Saw one of these, white over white, on my drive home the other day. And worse yet, that cover was made out of aluminum, which quickly corroded through, allowing coolant in the oil and oil in the coolant. Even the Chrysler Newport had vinyl as an option with no leather available .I often think Chrysler downplayed these models as the more economical versions of their larger cars so people would opt for the New Yorker if they wanted more luxury. It always seemed to me that most full sized Chrysler products from the 70s besides the Imperials and New Yorkers were not usually heavily optioned, yet many of the GM full sized cars were. I hope the featured car goes to a good home. Primed us for Iacoccas rescue package. Needs a L F manual window regulator; and the headliner re glued. They could have expanded the line and made several available models, having a base, mid and Brougham. It could work. One of very few Mopars that I have had zero contact with. There were quality control issues, like spring shackles that were not torqued to specs which brought anxious moments in cornering or hard acceleration. Which is why I have always wanted one. The CHP gradually assumed increased responsibility beyond the enforcement of the State Vehicle Act and eventually merged with the smaller California State Police in 1995. Lol. I was always impressed with the ride quality and handling, even with the police suspension and police pack components. 10 Greatest Cop Cars - FOPConnect Id totally jump on it if it were a Newport. I bought a lean burn 81 imperial as a gag for beer runs at the cottage 20 plus years ago . 1979 Dodge St. Regis Pricing Original MSRP N/a Price range N/a Average price on CG $0 YoY price change N/a Date Sep 22 Oct 22 Nov 22 Dec 22 Jan 23 Feb 23 Price (US $) $28,500 $29,000 $29,500 $30,000 $30,500 $31,000 1981 Dodge St. Regis 1980 Dodge St. Regis 1979 Dodge St. Regis Index Price See more price trends Trims & specs . I think he paid the difference in the MSRP between the Horizon and LeBaron. Parts & Accessories for Dodge St. Regis for sale | eBay Video: YouTuber thrashes Ferrari F8, to provoke lawsuit? This car should be seen and driven to fully appreciate it. The Fab Forums Fox Body Project: Doing A Factory Mini Tub Build Part 3. Bought from the original owner, an old veteran, who purchased it right out of the showroom in the local Chrysler/AMC dealership. Gets rid of a lot of headaches. 1979 Dodge St.Regis Maryland State Police Roof hardware: Federal Signal AeroDynic light bar D Dech Sayyasavee 103 followers More information 1979 Dodge St.Regis Maryland State Police | Roof hardware: F | Flickr Emergency Vehicles Police Vehicles Old Police Cars Sports Car Racing State Police Police Department Fire Trucks Plymouth I saw one up for sale on CL, I think, dont quote me, like last year, It was going for about $2500-3000, in good original condition I think it was that dove gray color, that they used in the original St. Regis ad, back in 1979 I remember, the ad slogan, Hey, thats my Dodge.. Brakes coming totally unset from the factory! 1979 Dodge St Regis TV Hooker replica photographed Oct 2014: 1932 Ford Coupe Hot Rod Troy MI Police photographed Aug 2015: 1932 Ford Coupe Hot Rod Troy MI Police It came with a 318ci (5.2 litres) or 360ci V8 (5.9 litres) V8 mated to a three-speed automatic, and its odd, narrow grille was the result of being forced to re-use the bonnet from the Chrysler LeBaron. Wow, what a cool find! Its hardly perfect, but like anything else that is mechanically kept up, it has been and continues to be a faithful member of the family fleet outlasting much newer cars meant to replace it. The car does well in 40-100+ accelerations but dead-stop launches tend to bog. Its not in as good of shape as this one is. The Ford LTD was built on the companys new downsized but still large Panther platform and featured 4.9-litre and 5.8-litre V8 engines, with the optional 351 being restricted for police operators only from 1981. Has the trusty Chrysler 318 V8. 1979 Dodge St. Regis For Sale Wichita Falls, Texas - Collector Car Ads T.J. Hooker s vehicle of choice after season 2. A rebranded version of the Eagle Premier (adapted from the Renault 25), the 1990 Monaco was the first version produced with front-wheel drive, slotted above the Dodge Dynasty in size. . Despite being an introductory model, nearly 30% of St. Regis production was dedicated for police/law enforcement use. I think the St. Regis would have been rather like the beautiful bright red, with white vinyl top and white leather interior Mirada I got around this time, in that it would have been a comfortable highway cruiser, though not the greatest handling machine around town. Its not a perfect car as I would have done some things differently design wise, especially around the windows, window regulators, wiper linkage attachments and door seals. Ten years earlier the full size Chrysler cars came out with the cockpit styling and hoods long enough to land a plane on. The leather wouldnt have held up that well. The first example of downsizing of the full-size Chrysler sedan line, the R-body is an evolution of the B-body intermediate chassis. Alternatively (and preferably for my 17 year old self) you could just gun it enough to delay the upshift. And the 318 is not my favorite Mopar engine. A/C, Cruise, PWR seat, windows, Special handling package, 3 tag car. The seats were a direct bolt on to the St. Regis seat tracks and even the headrests swapped over to the seats. I had front end problems that no one could fix, the transmission slipped, and the car used a quart of oil every 500 miles. 