My First Restoration! 1972 Dodge Polara Ex-Washington State Patrol Police Car!
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- Опубліковано 15 вер 2024
- In this video I revisit the first Mopar restoration, a 1972 Dodge Polara ex-WSP car! Did a video on this car when I first started getting serious about UA-cam last year and to this day is still the most viewed video on our channel. I bought this car around 2003 and it had a full restoration just after that. That was way before Rocket Restorations when this car was done. This car means so much to me, it's my just jump in and drive it car (everybody needs one of those in the fleet), it's the car I have owned longest in the stable and is where I got my start in the restoration business.
The car is a 1972 Dodge Polara ex-cop car. It originally served in the Washington State Patrol. This was a higher up car and was not marked originally, they do the same thing today. The line troopers get white cars and these cars were different colors. It has a 440 HP engine (built to 71 specs with higher compression), all the cop suspension, disc brakes, power seats, it's the best road car ever made. Just a great combo of handling, stopping and ride. Yes an Imperial might ride a little better but would never take that deal, give me this combo.
Back in 1972 my best friends Dad bought a 69 Polara CHP. He would take us out on the desert backroads
and open it up. The torque was so tremendous it felt as if you were going to bend the seat back. I loved
that car. Thanks for showing yours. Its awesome.
The 69 CHP Polara was the fastest cop car tested until the late 90’s, they are impressive beasts. I have one in the back shop I should do something with soon.
@@rocketresto I have a 96 Caprice LT1 police. It is fast but dosent have the torque the Dodge 440's had. You can always sell the other car to me ;-)
Nice! I had a 76 Gran Fury (retired Rhode Island State Police Cruiser) back in high school. It had a 440 Interceptor with a Dana 60. It was huge. I wish I had it now.
You say the handling is relative to a 4000 lb full size car. What’s worth remembering is that the performance pony and mid size cars in 1972 were subject to the same suspension and tire design and materials, so it was an is a respectable handling car. Obviously respectable engine performance too. You did a great job on the restoration.
I love that car also.
After your earlier cop car video I started asking family about my grandfather’s WSP car. It turns out it was a 71 Polara. Plenty of power to keep a smile on his face.
71 is a great year for those, still the higher compression engine. Had several 71 WSP cars over the years.
Local PD. RAN THESE. After off leasecab companies bought em and beat snot outa them. Energy crisis came and scrapped. En masse
I remember seeing these in the movie Dirty Mary and Crazy Larry, in which a few of them got destroyed 😊
Lot of these got destroyed in movies, gone in 60 seconds too.
@@rocketresto Yes that's right, I forgot about that movie
Gorgeous Dodge! You can't beat the power in a Dodge police package. I love my 61 CHP Dodge Polara. So fun to drive!!!!
Love old cop cars, such a great package of power and handling.
Any car video is a great car video
Looks like it was a very nice restoration years ago. Very nice driver.
SUPER COOL... This from a Ford man!!
I love all kinds of cars ,but the big cars from 67 to 76 from all manufacturers were cool in their own ways. The flip head lights on LTDs and Caprices... the Fury and Polaris. That cop car is bad azz!
Yeah I like it I wouldn't mind having it.
Nice survivor car! Looks like a fun car to drive. Definitely a keeper!
I owned a 72 Polara custom 2 door with a factory 440. It was an absolute beast. It was tan with tan interior. Always wondered if it was some kind of police car but never investigated to find out.
Very nice. The old time cops from that era all say they loved the 440 powered cop cars. I can see why and anyone who's driven a 440 car knows why. I built a 70 Duster and 440 swapped it.
What a clean looking 72!
Love the look
City got these on lease from dealer and had 10. St a time in new car prep.......impressive
Absolutely stunning looking car.
Love this car , same exact car as in the first walking tall movie.
What a beautiful land yacht you have there...
My dads wsp car was a 69 Fury III. Was a great car. In 71 we took it on a road trip over all Western states. The ac was a lifesaver. He drove it for years then replaced it with a 73 Newport with a 400. Was also a great car.
Have had two 69's, great cars, although for some reason they got K-Code 440's and not L-Codes, no idea why.
@@rocketresto Yeah it wasn't fast. Would do 135 (certified). Maybe more but I was too scared. But it took it a while for that.
Great car from a great movie that was great in action!
