Police Cars Extravaganza - Part 7: American Horsepower

Roarington’s journey through the most curious and unusual police vehicles reaches its final episode today with the American police force. Compared to the countries we've explored in recent weeks, it was harder to find extravagant models, as the U.S. has always preferred domestic manufacturers—but we’re confident we’ll surprise you once again. The first police car used in the United States was the Akron Ohio, an electric vehicle that could reach 16 miles per hour and had a range of 30 miles per charge. The Ohio could carry 12 officers. The spread of the Model T at the beginning of the 20th century, with a top speed of 45 mph (around 70 km/h), led police departments to adopt Ford’s new model as well, kickstarting a collaboration with Ford that has lasted for over 100 years and continues to this day. As motorization rapidly expanded and the famous highways were developed in a country keen on speed limits, it became essential for police to have high-performance vehicles.

The Ford Model T was one of the first vehicles used for patrolling by American police in the early 20th century.

In 1950, Ford became the first automaker to offer a full vehicle package tailored to meet the rigorous demands of police patrol work. The cars featured several engineering and design enhancements for comfort, durability, speed, and safety, and they were more powerful than the standard models on sale. Three power options were available: the special Ford V-8, the Ford 100 H.P. V8, and the Ford 95 H.P Six. It was a brilliant move by Ford, with police departments nationwide placing orders. Just think of the NYPD’s order for 430 Fords—unprecedented at the time.

Ford’s long tradition as a supplier of police vehicles continued into the 1950s, when the iconic black-and-white livery made its debut.

In 1962, the California Highway Patrol made a significant upgrade to its fleet by purchasing over 1,200 Chrysler Enforcers. Based on the Newport model, these patrol cars were equipped with the powerful Mopar V8 engine delivering 325 horsepower. With upgraded camshafts and carburetors, paired with heavy-duty suspension and brake packages, these vehicles were built to handle the toughest high-speed pursuits. A fully equipped Enforcer could reach a top speed of 130 mph—over 200 km/h—an impressive figure for the time.

In the early 1960s, the Chrysler Enforcer could reach over 200 km/h, making it a serious challenge for criminals to outrun.

The 1969 Polara Police Interceptor was an absolute beast, built by Dodge for the California Highway Patrol in an era when building police cars meant making a race car and then stress-testing it into near indestructibility. The Polara was a true rocket, with 375 horsepower pushing it past 220 km/h. Dodge built a total of 1,564 units for California’s police department.

Disguised as an ordinary road car, the Dodge Polara hid a 375-horsepower performance engine under the hood.

It’s impossible not to mention another Dodge that made history in American police car lore: the Bluesmobile from the 1980 movie The Blues Brothers—a 1974 Dodge Monaco driven by the two brothers to the rhythm of Everybody Needs Somebody in a story full of wild adventures. It’s the middle of the night, and the final mad dash begins with the iconic line: “We’ve got a full tank of gas, half a pack of cigarettes, it’s dark, and we’re wearing sunglasses.”

The iconic 1974 Dodge Monaco from the 1980 film “The Blues Brothers” became a global icon.

Jumping to the 1990s, who could forget the Chevrolet Camaro RS B4C, used by police in several U.S. states? What made this car special was the Corvette’s 235 hp V8 engine under the hood. It also featured lightweight components like an aluminum driveshaft, suspension upgrades, and four-wheel disc brakes. The Police B4C package added even more performance goodies like oversized sway bars and larger brake discs.

The Chevrolet Camaro, in versions like the RS B4C with the Corvette engine, served in various U.S. police departments.

Last but certainly not least is the Ford Mustang SSP – Special Service Package – built exclusively for police use. These units served multiple roles and were often customized to suit the specific needs of each police agency. From municipal to federal agencies, around 15,000 units were purchased. The car became so famous that Ford launched an ad campaign around it with the legendary slogan: “This Ford Chases Porsches For A Living.” God bless America!

The famous Ford ad “This Ford Chases Porsches For A Living” featuring the Police Mustang.