Ex Police cars

[SV8.YOU]

I am looking to find out some info on the vr commodore ex police cars. Its my sister inlaw's now, it was my mates and he was told when he first bought it, its was a ex cop car. Its an executive model, it has the ss interior, different instrument cluster (the speedo), much stiffer suspension. I'm looking to find out what else is different, i know people say it has a performance chip. I'm looking to buy it off my sister inlaw cause she want to get rid of it and he was my mates, who has passed away. I don't want to see it go, it is sentimental and i want to fix it up.

[redvxr8clubby]

BT1 pack Calais interior (map reading) lights, FE2 suspension, SS interior, pretty sure would have LSD, I think the VR BT1 pack had IRS and ABS, not sure but may well have a higher output alternator (if it still has original) and probably no console lid. The chip has been a matter of debate.

[gmeup]

it is basically like a vr ss but in a executive body.

-V8 5litre 165 kw i think it was
-fe2 suspension
-lsd
-ss interior seats
-dual horns
-bigger alternator
-irs suspension
no chip there was never any chips in cop cars it just never happend.
thats about it you already mentioned the instrument cluster, might have a map reading light added here and there but its basically a loaded up executive V8 commodore.

[Lincoln87]

and bigger petrol tank?? or is that just the highway patrol ones??

[Knawful]

Holes in the A-pillars etc. for the jesus bar's are normally a give away, and new looking roof lining. (was in my VN BT1 anyway)


Wonder where they get the cop chip's from. :stick:

[JJW501]

we had a VP ex chaser. it also had a cooler on the auto, not sure about the VR though. i think gmeup has got it down pretty good.

we had the holes in the console patched up and it was a good car.

[Red Beard]

it is basically like a vr ss but in a executive body.

-V8 5litre 165 kw i think it was
-fe2 suspension
-lsd
-ss interior seats
-dual horns
-bigger alternator
-irs suspension
no chip there was never any chips in cop cars it just never happend.
thats about it you already mentioned the instrument cluster, might have a map reading light added here and there but its basically a loaded up executive V8 commodore.

Don't forget the holes in everything, they always have holes. Unless all the trim pieces have been replaced.

I'm not sure about the chip either, my mechanic once plugged in his machine, and told me that the software, or chip, code that displayed, wasn't the standard SS V8 number. I never bothered to confirm this. Maybe they just go harder because of how they were driven early.

[Raptor6L]

it is basically like a vr ss but in a executive body.

-V8 5litre 165 kw i think it was
-fe2 suspension
-lsd
-ss interior seats
-dual horns
-bigger alternator
-irs suspension
no chip there was never any chips in cop cars it just never happend.
thats about it you already mentioned the instrument cluster, might have a map reading light added here and there but its basically a loaded up executive V8 commodore.

The bog standard V8's had 165kw, the SS had 185kw. If they had these motors in them that would probably go someway to explain why some people thought they were chipped, maybe?

[VXSS346]

The bog standard V8's had 165kw, the SS had 185kw. If they had these motors in them that would probably go someway to explain why some people thought they were chipped, maybe?

All VR 5.0L SS's and Exec's were 165kw's, the 185kw was an option on either model.
All VR 5.0L HSV's were 185kw's.

Cheers :)

[Ryzz]

All SS's and Exec's were 165kw's, the 185 was an option on either.
All HSV's were 185kw's.

Just to clarify, it was the "HSV Enhanced" upgrade that made it 185kw, giving it the "Clubsport" motor, hence 185kw.

[gmeup]

yeh they had a long range tank all the v8 executives were highway patrol anyway so every v8 bt1 pack came standard with the long range fuel tank i think it was 75 or 80litre tank while the standard tank was 65 litres.

I have owned about 5 executive v8 all ex cop in the past so i know a fair bit about them.

And all the cop cars had the 165kw v8 not the 185 as other people mentioned it was an option.

[VXSS346]

yeh they had a long range tank all the v8 executives were highway patrol anyway so every v8 bt1 pack came standard with the long range fuel tank i think it was 75 or 80litre tank while the standard tank was 65 litres.

I have owned about 5 executive v8 all ex cop in the past so i know a fair bit about them.

And all the cop cars had the 165kw v8 not the 185 as other people mentioned it was an option.

I'm 99% sure that all 5.0L V8 sedans from VN-VS (Exec or SS) came with the 80L fuel tank anyway.
V6's all had 63L.