Father had a 77 Fury state police car. Amazing how well that thing cornered. That beast averaged 17 mpg. Chrysler really stepped up to the plate with there police packages. Very nice Tom.😊
They had the best package cars then, superior engineering.
We had this exact spec ‘71 Polara when I was a kid. Dad, who was a cop, picked it up used from a suburban deputy chief who ordered it as a privately owned vehicle. Ours was light blue. Ran like crap. Carb would flood at red lights. As an 8-year-old, my Dad would make hold the butterfly valve open with a screwdriver while he got it started…at busy Chicago intersections!
I meant ‘72.
Those stock Holleys were junk.
Man that thing is awesome, low 15's in something that heavy is nuts. I bet it would be amazing on a long road trip.
It’s quick. Eats up highway miles.
"Never look back darling, it distracts from the now", Edna Mold.
Keep the videos coming! Really enjoying them!
super rad cop car! i have a 96 bronco that was used by the california sheriff's department. it still has the hand operated spotlight mounted on the A pillar.
Sweet looking Dodge thank you for sharing. Keep up the great work and stay safe out there.
Sweet rig. Deserves mega respect!
Thanks Joe!
A very cool car
That interceptor looks like it's straight out of "Dirty Mary,Crazy Larry".....I have an "87 AHB West Virginia detective cruiser.....But it's nothing like your Polara.👍👍
Thanks Tom. Great car!
It's definitely deserving of some love!
Knew a guy in school. Worked in a junkyard. Among his collection of parts and stuff was a Polara he was rebuilding. (One piece at a time)
I was lined up next to C-body back in the day in my bone stock ‘88 5.0L AOD Mustang GT. I believe it was a ‘67 Polara 440. I had him on the 60 ft, 1/8 and he just nipped by me at the 1/4, pulling 95 or 96 MPH vs my 93 MPH speed. I’ll never forget that for some reason. Seeing a seemingly stock full size pull that trap speed and the driver do a fist pump after he got around me. 🤘🏼
Lots a torque
WoW! What a Beauty. Thank you for the beautiful ride.
What a beast! Love the Gold, really shows off the lines of the car, and especially the body-colored steel wheels. I can see why she's your favorite. ❤
Learned how to drive in my Dad's 72 Polara with the 360 in it. Great car.
That’s a good first car
My childood friend & HS buddy had a chocolate brown 2 door 1972 Polara that his Dad gave to him in 79. It was a smooth riding beast with miles of legroom and a trunk the size of a dump truck.
Great cars.
I had a 1970 Sport Fury GT in ancient history, mostly the same suspension and such as the Cop Cars. That car was amazing on corners and cruising at speed.
GT’s are super rare! Have a silver one that’s needs resto.
Very nice love them body style too
Tom, that care is beautiful, love the 4 doors especially the cop cars. It's a keeper.
Thanks Tom, very cool car.
My favourite Dodge.
What a great car. One thing about having it on max A/C is is that it recirculates inside air and can get a mildew oder if left on for a long road trip. Regular A/C brings in outside air and eliminates the oder. My parents learned this on our '72 Coronet wagon.
Honestly don’t use the AC much around here but good to know.
🇺🇸👍 Nice car , Great Channel
That car is beautiful Tom! I love the
fuselage C bodies with a close second being the 74-78 imperial/ New Yorker brougham. I’d love to find a 1973 fury police car like my grandpa had in the late 70’s. His was Sahara beige with the body color wheels. I have the hubcaps from that car because he liked to hoard hubcaps.
Think most car guys have a hub cap hoard
Love the movie knowledge 👍🏻 didn't know buferd t justice was a real officer that's Kool 👍🏻✌🏻🏁
I love absolutely everything about that Polara. It must drive you guys crazy trying to predict what videos will get the most views. Of Jaime's last 15 or so videos, do you know what the popular is? The Lebaron! How does that get more views than a Superbird?? Crazy...
And my last Superbird video did not do well. The 57 Plymouth video I basically threw together for a saturday video is at 12k views and the second Superbird video I spent hours and hours and hours making and editing is at 5k. Don’t understand the algorithm sometimes.
