1972 Dodge Polara U-Code 440 HP, ex-Washington State Patrol Car Tour

Tour of our personal 1972 Dodge Polara ex-Washington State Patrol car. A U Code 440 HP engine with cop brakes, cop suspension, cop engine, etc. Power seats with double springs make for a comfy ride. 140 MPH certified speedo that was police car only.

[@tinbadge]

Looks like the one in the first Walking Tall Movie that Buford got when he first became sheriff. 👍

[@tonyrhoton6613]

Looks like the 1 that caught me

[@buffdelcampo]

1972 Polara, one of my favorites! The grill and headlight position is just perfect. I had one when it was 6 years old. Someone replaced the timing chain. They had the timing wrong and broke a piston with a valve. I got it for $200, very cheap even then. I fixed it and drove it for a while. I wish I hadn't sold it but I made good money with it. I was young and I needed the money. Thanks for sharing!

[@davidwoodham1307]

That's one very nice looking car mate

[@79tazman]

I read your comment and thought you wrote that you had one when you were 6 years old and was like ya right LOL I had to read it over this time a little slower LOL!

[@buffdelcampo]

@@79tazman Funny. I should write more carefully. When I just read it, I thought that's what I wrote too. It was 1978 then. I was 24. I was working on cars all day, every day back then. I miss being 24.

[@qmopar]

Dude that thing is sweet! Being 6'4", I certainly appreciate C bodies and the room they provide. Plus, I love Mopar cop cars!! This checks a lot of boxes for me. Nice car!!

[@hetzler1213]

Our childhood car was a 1969 Fury III that had a round stain on the headliner over the driver seat. Brill Creme. Dad was 6'7" 🤣

[@70Kenny]

Beautiful car, sir. Not many Washington State Patrol cars survived 51 years from their in-service date! Your car would have endured hard, heavy use in all the weather conditions we experience in Washington, and would have been quite “used” by the time it got to public auction. Most of the cars that your Polara pulled over during its service life have long since been sent to the crusher. Thanks for preserving this example of WSP history!

[@glengabruch4664]

The 1969 Dodge Polara had a sleek new streamlined body style called the “Fuselage Design”, which would continue until its end of production in 1973. The new streamlined body style, 3.23 gears, and the 375 horsepower 440 Magnum made this one fast cruiser. 0-60 MPH = 6.3 Seconds 0-100 MPH = 18.1 Seconds 1/4-Mile = 14.3 Seconds Top Speed Recorded = 149.6 MPH (Chrysler test track in Chelsea, Michigan) The California Highway Patrol and Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) were prized enough customers that Chrysler made specific parts for each department. The California Highway Patrol even had its own cam grind. This car was so fast that it’s 149.6 MPH top speed record wouldn’t be broken until the 2006 5.7L Dodge Charger recorded a 150 MPH top speed during the Michigan State Police vehicle evaluations. Super cool cars!👍

[@valuedcustomer9614]

I had a summer job with the Washington State Patrol in 1975 and 1976 when I was in college. I was assigned to the WSP communications center in Bellevue, installing and de-installing police radios and communication equipment in both new and surplus vehicles. Our team drove the surplus cars an hour south to Olympia where they were auctioned off. I still remember driving an unmarked car (a tan one) and flooring it on the ramp from southbound 167 to westbound 18. I'm pretty sure it was a '71 which was more powerful than this '72. Wow! The 440 Super Commando accelerated that heavy car like it was nothing. Of all the patrol cars I drove that's the one I remember liking the best. I sure wish I owned it today.

[@rocketresto]

That’s awesome!

[@chuckeecheese162]

My brother and brother-in law worked at the Belvedere plant in the late 60’s early 70’s. When they couldn’t keep up with the line if there were parts left over they would throw them in the trunk and let the dealer install them. My brothers first job was driving them off the line to the staging lot for transport. He said so many would smoke or rattle. They’d park it and let the dealer worry about it lol.

[@coreyjones1518]

My neighbor was a Sheriff and she had one of these. It sounded so cool when she started it and took off and man, that car could really take off. Gold with tan interior, four door sedan. I would love to have on of these. You're a lucky guy. Have fun with it.

