think if I were to do anything with that would to add air-conditioning to it, but that's it. The air conditioning in my grandparents car was spectacular. His car because he pulled a trailer had rear air bags underneath it and what a ride that it had even when he wasn't pulling the trailer. On long trips without the trailer was so comfortable and it would just glide over any bumps that was before it. I do remember seeing these unmarked police cars back in the day and I always loved the look of these. Where I live is in south Mississippi gets very hot down here and these unmarked cars had the windows blacked out and with it's cb antennas made the car look so sophisticated. Hey, thanks for sharing your amazing find here. It's very rare to see a car like this one kept in original form. Keep the videos coming. ✌️🙂
Interesting car. Our Department all got Novas of this vintage for Squad and unmarked vehicles back when these were new. They had replaced the Monocos with Chevys. I had watched a later one of these Caprice squad cars race another LEO in the force that had gotten a new Crown Vic and that Chevy ate it up. Our Force went X body, G Body, then these B body cars.
The Caprice had much better bottom end torque than the Fords especially when the latter went to the 4.6 OHC engine.
pig
This body style with modern refinements would be a great car today. Imagine this car with a heavy duty transmission and LS1 motor?
The amazing part of the redesign of these was that even though the car was smaller externally, most of the interior dimensions grew in comparison to the 1971-76 cars
What a score! I bought a 2012 Impala 9C1 last December and I've never enjoyed a car more.
The 9C1's of that era were badass. I had an 82 9C1 former CHP (California Highway Patrol) car many years ago (probably like 1991 or 92). It had 260k miles on it according to the records I got when I bought it from a private security company. IIRC, I paid a whole $300.00 for it! That 350 sure felt like it had more than 170 HP! The Quadrajet made a great noise when it opened up. The handling was spectacular! I used to scare my buddies on cloverleaf on/offramps. The sign would say 25 MPH, I could double that. Lots of my friends wouldn't ride with me again after I took them for a REAL ride! Haha! Sure would like to find one again. And, yeah, those swaybars were HUGE. My 9C1 ended up a parts car after I parked it behind a local gas station overnight to go to a party, and damn thieves stole the carb, distributor, battery, and some other stuff from it. I didn't have the cash to replace all the stolen parts, so I took what I could and the rest got hauled away by the local police dept. The front and rear swaybars live on to this day in my 1967 Chevelle Malibu Sport Coupe, which I have owned for over 32 years. Yes, my 67 handles VERY well! Hotchkiss 1 inch lower springs with higher rates, Bilstein shocks, and those 82 9C1 swaybars are an awesome combo!
Yes to the excellent ride and handling of this model! I had a 1980 wagon and put Bilstein shocks on it. We have massive frost heaves here and that car could take them with aplomb without slowing down at all. Many vehicles today are inferior in that regard. Great video, I totally enjoyed it.
Drove these from new on a small city PD way back when. These cars are my favorite of any I ever used!
Man, that Impala right there is my dream car! Amazing survivor you got there. I had an unmarked detective car in the late 00's with only 69k miles, it was a 1996 with the LT-1 engine, but looks-wise, I love the simplicity of these early down-sized B-bodies. It's too bad most all of them got driven into the ground and scrapped over the decades but if I can't ever find a 9C1, I'd settle for a 77' Impala coupe with the rear wire window.
Nice score. Amazing your car was in the book!
"Poverty caps"-never heard that one before. Love it and agree it looks better.
I do hope you flip that air cleaner lid when you drive it. LOL
We always called them dog dish or pie plate hub caps.
Got to say they do sound cool when you do tho!
Ha ha...the orginal cold air intake!
As a teenager I was a lead foot. My father had all kinds of company vehicles, many with big blocks. I knew good power! He had a Caprice Classic loaded up with 2 tone paint. Big and roomy, but a slug in the power department for sure! Nice car you have! Amazing mileage!
The 1977 Impala Wagon hauled me and my siblings from New Jersey to Ohio during 1980s summers. Ours was seaweed green and the air conditioning did not work. Loved that car!
Great video!
Spent 2 years in a 9C1 Chevy Caprice. Same car as this one, they just changed the car name.
They were way quicker than the Ford Crown Vic’s we also had.
Man, I could listen to that Quadrajet open up and sing all day long.... I know the LS is a superior engine but that old small block will always have a special place in my heart. Lol
So reminds me of my first car, a 1988 Chevy Caprice Classic.