I was thinking that you need the hickory (pick handle?) in the trunk, from Walking Tall. Or not..... Lol. Cool car. A true time capsule. 😎
That would be nice to have sometimes
440 is such a good engine. It came from the Max Wedge design that have ruled the drag racing world and we’re only surpassed by the Hemi
They run great in these cars.
Mr. B. Here ! 🍩☕️👀😎👍 : My boss back in 1978 or 79 he got a two door for his son going to college. Nice to see you still it ! Congratulations . 🍩☕️👀😎👍
Thanks for watching!
@@rocketrestoquestion...how much does a restoration cost?....is it more for forward looks than stone soup or the CUDA etc
@@clevelandmaker386like how much does a complete restoration cost at our shop? Sorry don’t completely understand your question.
@@rocketresto yes... at your shop.... I wanted to know the average price, time etc ..I'm not talking about a basket case .. something like new Yorker y'all got along with the bird...
Mr B!!!🐝
Now I need to go watch "Walking Tall." Saw it in the theater. What a cool old Dodge!
Ocassionally drove ablack over red 71 Sport Fury III back n the mid-70s with the small back window and a console automatic. Was a really nice car. Would love to replicate it someday.
Those cars drive so nice.
Reminds me of the car actor Joe Don Baker # Sheriff Buford Pusser drove in the original movie "Walking Tall" same color .
Nice!
Tom, my wife and I enjoyed you sharing this car, but think you need to get, a sheriff cowboy hat a star badge, and utility belt with holster and all. Pull Jamie over when he's hot rodding.... er. testing the other cars, and do a third take on this vid. a gumball light on top would he a good touch.🤠🏎🚓
Did you see Jamie’s corn dog charger video? If not I highly recommend going into the @deaddodgegarage library and finding it.
Love the paint to match steelies. I’ve got two sets of “cop wheels” for my old 67 coronet. I’m thinking one set in black and another in paint to match gold.
Looks so much better than black.
I had the 440 out of a '71 WSP car; it was in a '64 Dodge 440 w/a reverse manual 727 and 3500 stall; plenty of power.
Sure that thing hauled
Great car, Tom.... I WANT one LOL
Not easy to find them this clean
Good video, but I feel the need to correct the opening transcript. It's stated that that the engine is 440 HP, but I think what you meant to say is that the engine is 440 CID, which means Cubic Inc Displacement, and that means the sum total of the cylinder bores. The HP means the Brake Horse Power, which means the total power of the engine.
Love that car, 8 remember first time I saw it and you was at frontier park , it was not restored yet and you were pulling a trailer full of parts lol. It's awsome !
That was my old business partner Mike, I bought it from him right after that.
@@rocketresto maybe right, it's been along time. Sorry , just remember the car , it was banged up then. Never forgot it. It looks awesome now
@@MikeJBluesrust free but owner parked it in a very narrow carport and it got beat up down the sides.
@@rocketresto yep , that's what I recall , it's an awsome and rare car. Be cool to find the trooper that drove it in service
Love the car, Tom! My first car was a '72 Coronet ex Mason County (WA) Sheriff's patrol car. No AC, rubber mats, with a 400 4V. It also had the fuel assistance hose on it (came in handy a few times), and it had similar bumper guards to your Polara. Maybe those guards were a thing for a couple years? I don't recall what their previous '69 Coronets had, but I know their later Diplomats had the full push bar setup.
Almost bought a 73 Coronet Mason country car years ago, should have bought it but didn't have an engine. Those 72 B-Body cop cars were really sorted with rear sway bars.
@@rocketresto ya, mine would easily dust a friends SS396 Chevelle on twisty roads (and in a straight line, but that's another story involving the county shops and "blown head gaskets"). I ended up knowing the deputy whose car it had been (also a car guy).
Jimmy Buffett name checked Bufford Pussor in his song "Lucky to be Alive" on his final album. They had a run-in on the same day JB recorded God's Own Drunk back in the 1970s.
really great car man!
Thanks!
Great car! I love 4 doors.
Had a 1972, but mine was a 2 door 400 4 barrel
Looks like the car in walking tall sheriff Beaufort pusser. His was gold too.
Sweet MERCY !!
Mother of CHiPs episodes !!
Love ❤ C bodies !!
Very cool car
What is the Gold paint called Beautiful!!!😮
the wrong gold goes better with the interior... I had a Chrysler with that right gold and it was a little intense, especially on that big car.. was like a metallic yellow school bus.