1:43 Car 1980-1999 USA. Your email address will not be published. Case in point - the St. Regis cars used on T.J. Hooker had brocade seats. This is a 1979 Dodge St. Regis. These cars are a great deal for St Regis shoppers. 1979 Dodge Truck Color Chart. Ours was also a 318 with the super tall gearing. 360 4 Barrel 999 trans. Compared to its 1977 Dodge Royal Monaco predecessor, the Dodge St. Regis shed 5.5 inches in length, 2.7 inches in width, 3 inches in wheelbase, and nearly 900 pounds of curb weight (dependent on powertrain). Eaton Detroit Truetrac Differential 31 Spline 1.32in Axle Shaft Years later they were running the Dodge Diplomat and they were really pretty good. mtm352: I was a career Trooper, and one of my favorites all around was my unmarked 1980 St. Regis. The Impala was found to rival other models well with good performance, decent interior trim and a large boot. Looking at that last photo, he wore what appears to be a denim-like leisure suit to prom. I bet that car is rare with leather interior. 1979-1981 is the correct yearrange. Im afraid it went beyond the rail yardsChryslers infamous sales bank occupied the Michigan State Fairgrounds, and anywhere else that unsold inventory could be stashed. I sold that car years ago when I was still a teenager and now I regret it! Those plastic piston brake cylinders were a nightmare until fleet figured that out (swelled up and stuck). In Canada, we only got the Medallion version, the top trim. It's this last engine, the E86-coded 440, that was specified for Barry's Fury, along with a 2.71 rear gear, when it was ordered by the Kansas Highway Patrol. Hyundai RN22e concept (IONIQ 6 N, Video: Fernando Alonso thrashes Aston Martin DBX707 SUV, Top 10 best sports cars coming to Australia in 2023-2024. My original seats are in storage while Im actually driving around in bucket seats salvaged from a 1985 Dodge Omni that had low back buckets with adjustable headrests. 1968 Dodge Monaco with a 383 cubic inch motor. Brands New Products . Dodge Durango SSV (Special Service Vehicle) 2021. He pulled the engine to put in a 53 Willys and sold the car before he finished it. The car is offered for sale locally, nd I reserve the right to end the auction early. They had replaced 1977 Plymouth Fury sedans powered by the 440 Magnum, and 1978 Plymouth Volares with 360 4-barrel (my favorite squad of all for city use). Click below to find your next car. It has been in California all its life and is rust free. For 1982, the model line was discontinued, with the Dodge Diplomat serving as the largest Dodge; the next full-size Dodge sedan was the 1990 Dodge Monaco (derived from the Eagle Premier, itself a version of the Renault 25). In each year a good proportion (30% or more) were for fleet (Police and other law enforcement . Dodge, Plymouth & Chrysler Police Cars 1979-1994 - amazon.com Nowadays, I have my 2012 Chrysler 300c (Hemi of course), my 1977 AMC Gremlin, and my 1969 Toyota Corona. Although this model, like the Aspen/Volare and Omni/Horizon models, was conceptually fine and could have been competitive, new Chryslers launched at that time werent even half-baked when foisted on the public. The last thing, the original owner disconnected the headlight flip-covers, and Im unsure how to re-connect them. Check with your state to see how replica police cars can be operated on roadways. There is a good chance that the following car may be an ex-prop from the show - it matches the main photo and the last thumbnail with . If only they could have had both style and quality. That car is long gone and sold away, but I originally coveted a St. Regis because my favorite show at the time was Sledge Hammer. Learn how your comment data is processed. ACCOUNT. MOPAR BIG BLOCK, NICE 1981 DODGE ST. REGIS IN GREAT SHAPE RUNS AND DRIVES, ULTRA RARE 1976 Dodge Charger Sport-360 V8-Edelbrock Carb-Hooker Headers, 1966 Dodge Coronet Police Car Sedan 1966 Police Car Used Automatic. The Diplomat . By comparison, the downsizing of the GM A, B, and C-bodies in the preceding years were seismic events and the Volare/Aspen and LTD downsizing debuts were also rather big deals. Nor have I tried. $12,000 1-2 Search Tools Refine Search? Have you ever wondered what all those boxy American police sedans were from the 1980s in American movies and television shows? Front Seats Ranked 2002 Ford Focus ZX3 better. Im apt to think that he means that the analog dial is stuck & turning the tuning knob has no effect. Dodge Diplomat For Sale - Carsforsale.com In the book's survey, officers wrote that the 360 powered 1980 St. Regis was the best Mopar police car of all time. Dodge Diplomat Classic Cars for Sale - Classics on Autotrader It was only produced from 1979 to 1981 and most of the 58,000+ cars produced went to fleet use. Chrome housing, clear lens. It has a newer battery. Appearances in The Blues Brothers and the television series T.J. Hooker assured the Dodge St. Regis would remain in the public eye for many years, though few were made and they quickly disappeared from the roads. 