[@rocketresto]

They sound great at full song.

[@kolsen6330]

My father was WSP, retired in 73. I remember going for a ride with him. His Polara held passing gear to 120. Had a 1000 cfm thermoquad for no gas mileage. My first car was a surplus WSP 64 Galaxy 500 with a 427 interceptor. It was a sergeants car so only had a spotlight. Blew all my friends hot chevys and mopars off the road. Dad had the first V8 WSP car. A two door coupe specially built in the state garage to catch hot rodders with v8s. WSP drove sedan deliverys with flathead 6s then.

[@rightlanehog3151]

Thanks for the well paced, sensible video. When I was a kid, the C body was the preferred taxi in my town. Of course, I remember them as police cars and to an extent, family vehicles. When I got my license I eventually drove a downsized 75 Fury sedan. I even owned a Diplomat for a few years so Chrysler fleet cars are nothing new to me.

[@donstone4349]

Had a friend who was with the Nj state police ,he had a car just like this.Can remember him coming by the shop and you could tell ,even if you didn’t know that there was something nasty under the hood by the rumble and bark from the big exhaust. He did confirm something about the 140 mph being quite necessary.Thanks for the walk down memory lane

[@Crimson3ffect]

Great car. Super powerful. Only one flaw ... when the throttle spring snaps ...the car launches like the space shuttle! Happened to me on a curvy dirt road ..25mph speed limit..lol. the corn field I nearly destroyed slowed me down a little ... but the tree ended it!

[@vinriffic]

Wow, sounds like a wild ride!

[@caseyfuqua2656]

Buford Pusser car. Love it!

[@theexorcist2605]

That's a nice comment I was wondering if anybody recognized it

[@19553129]

One of my brothers friend,s had one thes. I love the sound the engine made when the 4 barrel secondaries kicked in😊

[@christophersanders5007]

Way back in the late 70's when I was just a kid graduating high school, I had a friend that bought a used 1966 Dodge Polaris cop car that had a 383 Super Commando engine in it.

[@ianmangham4570]

Hard to believe I'm older than this beauty 😅❤ 👴

[@ianmangham4570]

I still love those old school steel air filter pans

[@fobbitoperator3620]

Gorgeous classic machine there! I had a 1983 Dodge Diplomat, former Illinois state Trooper car, also a "plain wrapper." It had a 383 C.I.D. Commando V8, & was 1 hell performer on high speed turns. Too bad I blew roughly 36.4% of the engine's internals through the hood, & passenger side fender. I'm just glad I didn't have anything punch through my skull unit. I also loved that car...

[@scarbourgeoisie]

Best looking cop car ever! This is just like the one driven by Buford Pusser in the first Walking Tall.

[@AJ67901]

Love it. Please do a start-up and idle video. I always thought the bends at the end of the tail pipes where they kicked up was cool. Thanks!

[@theoneandonly6431]

The '72 Polara was the best one of the lot, hands down.

[@cellpat2686]

Beautiful fuselage body. Love how the round front and rear ends match. I think this is what they call a slicktop.

[@nlpnt]

In more ways than one, back in the day if an ex-cop car with holes for roof equipment was bought by a dealer they'd slap on a vinyl top since that was cheaper than filling the holes smooth and matching the paint.

[@WPGinterceptor460Interceptor]

after watching DIRTY MARY CRAZY LARRY, i loved these cars

[@victoriathompson4382]

"Clown to Franklin, Clown to Franklin" "Go ahead clown"

[@jenkemjones68]

Really appreciate this video and you going into detail about the car's patrol history.The gadgets like horn/siren,fast idle etc was very intereting.Thank you.

[@ianmangham4570]

Beautiful bench seat ,my favourite 😍

[@TGWazoo1]

I remember when you could buy these cars for $500. I bought 71 Ford LTD in high school for $520. It had a limited slip differential and was fantastic on dirt roads and snow.

[@jammerz63]

This was my first ride! Awesome set of wheels. Mine was from Iowa, copper colored.

[@ianmangham4570]

I always loved those spotlights 😅

[@joeapplebaum3763]

I got to ride in one when I interviewed an Illinois State Trooper for a sixth grade assignment. So memorable!