Bumpers reached a high point in '72.. Gran Torinos, Lincoln Marks, Rivieras, Imperial and those lanterns... look at that Polara front bumper... there is a whole section of bumper that separates the headlights.... that's really ornate detailing for heavy gage steel and to me it says "Front bumper, it was good to know you."
The 5 mph really killed styling for like 10 years.
@@rocketresto it was somber. There's a spot in Spok where they parked the new cars that just came in off the train. One could sneak a peek at the new models b4 intro time. It was back by the racetrack/county fairgrounds. I remember some day in probably August 1972... we peaked over the fence and all the new cars had the most ridiculous bumpers. I recall the car radio was on and the McGovern/Eagleton thing was turning into the McGovern/Sargent Shriver thing. It was a very quiet ride home.
wonderful car Tom, you've been a good steward of it - but that rust is now threatening and
needs dealt with pronto in order for you to maintain your SSS (stellar steward status). 🙂
BTW, yes - you're butchering the pronunciation of Sheriff Buford Pusser; I'd urge anyone who
doesn't know the full story of that man to do a little research on him, aside from the movies
(which as usual tend to stretch the truth a bit here and there).
That was one hell of a man, right there.
- Ed on the Ridge
Yes need to get that fixed soon.
Driving camera lol. It’s so large it looks like the drivers side is way over the yellow line lol. You’re not but hell it’s big. lol. Great car.
Boats…. But I’m 6’5” so I like the big cars
Very cool. My fav. Id trade my 69 baracuda for 1 of these. Just to clarify, Bufords Joe don baker movie car in walking tall #1 is the twin to this. There was 3 walking tall movies.
Yep a gold 72 Polara provided by Dodge for the film.
Put a super light in it braa!
It does have a spot light
Super light is in the grill, beside the driver s headlights
I suppose it’s one you’d never sell? Would sure look good next to my 69 Ford Police Interceptor.
It’s a keeper
Finally he's getting ready for twin turbos. 🙌
That baby was a supervisors vehicle, wasn't it?
Yep
They wrecked about a hundred of these(and similar)cars in the movie "The Blues Brothers".
Lotta cars got wrecked in Blues Bros
What a beautiful car. I agree on '72 cars being the last of the really striking ones; the '73s looked more ordinary due to the front and rear treatment.
Two questions; would it have come with a Chrysler alternator or a Leece Neville (or other)? The one on the car has the hidden stator; was that in use in '72? Just had not seen an exposed stator Chrysler alternator that was rated at 80 amps, but I'm no expert.
Also, where do you go to for the A/C lines? My '71 small block is missing one of the lines (wasn't on the car when I bought it in 1980 and stupidly I didn't try to get one back then)? I know you can rebuild them if you have the metal parts, but I don't have those so need a complete line or the metal parts so one can be put together. Thanks!!
And thanks for sharing. I really need to get a nice C body someday; might even be a wagon in memory of the '69 Custom Suburban my parents had.
Wsp used the standard the high output Chrysler Alternator through 72, not sure why. CHP used leave Neville’s. In 73 they went to 100 amp alternator on the Polara.
As far as I know it’s used only on lines. Think classic auto air rebuilds them but would think any hydraulic line shop could do it too. Try Vanessa at five points parts for a line.
@@rocketresto Thanks! I know that was out of context but when you lifted the hood and I saw that really nice looking A/C setup it reminded me.
I'm going to look up alternators; I seriously never heard of an 80 amp Chrysler exposed stator alternator from the factory but if it was only ever offered as a fleet/police item, I don't have much documentation for those.
walking tall part one.
as far as the rubber floor mats...that's on any old, cheap Mopar, especially A-bodies with the wiper pivot seals that turn to dust.
Bu-Ford T. Pusser
Rubber floor mats usually means floor pan delete
@@rocketresto "Future pan delete option" 😆
That road paint dries very quickly. The only way you’ll get it on your vehicle is if you’re that jerk that drives on it right behind the truck as they’re laying it down.
My daily has white all over the wheel wells, they painted 5 minutes before and didn’t see the truck 🤦♂️
So is it a "street appearance" package? (I'm not sure what Dodge called it)
Sorry not sure what you mean. Don’t think I explained it super well, this is a fleet ordered model (because no DK in the VIN) that wsp added all the cop options to.