I learned to drive my mother’s blue ‘84 CC, then my brother got a Navy blue ‘84 Impala. Now he drives an ‘89 CC, nearly identical to mom’s, light blue but has the Brougham top. I’m an outcast because I have a ‘95 9C1, white, I call (Dove bar soap)
Nice car, I have a soft spot for them as I had a 2 door 77 in the same green with the 305 back in the 80's.
Great vid, I’ve had many 80’s 9C1 Caprice’s, they ride and handle great. I believe the weight of the vehicle was right on par and contributed greatly to this . 👍
very beautiful car. I've always loved the 77 - 90 Impalas and Caprice. One of my uncles had a white 77 with that neat back window. It was a two door with the landau top. Another uncle of mine had a 1986 Caprice brougham; awesome cars! Any luck finding a grill for the '71 Merc?
Until my 91 Caprice 9CO1 it was the best law enforcement vehicle I ever drove. Not the fastest (the 70 Dodge Polara police 440 was, hands down), but braked, handled and protected you with comfort and steel. Also had an 82 Impala 9CO1 that did not have the guts of the 77 but, with Goodyear Blue Streak tires, drove like it was on rails. The 91 was the apex police pursuit vehicle.
Oh, forgot to mention....the detective or undercover units are THE ones to get! Not all clapped-out like the marked units, usually. Mine had bucket seats with no console, column shift (of course), the rubber floor covering, and the "poverty caps" on it. The security company I got it from had installed GoodYear Gatorback VR50's which I think was the OE tire. 225/60/15? And that quick-ratio steering box....man, another thing I wish I would have yanked from that 9C1 after it was so rudely stripped by those damn thieves. Being a California car, and still being in Cali, it had ZERO rust. I have no doubt that I would still have that 9C1 to this very day if it hadn't been stripped the way it was. I was so frigging mad about that! In fact, I am still angry about it!
Love this video and the car!
You’ve just gained a new subscriber. Wonderfully built cars, simple and yet high performance and reliable!
Wonderful video. I remember the 1985 Impala 9C1s. Great cars too. The best of the breed was the 1989-90 Caprice 9C1s. The last of the breed. Beautiful car. Hard to believe that she was shielded from the Chicago winters and survived intact.
I've always been a fan (moreso of the 2 door 1977 Impala re-style). The crisp, modern for the day lines was a great look, and especially the G body redesign for 1978. Love the content on your channel, Adam. I hope that you can laugh at this......I've felt that you have a Ned Flanders thing going, and the "pretty darn good" comment and the mention of the church sale made me smile. What I like about your style, is that you don't have the typical car guy tastes, and the vehicles that you like reflect this. It's something different and unique and I watch because of your knowledge of more forgotten cars from the 70's and early 80's or things like the Lean Burn Chrysler system.
My sister's husband had a 77 Impala he won at a raffle. It was a 2-door burgundy coupe. I loved that car, great ride. He put an aftermarket Clarion cassette player in it and we were ready to cruise.
I had a blue 1977 Impala sedan when I was in college. It had the 305 v8. Pretty basic features. It was comfortable, reliable and lovable. Also, people thought it was an unmarked cop car... so no one sped around me.
I've been looking forward to seeing a video on this one since Adam first showed a preview. In general, not a fan of a lot of post-'72 GM products, but this down-sized Impala/Caprice was one of GM's good moves. And there is something about a 'plain Jane' that holds appeal. And yes, by comparison, the big Fords, not yet downsized, were wallowing barges that squealed the tires at even a hint of a corner. What a great find!
I grew up with one. We had a 1977 two door with the bubble window. My uncle worked at an auction in Wheeling IL upon purchase. It's amazing that car lasted all of those years in Chicago without salt damage. Our Impala eventually succumbed to salt damage. I did not like riding in that vehicle while wearing shorts on hot summer days. 🤣
It's still so friggin' hilarious to think that this was the "compact/downsized" model of the Impala/Caprice, really, same thing. And that car still was the same thing up to 1990
Right, if the target market was disappointed with this downsizing, what must it have thought of the Dodge Diplomat?!
Great story about how you found a ultra low mileage super rare police package Caprice! I wish I was that lucky! I’m a big fan of police package vehicles 👍👍👍
My parents had a 1978 impala. My dad bought it in 1980 for $4000 with 31k miles! It was white with a blue interior. My dad loved that car.