[@Road2redemtion]

I'm 6'5 too. Driving my '67 Fury III was like sitting on the couch in my living room.

[@dweebert]

The 72 Polara was in a couple of my favorite movies, "Dirty Mary, Crazy Larry" and "Sugarland Express"

[@scarbourgeoisie]

Dirty Mary Crazy Larry - yes ‘72 Polara’s. Sugarland Express (directed by Steven Spielberg) used a ‘73 Polara as the star car.

[@William-r6w]

Great review you are spot on with your info .I owned a 71 exISP Mercury Monterey 429PI my vav car of all time crazy fast I really loved it

[@rocketresto]

Love old police cars!

[@ReneChewbaka]

Northshore School District had a bunch of these ex cop cars. They used them for drivers training. They were all this gold color. I learned to drive in this exact car, year and color at Bothell High School in 1977. We used to bump them into each other in the parking lot training course, there would be several cars on the course at once. Great memories

[@hammanhamman5002]

You have a beautiful car. I am the 2nd owner of a 1972 Dodge Monaco with a 400. It is the same gold color as yours. It has the hidden headlights. It has been garage kept since new. 76,000 miles. Your video has inspired me to do a video on my Monaco. I’ll let you know if I do a video of it.

[@adamhoffman3687]

A friend of mine has a 1970 R T that was purchased by a sheriff's department along with 2 1970 chargers. A green one and a purple one.

[@usaisnojoke]

A true survivor. Great looking car!

[@rocketresto]

Love that car

[@charlespratt8663]

" It's got a cop motor, a 440 cubic inch plant. Its got cop tires, cop suspension, cop shocks. Its a model made before catalytic converters so it'll run good on regular gas" Elwood Blues.

[@dangarrison3503]

I bought one for the trans and engine. Scrapped it. It was in great shape. The up trim cars were used by police as detectives

[@nsidor1234]

Had. '74 Monaco police car many years ago. A former Michigan State P.D. medium metalic blue with a 400ci (equipped with a thermoquad carb) Must've also been a captians car because it had full wheel covers, AM-FM radio, tan interior with cloth seats and carpeting. Had alot of balls for a full size boat. I wish I held onto her...

[@duanejackson6718]

Super cool car! And easy way to mask that crack in the dash could be to use a little bit of fiberglass with a small chunk of matting against the styrofoam, you may be able to blend the fiberglass from a kit to closely match the color of the dash. I think the crack gives it character I'm just mentioning it in case a person wanted to fix it. It's an awesome piece of History. Probably extremely rare I don't know how many of those cop cars would even exist.

[@dennisrobinson7587]

I used to own a 1973 Plymouth Fury two door hard top with a360 V8 .I still miss that car.

[@charlielaudico3523]

I did have one of those police cars, great ride, fast,great family cars! This was in the late 80s

[@enriquelopez2550]

such a great car man you must be proud. I love the gold color as opposed to black & white.

[@fredschoppet3918]

I had a 72 Polara. 2 door hard top. Honeydew color with white vinyl top. 360. Loved it!

[@theoneandonly6431]

Looks like the one they used in the Walking Tall movie (From 1972 of course).

[@dannyphelps9440]

I so wish I would have kept my 74 Polaris and a 70 Road Runner. Nice!!!

[@jobskinner833]

Very nice 👍 . Love it. Good job restoring it.

[@larryspiller6633]

I like the Police vehicles too. I've never wanted the job, just liked the cars because of that extra heavy duty stiff. Especially the MOPAR stuff.

[@normmelanson9345]

Awesome car, you don't see that many of them around anymore

[@adeeponionbrah]

Sweet! Body reinforcement in roof & more! Riveted tag. Wow

[@rocketresto]

Lots of unique mods to the cop cars.

[@tommywilliams5734]

Thats a sweet Dodge! I too have always appreciated cop cruisers. I bought a ex c.vic for $600 in the early 90s. The Mopars are my favorites. The cars seemed more menacing and in your face.

[@robertconyea]

Enjoyed this one. Dad had 72 Fury, so lot of thongs look familiar. Wasn't a police car though, and had the 360 under hood. Also really like that you speak in a normal voice and don't sound like a game show host!