Correct me if I'm wrong.

Cheers :)

[Beej]

Don't forget the holes in everything, they always have holes. Unless all the trim pieces have been replaced.

I'm not sure about the chip either, my mechanic once plugged in his machine, and told me that the software, or chip, code that displayed, wasn't the standard SS V8 number. I never bothered to confirm this. Maybe they just go harder because of how they were driven early.

A lot of people (like me!) got the holes in ex-cop cars repaired via a plastic welding type process; came up as good as new!

Cheers,

Beej

[gmeup]

just on a side note, its amazing how a decade later our current V6's have more power than these 5litre V8s

[Jarhead]

just on a side note, its amazing how a decade later our current V6's have more power than these 5litre V8s

More amazing is a Honda NA 2 litre engine in the S2000 with more than 100hp/litre. The technology is there but the US car manufacturers still hold to the 1960's maxim of "bigger is better".

I remember my dad test driving the new Clubsport (at the time) with a whopping 185kw. The test drive is still fresh in my mind. I remember my old man saying it went like a rocket.

OT - there is one other distiguishing feature with the ex police vehicles that no one has mentioned. Close inspection will usually reveal a series of small indentations on the C-pillar:rofl:

[fx160]

i had a vl ex highway cop car and it had the wireing for the roof lights
still hooked up just rolled up and left in the roof lining
after about 6 months it started to show so i looked under the lining found what it was and removed it all
it was hard wired into the fuse box


kev

[redvxr8clubby]

just on a side note, its amazing how a decade later our current V6's have more power than these 5litre V8s

When you think about it the 3.8 wasn't that far behind the 5.0 (especially the 165 Kw version). The 3.8 in my VS exec is 147 Kw and I think 152 in the VT, the standard V8 was less than 20 Kw more, come 1999 and VT2, the six is 152 Kw, the standard 8 is 225 Kw, suddenly 73 Kw over the V6. I can recall test driving a VP V8 a long time ago and thinking this is nice but power wise not that much more than my VN Exec (manual) V6 I had at the time. Now with the SIDI 3.6 V6 210 Kw isn't that far behind the early standard LS1 225 Kw, and combine that with a 6 speed auto instead of a 4 speed in the V8 autos prior to VE, the SIDI V6's sound like a good thing.

[fishla]

VR BT1, look for the Sump protector plate and fuel tank protector plate.
There was also a light above the speedo (to read the speedo with no lights on). No idea how this operates though.

As for the discussion about 165kw and 185kw V8 vs Honda S2000, V6's etc.
It doesn't only come down to engine kw. It's about torque.

Put a 180kw S2000 engine in a 1600kg VR/VS and it just wouldn't be the same would it? :)

[vlctrazz]

ex-cop cars do have a different chip/ecu but the only difference is to protect it from radio interference, thats it, no difference in power output.

[gmeup]

VR BT1, look for the Sump protector plate and fuel tank protector plate.
There was also a light above the speedo (to read the speedo with no lights on). No idea how this operates though.

As for the discussion about 165kw and 185kw V8 vs Honda S2000, V6's etc.
It doesn't only come down to engine kw. It's about torque.

Put a 180kw S2000 engine in a 1600kg VR/VS and it just wouldn't be the same would it? :)

yeh thats true the torque on these 5litre or any v8 was a lot more than the
v6 of that era even if the kw was only 20 or so behind and the s2000 has way less torque.

[duke5700]

ex-cop cars do have a different chip/ecu but the only difference is to protect it from radio interference, thats it, no difference in power output.

My BT1 is exactly the same as any other turbo auto ECU, where is the difference?

[kevin101]

The BT1 pack contains the following: ABS, FE2 Sports Suspension, IRS, LSD, Driver's Airbag (SRS), 80L fuel tank, Sump protector plate and fuel tank protector plate, Door interior light switches disabled, map reading light/interior light, special brake pads (front and rear), certified police speedometer, with light in instrument binnacle over speedo (to read speedo no lights on), and can be V6, V8 or HSV V8. With the V8, the seats have SS embroided on them. The BT1 pack is added to an Executive, but (in Queensland at least) can also be added on to SS with HSV V8 for pursuit vehicles.

Just a little info I pulled from the Unofficial Holden Commodore Archive.