1979 Dodge St Regis Police TJ Hooker R Body - Classic cars for sale Given the glacial maximum acceleration rate, there wasnt much of a visual cue it was being hooned anyway. . Especially if it was known to have a lot of build quality problems on delivery. 1979 Dodge St. Regis (1979) specifications - Carfolio.com That year the CHP put a limited number of Ford Fairmonts, Chevy Malibus, Plymouth Volare Wagons, and Chevy Camaro Z28's on the road for an 18 month test. The automatic transmission has been serviced and a third row has been added to the radiator. In place of redesigning the full-size C-body, Chrysler developed the R-body as an update of the intermediate B-body (last released in 1971, dating to 1962). To be fair so did most of the others. When you added in the income taxes he paid on the value of the Horizon (at the time, I recollect he was in the 70% marginal bracket) he said later he wished we had just declined the prize. By many accounts, the Diplomat that Moms LeBaron matured into became a very sturdy ride. The owner brought it to my place of business to let me see it and drive it. Sort By Sorting Order Results Per Page The California Highway Patrol tested the St. Regis: * After two miles The young guy he bought it from drove it home for him, then bummed $5 for a cab home! They should change the breather sticker to Lean Burn of Death. Most disastrous of all was the 1980 Dodge St. Regis supplied to the California Highway Patrol. IMCDb.org: 1979 Dodge St. Regis in "The Junkman, 1982" Hes not real clear on the just what the problem is. 52,000. My clearest memory of these is the numerous pictures in the paper showing acres and acres of these things sitting unsold in rail yards all over north Michigan and southern Ontario.. My son has one sitting behind my shop that he got from an estate a couple years back. The glass is good and appears all original due to some factory decals on the windshield and side glass. I have been showing the car for a few years and it has won some awards at car shows. The Diplomat was a much better car, quality wise. Details. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. The car was almost impossible to drive at 30 mph unless you dropped the transmission into second and held it until you got to 35 or so. The underlying platform dates all the way back to 1926 and had a number of major revisions over the decades up to 1991. If you had a variable-venturi Crown Victoria, you could guess whether it would come off at idle speed or tear out the rear end with wide open power. In the fall of 80, a wheel bearing failed, causing the front wheel to part company with the rest of the heap. The Encyclopedia of American Cars, 2006 Edition, Learn how and when to remove these template messages, Learn how and when to remove this template message, "Detailed specs review of 1981 Dodge St. Regis 3.7L TorqueFlite offered since October 1980 for North America", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Dodge_St._Regis&oldid=1135981790, This page was last edited on 28 January 2023, at 01:41. Its engine is a naturally aspirated petrol, 5.9 litre, overhead valve 90 degree V 8 cylinder with 2 valves per cylinder. The R represented the best all-around balance as far as speed, power, braking and cornering were concerned. What's in the box: 1-43 1979-81 Dodge St Regis. American Brands: AMC, Jeep and All Others, Tractors, Lawn Mowers, Off-Road Equipment, Runway Classic Video: The Mighty Convair 880 Takes Off Again, http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2006/12/chrysler-bank-on-it/, http://www.allpar.com/cars/dodge/R-bodies.html. I told the BIL not to buy it but he didnt listen. DECODED AS POLICE, Rare 1977 Dodge Monaco CHP Police big block 440 Magnum Police Pursuit Cruiser, 1973 DODGE POLARA POLICE CAR, THE REAL DEAL, TEXAS POLICE PKG. Competing against the downsized General Motors B-body chassis and the all-new Ford Panther chassis, the R-body is the longest-wheelbase of the three. It is barely noticeable, nd another pair of taillights is included with the car. I believe 79 was when Lee Iacocca came in to clean house. I remember seeing the odd St. Regis around when I was younger; I really liked the clear headlamp covers. I experienced all three years of the R bodies, with a 1979 Newport, 1980 Gran Fury, and 1981 Gran Fury, two with the 360 pursuit and one with the 318 four barrel. There is a small piece of trim missing near the drivers door, unnoticed until close to car. Cars used by California Highway Patrol 1929 to present. The agency is responsible for law enforcement on all public roads in the state. #stunning #suv #astonmartindbx707 @astonma, RAM! HP exhaust manifolds from 1968-70. I use the car only for shows and parades. Here we take