[@parnellitube]

My parents bought a 72 Fury around the time I was born. I screwed around with all the controls any time I was left in the car by myself (it was the 70's after all). I discovered that if I turned on the hazard lights and turn signal at the same time with the key off, all the accessories would turn on and off with the flashing lights. Tried this again in my friend's Tradesman van many years later and it did the same thing!

[@walterwhitaker1395]

Do you remember the movie "SUGARLAND EXPRESS" The two troopers went to the motor pool and grabbed two interceptor Dodge Polara's and hit the highway from Arkansas to Texas! Running 120 MPH! GOOD TIMES! GOOD TIMES!

[@rocketresto]

Great movie, early Spielberg, one of these is in Walking Tall too.

[@craigpolinski8955]

OUTSTANDING, Was this the same car that was driven from Washington state all the way to Chryslers at Carlisle in Pennsylvania several years ago? If so I'm proud to say I saw it in person. There was a special indoor display for mopar police cars that summer. We had just completed the restoration of a 72 Pa State Police Plymouth Fury Ii. It was a marked gold (same color as your car) and B7 blue unit with the hp 440. It's on perminent display at the academy museum in Hershey Pa. Love your Dodge.

[@rocketresto]

Yep same car! Was like 2004 I think? Time flys.

[@craigpolinski8955]

Mopar really did some weird builds with those cars. Many auto graveyards throughout Pa. we're visited in search of a suitable original ex Pa State car. One yard in particular Donaldson's near Altoona, Pa had several ex Pa State cars in it. 65, 69.70.71, 73 and up. I first came across a 70 Fury II, when I lifted the hood I was kinda disappointed to see only a 383 with a black single snorkle air cleaner and a factory 2 barrel carb. Strangely it had the hp exhaust manifolds...the C body specific driver side manifold (with the 70,71 heat stove intact) thought maybe when the hp 383 wore out someone stuck a 2 barrel 383 in there between the hp m.folds. Nope, E61 on the tag and L in the vin. Never saw a 383 2v with hp manifolds and duals. The engine even sported its factory hoses and pcv valve with traces of factory Corp blue engine paint on it. Subsequently located both a 68 and a 69, both had 383 2 barrels with the C body HP exhaust manifolds and what remained of dual exhausts. The driver side HP manifolds on those two were correct as they were devoid of the air cleaner heat stoves and no provisions for a stove. The next car I looked over was a 71 Fury Ii. This was the first year PSP ordered a 440. It was the E85 standard cam T code engine, painted blue with log manifolds, dual exhaust, and an AVS Carter (like on the 370 hp 440) not the expected Holley. In the trunk I scored the 71 specific dual snorkle air cleaner with a really nice 440 Super Commando pie plate. (I bought that for 20 bucks) I think Pa. required that the fleet had to run on regular gas as they still do. No premium fuel. 71 was the first year that a 440 could run regular. The hp 440 still needed premium in 71 but the 383 4v and Std perf 440 could run low octane gas. Not to geek out on this stuff just illustrates how mopar and all the domestic auto makers could skirt the norm and tailor components for specialized applications. Lastly regarding that 71 440 T code engine in the PSP cars. I've seen two of them and each one was equipped with the red painted valve springs found in the U code 440 hp engines. The 71 in Donaldson's and there was one that had been wrecked when it was fairly new and left in a tow yard. It was on Marketplace or Ebay not that long ago.

[@tieroneactual2228]

@@craigpolinski8955 I remember when I first saw the “ Wanted” ad in Mopar Collectors Guide for a PSP ‘72 Fury. I actually spoke with Dave Points on the phone ref the ad, & mentioned I had 5 different ‘72 Fury’s in the past that were former Ohio State Highway Patrol Units. The PSP ‘72’s were actually Fury II’s from what I remember, they had the full wheel covers & body molding along the side. Dave was cool to talk with, I believe he was a Captain at the Highspire Post, not sure of the correct spelling. Never seen the Fury in person yet, but since it’s now on display in Hershey it will be on my things to do list eventually.

