Kentucky State Police purchases 125 Caprices

[Troutman]

G'day all,

In the news today, the Kentucky State Police department is purchasing 100 traditional grey and 25 tan-coloured PPVs as it phases out its Ford Crown Victoria fleet. Full article here.



I'm now up to 60 pics on my PPV gallery, which to my knowledge is the only one of its kind.
http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?s...8133526&type=3

Cheers,

The Troutman

[Pickles]

TOP news for Holden.....I hope, if the vehicle is well received, and why wouldn't it be, that other Police Depts in the U.S. become interested.
Cheers, Pickles.

[VH-COM]

Sales are improving as Crown Victoria (now extinct) hoarded stocks run out.
US Police depts. apparently were so in love with Crown Vic that some depts. purchased ahead of actually needing new vehicles.

Sales around December were about 100 units.
April 174
May 313

So as these climbing numbers show it is taking off ....would that be in the June month, Troutman ......or have they announced someting that has happened last month?

[Troutman]

There are several similar articles on the 'net, all say the announcement was made "recently". This is interesting:
Trooper Michael Webb of the state police public affairs divisiion said Wednesday that each cruiser cost $25,400, or about $3.17 million for all 125.
http://bluegrasspolitics.bloginky.co...-new-cruisers/

AUD and USD are pretty much on par right now. 1 Australian dollar = 0.9939 U.S. dollars according to Google.

Cheers.

[5.7heaven]

just shows how much markup is actually on cars. If they can export, convert to LHD and modify to suit the police application for $25,400 each, that my friend is good fleet purchasing

[VH-COM]

Nice facebook picture collection, Troutman.....really shows that they put more effort into their cop cars than us.
Some of them look really really great Columbia, South Carolina for example.

[lease1]

just shows how much markup is actually on cars. If they can export, convert to LHD and modify to suit the police application for $25,400 each, that my friend is good fleet purchasing

As far as I know they are manufactured by Holden in lhd, not converted, and the ppv was specifically designed by gm, so no mods are needed, they are built that way

[VH-COM]

Just found this...They are a little better mechanically than Aussie Caprices ...and they need to be.
US police cars can do a lot of miles in the 8+ years that they maintain them for.

Chevrolet PPV versus Holden Caprice: the main differences
Omega interior. Black door handles. Black side mirrors.
New front seats with harder wearing material and space for gun belts.
Doors open wider to make it easier to put the 'perp' in the back.
Foot park brake from the Impala (9C1 only).
Door-mounted front window switches (9C1 only).
Relocated auto transmission shifter (9C1 only).
New front bumper, with side reflectors and a higher, chiseled lip for better ground clearance.
High rise FE2 suspension (dubbed FB3) that is 25mm higher than standard.
Bigger front brakes (disc diameter up from 321mm to 345mm, pad area up from 4296mm2 to 6167mm2).
Wider front track 4mm each side (rim offset change).
Heavy duty front knuckle control arm, ball joint, steering tie rod ends, and steering gear attachment to sub frame (for kerb strike).
Extra welding in the body.
Single tip exhaust mufflers.
Conventional tail-lights instead of LEDs.
Weight distribution 51/49 with optional full size spare.
Power steering, transmission and engine oil coolers from Middle East spec Caprice.
High output fuel pump for increased fuel pressure.

http://www.carpoint.com.au/reviews/2...rice-ppv-23262

[dazzrael]

good news for holden! keeping the caprice name alive as well!

[Phillshz]

Sales are improving as Crown Victoria (now extinct) hoarded stocks run out.
US Police depts. apparently were so in love with Crown Vic that some depts. purchased ahead of actually needing new vehicles.

Sales around December were about 100 units.
April 174
May 313

So as these climbing numbers show it is taking off ....would that be in the June month, Troutman ......or have they announced someting that has happened last month?

I caught part of a doco going back at least 2-3yrs ago now, about the ford crown vic police cars.
It mentioned how much the cops loved them and how they were perfect for the job and the only car made in the USA that meet their requirements etc. But were pretty much trashed, given the hard life they have ,no matter how well the maintainence.
It went on to show how police forces had there own workshops which completly restored the cars like new ie total strip down to bare shell, inspected, everything rebuilt and put the car back together and rejoined the squad.

Completely insane and no doubt expensive, but what else do you do when nothing else is suitable! But that is the USA for you.

On a side note i watched a doco on tanks coming back from the middle east and they do a similar thing but one company strips and cleans the tank then it is loaded on a train and sent halfway across the states to another company that rebuilds everything, paints it, puts it back together and test`s it and sends it back to the desert for another 12 mths. Insanely expensive and a major effort. But that`s the US.

Cheers Phill

[Troutman]

It's true that the Crown Vic was a favourite, but the new generation (Ford Interceptor (Taurus), Dodge Charger, Chevrolet Caprice) is taking performance and handling to new levels which the officers do appreciate.

Here's one of the dozens of great vids: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature...&v=Z33Xufh7fnM

PS, the Crown Vic was built in Canada. I love mine.

[Nutter]

I've read about these a few times now both online and in mags what I'm having trouble understanding is why do american cops have the need for a long wheel base police car, i might be missing the point but a longer, higher and heavier car is better in what instances? More legroom for the guy handcuffed and thrown in the back? What am i missing?

[steve_t]

I've read about these a few times now both online and in mags what I'm having trouble understanding is why do american cops have the need for a long wheel base police car, i might be missing the point but a longer, higher and heavier car is better in what instances? More legroom for the guy handcuffed and thrown in the back? What am i missing?

More weight = more stability for the pit manoeuvre?

[jono0309]

I've read about these a few times now both online and in mags what I'm having trouble understanding is why do american cops have the need for a long wheel base police car, i might be missing the point but a longer, higher and heavier car is better in what instances? More legroom for the guy handcuffed and thrown in the back? What am i missing?

Obviously you need to read online a few more times...

From that carpoint article mentioned above...

"Holden and Chevrolet originally looked at exporting the Commodore as a police vehicle but it quickly became apparent that the Caprice's ample rear leg room and massive boot were better suited to the job. The Caprice's extra leg room means that a prisoner shield can be installed behind the front seats -- and the bad guys still have sufficient leg room."

[Troutman]

The issue is not so much rear legroom as ease of putting a suspect into the rear seat area, having room for the partition as well as allowing the front seats to be positioned for comfort. Ironically the Crown Vic doesn't fare particularly well in this regard - it's quite small in the back and would be even worse with the partition, despite being larger on the outside.

Often chases involve the omnipresent American pick-up trucks driven by nutcases, which is why the car needs to have some off-road capability as well as enough mass to confidently perform a PIT if appropriate. Even the Caprice has been criticised for being 'too small' by some departments.