NOTE CORRECTED DETAILS BELOW, ORIGINAL POST NOT EDITED
1972 was the end of that short era for Chrysler when AC compressors would run all the time, even when the heater was on. There was a mid year change to a number of items. The HVAC box fasteners for the 2 halves were changed for improved sealing. On Chryslers, the hood nameplate script was deleted. And the compressor went back to regular operation in AC and DEF settings... if I recall correctly. Not sure what component they changed for that, maybe the HVAC control switch?
Ya not sure, know they still had the cut out switch in 73 so maybe that changed in 74? They used the big compressor till the end of the 70's before they went to the much more efficient Sanden compressor.
@@rocketresto I am a bit confused as to why they put on a switch when the same effect can be done by pulling out the HVAC button to turn off the compressor. It makes sense if one considers how police/military training is standardized. So, I suspect they added the switch to make the Mopar cop cars like the Ford like the GM. I think I found that mid year 72 thing in the MTSC files on the imperial club site, I should check that again.
@@HelpingHand-ic4wt It made the center clutch not spin so less rotating mass.
@@rocketresto I'd send it but this won't allow links. I found this on the Imperial website. I checked the '72 MTSC "Air Conditioning Systems" (Session 295) It was 1972 that they wired the compressor to run at every single moment the engine ran. Page 9 - New Compressor Circuit For 1972", "As a result, the evaporator is always cold and this provides full-time drying of the air, which minimizes the condensation of moisture on the windshield." It goes on to inform how it doesn't cause a big drop in economy since the heat load on the evaporator is minimal most of the year. The entire circuit was rewired so the HVAC buttons had no control over the compressor (aside from the Temp lever position when in Heat or Def mode), thus they couldn't even do the button pull-out thing. And that would explain how C bodies cop cars got the cutoff switch for hot pursuit duty. I still don't have when it was discontinued. 74? Maybe. I recall in those early oil embargo days that was a subject of concern, how all the luxury brands were using the compressor on-at-all times idea and how it must kill mileage.
@@rocketresto let me beat this fender just a little more... On page 10 & 11 explains the exciting mid year changes to the outside air-door bracket and Compressor Run In Off circuitry and the factory bypass that was developed due to customer request. Good reading!
Is this one a 400. Or A 440 cid Nice car Eather way
U code 440 HP in this one!
I love the C body content. The muscle stuff is just so overdone now.
I bet the “Buford Pusser” community won’t forget this injustice.
Sure the Buford Jihad is going to come after me soon.
I'm an older guy I can really appreciate how nice that car is and you would absolutely annihilate Jamie in any kind of race. No offense of course
Having a 750 pound disadvantage will make it tough.
lol just heard you mention it
Yep!
0-70 in 11.5 ish seconds
Hey Tom my 72 Charger u code looks like the same ex
manifolds. Your c body needs the same lh exhaust stove.Also what was original carb situation.
Originally a Holley on it but could never get it to run right so it has a 750 edelbrock on it now.
For whatever reason in 72 they used an HP on the passenger side but a log manifold on the driver side and yes, it’s supposed to have a heat stove I never put back in it.
@@rocketresto ok it's prob different , my 72 has a dealership replaced avs, with odd 73 date code. A roadrunner forum stated that by 73/74, many 72 Holley's we're having heat related probs and the warranty fix was to install AVS carbs.
@@SE-me2ptthey went to thermoquad 73 and up.
@@rocketresto right but since 72 was still a square bore manifold they had to use an AVS as a fix .
@@SE-me2ptthey specked out a Holley originally but could never make it run right. Don’t think they used an AVS at all in 72, was either thermoquad (340, 400) or Holley (440). Then 73 was all thermoquad.
Walking Tall.
Acceleration music.
The best music
Is it a 440
Yes
Yes 440 HP
Stock
Sherriff Buford Pusser!
Funny as this is pretty much his exact car.
it's NOT restored TBH , sure its been painted but this is not a restored car, its got alot of rough spots. a good daily driver classic.
Was restored in 2004 and gets driven and like any car that gets driven it has a few issues. I restored this 20 years ago! Crazy how time flies.
Your talking as if you are in a hurry, that doesn't do the video any good. Nice car though.
Always some place to be.