[@watchtrainsnow1099]

There was a bunch of these in the movie crazy Larry dirty Mary. The guy asked the mechanic about the top speed. The mechanic slams the hood and says: “unlimited”

[@johnmagan7266]

I don’t care what it’s got on it, I care what it’s got in it.

[@americanrambler4972]

I always thought these Dodge Polara police cars looked so cool. With the wider wheels and tires with the lowered front end which gave these cars a really nice rake to them, these cars had a very strong and intimidating road going appearance. The stance meant they were serious. And up until around 1973, especially with the 1970 and 1971 cars, these things were really fast. Around that time, I had a 70 road runner, and that car was no slouch! I was running close to 130 one night and a Washington state patrol Plymouth fury ran me down in literally nothing flat! He was really moving a whole lot faster than I was. He was not after me, he was after the guy in the 69 429 cid 4v Ford Galaxy in front of me. I was faster than the Galaxy, but that fury was even faster than me. I read a road test some where that a magazine instrument tested one of those pursuit cars and it reached 157 mph in police trim. For the early 1970s, that was really really fast for a street driven car.

[@nlpnt]

Still a dessert-for-breakfast car. Too big, too fast. If they wanted something truly "serious" from Dodge in '72 they'd be looking at a Mitsubishi-built Colt or at most a Dart with slant 6.

[@shwngbr]

My Uncle is retired WSP. He went in in the mid 70's. He drove some of the last 440 pursuit Mopars for years.

[@rocketresto]

That’s awesome! Any chance you have any pictures from back then? Love seeing vintage wsp photos.

[@royparker9509]

I had a Dodge Coronet ex-cop car that my dad bought for me at police auction. It had a cheap paint job and you could still see the blue and white local police colors around certain areas of the car. I later got a better, more thorough paint job on it. When I traded it in, I got more for it in trade than my dad paid at auction.

[@wdxwm300]

That wood shelf in the back was for mounted special radio equipment

[@brettoberry3586]

"It's got a cop motor, a 440 cubic inch plant, it's got cop tires, cop suspensions, cop shocks. It's a model made before catalytic converters so it'll run good on regular gas. What do you say, is it the new Bluesmobile or what?" ~Elwood

[@ericball6000]

sweet Mopar, I to like old cop cars, I once had a 1985 Diplomat x LAPD that had a 340 4 barrel, and very good ac, was all black with the dog dish hub caps, it was a fun ride, thanks for the show, cheers.

[@phillipsrundripbubblecompa9232]

One of my favorites also! I'm looking for one.

[@paralyzes]

I had a 72 Polara with a 360. Having a 440 would have been awesome!!

[@jimmbo2]

Heck I'm a Ford guy and I love your vids!

[@rocketresto]

That is the best compliment we have had in a while, thanks!

[@butcher390]

Absolutely 💯 beautiful 💝 C - Body !!!!

[@ianmangham4570]

Stunningly beautiful 😍

[@MikeJBlues]

Glad you got it back. I remember first time I saw it and you was at the frontier park mopar show. Before you restored it and was pulling a trailer full of parts behind it.

[@Jaybird66sweptline]

That was very cool. But you need the gun sling/rack with the shotgun in there. But probably low profile/incognito was the name of the game on this car. I wonder about the history of this particular car, the arrests, the high speed chases, the bad guys cuffed on the back. The adventures in this thing. Very very cool.

[@bmt336]

Super sweet car, I just have to say it....Wlking Tall with Joe Don Baker.

[@freddyfudpucker3120]

Owned a 71 ex-chp polara. Mine had the trunk button in the glove box. Was not a polara custom - just a polara. Also had a dual snorkel air cleaner. Car had manual steering which was a real drag. Car got 8-10 mpg.

[@gt-37guy6]

WE need a startup and Test drive video! I love Police vehicles, my favorite was the Mid 90s Crown Vic, they were actually light and tight cars. So if that Polara is running correctly, she should be good for around 140 MPH top end! Fastest police car until the Caprice LT-1 just about tied it, then the Hemi Charger Squads were a bit higher top end, but the Polara did not have an overdrive gear! I will claim 135 MPH on my Vic Squad going through California Desert at 4:30 AM.