[SV8.YOU]

I should of stated from the start its a v6. It has got the gear that was mentioned the ss interior, long range tank, it had a lsd, the light above the speedo, the suspension is very solid it has the fe2 but its alot better than the vs i had which had fe2, i still remember my vs doing 195km on this bumpy road and it was very floaty, same road but in the vr got to 195km and it just stuck to the road. Its also been lowered and had a sports exhaust. Is there a plate in the engine bay or can i quote the vin to holden to find out the history

[whiteknight2211]

VR BT1, look for the Sump protector plate and fuel tank protector plate.
There was also a light above the speedo (to read the speedo with no lights on). No idea how this operates though.

As for the discussion about 165kw and 185kw V8 vs Honda S2000, V6's etc.
It doesn't only come down to engine kw. It's about torque.

Put a 180kw S2000 engine in a 1600kg VR/VS and it just wouldn't be the same would it? :)

The binnacle light operates with the key turned to 'On'. I had two VS BT1 Packs, the other thing that I noticed was that the Auto Detent track which is normally smooth from 'D' back to '3' was also flattened to '2' so you could kick it back even faster.

I don't really know that there was too many other special features.

As for the chips, I had both of those cars and they went harder than a VS V8 stateman I had. When I went from my 96 BT1 (with 2 1/2" cat back and HSV Cold Air Intake, the one that took suction over the radiator) to my VU SS (which was standard) I felt like I was in a gutless heap of crap. I fixed that by ditching the muffler.

[BanPC]

I am looking to find out some info on the vr commodore ex police cars.

If it can do 130 kmh in Reverse your pretty sure it's like every other ex/current clod hopper mobile.....:)

[Aus8]

just on a side note, its amazing how a decade later our current V6's have more power than these 5litre V8s

As much as it hurts to say I think it more shows how much of a boat anchor the old 5L Holden and Ford V8's were with their 168kw. The 1994 EF XR6 had 164kw and was renowned to be faster than the SS and XR8 of the same era.

[ice57l]

yep i remember the local cops would bring there cars in to get worked on and they would all say the xr 6 ate the v8's........ i also remeber that the best thing you could do for one was to go out the grass fields roads and thrash the thing, it made any of the vn to vs v8's autos shift better.... and all the customers notice the car drove better....

[paul09]

When you think about it the 3.8 wasn't that far behind the 5.0 (especially the 165 Kw version). The 3.8 in my VS exec is 147 Kw and I think 152 in the VT, the standard V8 was less than 20 Kw more, come 1999 and VT2, the six is 152 Kw, the standard 8 is 225 Kw, suddenly 73 Kw over the V6. I can recall test driving a VP V8 a long time ago and thinking this is nice but power wise not that much more than my VN Exec (manual) V6 I had at the time. Now with the SIDI 3.6 V6 210 Kw isn't that far behind the early standard LS1 225 Kw, and combine that with a 6 speed auto instead of a 4 speed in the V8 autos prior to VE, the SIDI V6's sound like a good thing.

In the ED falcons the xr6 was actually quicker 0-100 than the xr8.
The xr6 was 161kw 365Nm, xr8 165kw 388Nm. But the xr6 weighed less due to i6 rather than v8 so was actually slightly quicker...

Dad bought an ED xr6 wagon back in 1994(we still have it now, it's mint with only 120,000k's), said he drove the xr8 and couldn't tell any power difference, it just sounded nicer. He nearly bought an xr8 sprint (195kw v8) sedan but mum said the suspension was too rough :soap: He said he actually put down a deposit on a VR SS 5liter but the seller pulled out and he found the xr6 wagon for a great price and bought it...only to be called back a week later by the SS seller offering it to him again for $1000 less.

Shattered that I don't have an SS to play with but the xr6 wagon has always been very useful for carting stuff around!
Sorry for the life story haha,

TL;DR ED xr6 was faster than the xr8

[feistl]

Snip

:goodjob: for adding extra information, but the original question was posted over 2 years ago. Im fairly sure the OP has made a decision by now...

For the record, the BT1 pack wasnt just made for police. I had a VR wagon that was a BT1 and originally owned by the fire bridge.

[zorro]

there are also strange ones around, friend of mine had a VS V8, acclaim colours, SS front seats, sump gaurd, wiring holes, ABS/LSD, rear wing & was painted a light mettalic green.

Did the research factory car and first registered to Qld Police. go figure

[[TOPGEAR]]

sump guard and fuel tank guard also.......