a closer look at those conservatively-styled box-shaped sedans, which were designed to Serve and Protect, to see exactly what police car fleets consisted of back in this decade. February 21, 2015 78 comments. It was only produced from 1979 to 1981 and most of the 58,000+ cars produced went to fleet use. The CHP also maintains a SWAT team on 24hour standby to respond to any terrorist activity. & AFIR the headlight covers were in place and working. However the 2nd space in my garage is zealously guarded by Mrs JPC. Copyright 2023 BangShift LLC. The California Highway Patrol is the largest state police agency in the United States, with more than 10,700 employees, 7,500 of whom are sworn officers, according to FBI data. Didnt know they retracted, since they were clear to begin with. ** CHP testing reached the Chrysler numbers with a 445 pound load in the car but only after setting the shifts to factory spec and replacing the muffler with a straight pipe. Included with the purchase of the car is more seat fabric, set of tail lights, wo headlight bulbs, n Aerodynic light bar to be used for parts, ll service records, he chassis and electrical service manuals, agnetic strips to cover the police' decal on the door when the car is being moved, pair of period correct California exempt' plates (one real, ne plastic), opies of literature related to the car, ash parts, he original AM radio and antenna, he original speedometer, he original hub caps, wo additional LCPD' door seals and a jacket with LCPD patches and sergeant stripes. 1979 Dodge LeBaron (Brochure). It featured a unique retractable headlight cover, 5.2-litre and 5.9-litre V8s and a three-speed automatic transmission. 136,000. 1986 Chevrolet C/K 10. Top 10 boxy US police cars of the 1980s - PerformanceDrive My dad put a factory rear anti sway bar on it, I replaced the rims with factory 7inch and cop sized tires instead of the smaller tires my dad had on it. It was a 318 with a 2.45 gear and it was beyond sluggish, it struggled to move because the Lean Burn wasnt functioning properly. Dodge St. Regis (1979-1981) Dodge Stealth (1991-1996) Dodge Stratus 1gen (1995-2000) . All this wears the cars slap out before they finally get rid of them. I recall reading in a story of the early days of CNN, Ted Turner met Lee Iacocca. I made an error, but hey. New Land Rover Defen, New 911 GTS, with 7spd manual 1979 Dodge Trucks. The Celebrity replaced the Malibu mentioned above and presented more efficient packaging with better interior space and fuel economy, a configuration which was becoming more and more popular with private customers rather than traditional large rear-wheel drive models. The ask of $8,995 is much less than the . The Dodge St. Regis is a full-size Dodge automobile built from 1979 to 1981. My BIL had one of these, an 80 model he bought in fall of 1991. Dont know if Ive previously mentioned that like others, Ive seen rather few of these going all the way back to when they first came out. The car starts up and runs nicely. For 1980, the 360 was replaced by a 155 hp 318 V8 4-bbl with California emissions to comply with state emissions regulations. We had only one car that would almost hit one hundred, we had another that would hit eighty five. Pursuit Police Vehicle (2012-2014) Cars belonging to Dodge Charger 7th-gen. 1979 Dodge St Regis Police TJ Hooker R Body Year: 1979 Mileage: 60,100 Location: Davis, California, United States 1979 Dodge Magnum XE ORIGINAL (Cordoba, St. Regis, 1978 Dodge Magnum GT) NO RESV Year: 1979 Mileage: 52,000 Location: Broad Brook, Connecticut, United States 2018 Ford Escape SEL. By the time I sold my St. Regis it had 110k on the clock and still ran great. So, old perceptions die hard especially when large sums of money are involved. He has been writing about cars for several years with a string of published books to his name. Worked great for a long time until the display died. I bought from him and have owned it 20 years and drove it as recently as yesterday. Something had to be done, and for 1978, something was done. The popular Dodge Diplomat was based on Chryslers mid-size M-body platform from 1977. I was rewarded with a 1980 Aspen. The retracting headlight covers were a nuisance, too. Up to 1958, the California Highway Patrol would purchase vehicles 2 times a year, and many times it would be a different make. Hell, there was probably a time when a little junkyard combing could have gotten you all the spare ballast resistors & stuff you would need for life. Pursuit Police Vehicle submodel, manufactured or offered in the years 2012-2014 with sedan body type, equipped with engines of 3604 - 5654 cc (220.2 - 345.6 . I remember Dabney Coleman driving one in the hilarious car chase in the movie Short Time, and wondering just how that thing held together. The 360 has been beefed up to a proper level and the car barks out through headers into Flowmasters. The California State Legislature originally established the California Highway Patrol as a branch of the Division of Motor Vehicles in the Department of Public Works, with legislation signed by Governor C. C. Young on August 14, 1929.