[@petergoodwin2465]

Beautiful car , Chrysler built a lot of government cars in Australia to. I have a 77 regal se ex government car. It's loaded with everything. Put a hot 360 in years ago. Best car I've ever driven and owned.

[@johnmcalisterjr3913]

Nice car I like the old original car s and trucks

[@stang89617]

My first car,ex-Mass. State Police 1971 Fury 1,same car basicly,as the Polara..HP 440 no A/C,but she would Bury the 140 speedo...paid 800 dollars for it in 1976.great car,but not as nice as this Polara.this is a well equipped,and very rare.I'm sure that it's capable of 140,no problem.

[@pierredecine1936]

Very nice & Straight for a '72 ...

[@ClareButterfield-k6n]

You have a great Dofge!

[@rocketresto]

Thanks!

[@marktaniguchi7901]

72 Dodge Polara, last of the 440 Commandos. Sacramento Police kept their 72 Polara for traffic enforcement til 1976. Was ridiculously fast for a four door sedan.

[@frankcastle2045]

Absolutely beautiful 😁🤘🏻

[@larry648]

My first car was a 1971 4 door polara with a 383 in it. It would pass everything but a gas station.

[@rocketresto]

Great first car.

[@badlyniceness2315]

Yeah..my friend had one of these…we had some scary good times in this….filling the tank could be difficult,twice a day…

[@Imnotyourdoormat]

"Cause My Top-Speed is Unlimited!!!".....

[@edham04]

I ALWAYS loved the earlier models of the police cars. I HAD A 85 CROWN VICTORIA AND A 93 CROWN VICTORIA POLICE CAR LOVED THE WAY THEY HANDLED WHEN MOVING FAST.

[@leahcimthgirw3163]

So this was built in Belvidere Illinois, only a few miles away from where I live

[@T-Babbbldot]

In the 1960-70s, Indiana State PD, had the big Plymouth/Dodge cruisers. You didn't run from them!

[@carlvitko1355]

Thats the same care that was in the original Walking Tall movie the first one!

[@mescko]

11:20 Funny you should mention that. I worked for the Oregon State Police around '89-'90 as a member of the crew that installed all of the OSP-specific equipment in/on the Caprice cruisers and Commander and Narc cars. When I started there they were still installing the electric transfer pump system on the fuel line. While I was there the TBI Caprices came in and we had to quit due to the increased fuel pressure they used.

[@chiefrocka8604]

It’s big It’s nasty It’s fabulous

[@robertbarnhardt9792]

I owned a 1978 fury ex nc highway patrol car last year of the 440 certified 140 spedo had 3 data tags on the rad support i sold miss it today

[@dadgarage7966]

That's my kind of Mopar.

[@tbamagic]

Bet that car has some tales to tell

[@rocketresto]

So many…

[@christianbattestin9747]

Cuff 'em and stuff 'em, Enos!

[@JamesSilcox-if9ke]

Love it!

[@curtgomes]

I drove a number of these Dodges for a few years. The 440 was indeed a power house. You could hear the carburetor sucking air a half mile away when floored. The suspension was pretty shaky at high speeds. The brakes left a little to be desired also. One thing I found irritating was that they were hard starting after being shut down. There is no doubt they had good high end performance. It was a different world in those day and we we enjoyed every minute of it. Today's modern cars are superior on every level...

[@johnmaki3046]

NOPE! Modern cars are TINNY PIECES OF CRAP!

[@davidsadowski7666]

If I'm not mistaken that is the same make and model car that was used in the original walking tall with Joe Don Baker

[@guidosarducci3047]

Clean, Clean, Clean!

[@mrdiplomat9018]

Dang❗️ Start her up, let’s hear it 😵‍💫🔥

[@baird5776mullet]

370 HP in 71, 285 HP in 72, nice car.

[@jeffnorbert1871]

'71 hp rating is "gross", at the flywheel. '72 hp rating is "net", at the rear wheels. Transmission and differential eats up some hp. Generally around 70.

[@jerryblake4088]

Looks like the one on 1973 Walking Tall Movie

[@mopar_magic]

Beautiful color on that, you'll have to start it up next time!