There’s no easier group of automobiles to proverbially defecate on than 1980s American cars. So far, removed from the muscle car renaissance of the ’60s and plagued by government-obligated downsizing and emissions regulations, the only selling point left most manufacturers had come the 80s was that they were “built in the USA.” At least, that’s what most conjecture around the subject tells us. But not every 80s American car was a steaming pile of Reagan-era crap.
Unlike most famous American cars we often remember from this period, the Gran Fury is a product entirely forged in the post-Oil Crisis period, perpetually void of enthusiastic horsepower numbers or styling cues. But this third-gen 1984 Gran Fury, on the same M-Body platform as the Chrysler LeBaron and Dodge Diplomat manages to buck the trend thanks to its AHB-Code police package. This particular example spent its days with the Idaho Highway Patrol before making its way west to Wisconsin. Safe to say, it’s been very well taken care of since its days on the force.
In truth, the 318-cubic inch (5.2-L) LA-series V8 under the hood of these cop cars wasn’t immune from Malaise-era emissions restrictions, and its 165 horsepower output wasn’t going to win any drag races. But even if this Gran Fury cop car isn’t fast enough to keep up with the bad guys, it at least does look handsome while it’s failing to do so. Those black wheels with polished metal hubcaps paired with chunky tires and plush refurbished seat upholstery mean there are definitely worse vehicles out there to spend a road trip inside of.
With the benefit of a four-barrel carburetor on the 318 V8 instead of the more common two-barrel unit, there’s a slim chance there are a few more horses under the hood of this cop car than the anemic powerplant civilian versions of the Gran Fury were forced to contend with. Even so, that archaic Torqueflite 727 transmission is going to limit the ability to put that power to the tires. But does any of that really matter when buying a car like this? If you’re ready to fork cash out for a car like this, it’s under the assumption that you know full well that you drive it to turn heads and not to win light-to-light drag races. You will at least look cool as hell driving at 40 mph.
