Chevrolet · 1965–2017

Chevrolet Caprice 9C1 Police

The Chevrolet Caprice is a full-size car produced by Chevrolet in North America from 1965 through the 1996 model years. All versions of the full-size Chevrolet models reached their peak in 1965, with over a million units sold. It was the most popular car in the U.S. in the 1960s and early 1970s, during a time when its production also included the Biscayne, Bel Air, and Impala trims. Introduced in mid-1965 as a luxury trim package for the Impala four-door hardtop, Chevrolet offered a complete line of Caprice body style versions for the 1966 and subsequent model years, including a "formal hardtop" coupe and a station wagon. The 1971 through 1976 models are the largest Chevrolets built. The downsized 1977 and restyled 1991 models were awarded Motor Trend Car of the Year. Production ended in 1996. From 2011 until 2017, the Caprice nameplate returned to North America as a full-size, rear wheel drive police vehicle, a captive import from Australia, built by General Motors' subsidiary Holden. The police vehicle is a rebadged version of the Holden WM/WN Caprice. The nameplate also had a civilian and police presence in the Middle East from 1999 until 2017, where the imported Holden Statesman/Caprice built by Holden was marketed as the Chevrolet Caprice in markets that included Saudi Arabia and the UAE.

Text from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).

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Early history

Differing accounts explain the origin of the Caprice name, including that the nameplate was given by Bob Lund, Chevrolet's General Sales Manager, after a classy restaurant he frequented in New York City. Another says the car was named after Caprice Chapman, the daughter of auto executive James P. Chapman. A Caprice Custom Sedan option package (RPO Z18) was offered on the 1965 Chevrolet Impala 4-door hardtop, adding US$200 (equivalent to $2,043 in 2025) to the US$2,742 (equivalent to $28,014 in 2025) price tag. The Caprice option included a heavier frame, suspension changes, black-accented front grille and rear trim panel with Caprice nameplate, slender body sill moldings, Fleur-de-lis roof quarter emblems, color-keyed bodyside stripes and Caprice hood and dash emblems. Full wheel covers were the same as that year's Super Sport, but a Chevy bowtie emblem replaced the "SS" emblem in the spinner's center. The Super Sport's blackout rear trim panel was also used, but without the "Impala SS" nameplate. The interior featured a higher-grade cloth and vinyl seat and door trim (as well as thicker, higher-grade carpeting), faux walnut trim on the dashboard and door panels, pull straps on the doors, and extra convenience lights. A full vinyl roof was optional. A 283 cu in (4.6 L), 195 hp (145 kW) V8 engine was standard, as was a column-mounted shifter for the three-speed manual transmission. The Caprice was intended to compete with the Ford LTD, Plymouth VIP, and AMC's Ambassador DPL. These models included luxuriously upholstered interiors with simulated wood dashboard and door-panel trim, thicker carpeting, sound insulation, courtesy lighting, and more upscale exterior trims.

First generation (1966–1970)

=== 1966 === Caprice gained series status for the 1966 model year and was positioned as the top-line full-size Chevrolet. It included a four-door hardtop, six- or nine-passenger station wagon, and a two-door hardtop with a squared-off formal roofline in contrast to the Impala/SS Sport Coupe's fastback roof styling. All four Caprice models were marketed as "Caprice Custom." The Caprice Custom Estate, a new station wagon model with simulated woodgrain exterior trim was the first Chevrolet with such a design since its real woodie wagon was offered in 1954 on the Chevrolet Bel Air. All wagons included an all-vinyl upholstered two-row bench seat interior with an optional third rear-facing seat for two. The Custom Estate became the full-sized station wagon when the Buick LeSabre Estate was discontinued in 1964. The 283 cu in (4.6 L) V8 engine was standard for Caprice models with the 325 hp (242 kW), 396 cu in (6.5 L) "Turbo Jet" V8 optional. It was possible to have Regular Production Option (RPO) L72, 425 hp (317 kW) 427 cu in (7.0 L) Turbo Jet V8 with solid lifters, special camshaft and carburetor, and 11 to 1 compression. An automatic transmission, power steering, white sidewall tires, and a vinyl top (on the hardtops) were extra-cost options, but most were built with them. Additionally, air conditioning, power windows, Cruise-Master speed control, power seats, an automatic headlight dimmer (1965 only) and stereo radios were available. The standard transmission was a Synchro-Mesh three-speed manual, mounted on the steering column. It remained standard throughout this generation. The 1966 Caprice featured a revised grille and front bumper, and new rectangular taillights which replaced the Chevrolet-traditional triple round taillights used on Impalas since 1958, with the exc

Second generation (1971–1976)

=== 1971–1972 === For 1971 the top-of-the-line Caprice was completely redesigned on a longer 121.5-inch (3,090 mm) wheelbase and featured bold, Chrysler-like fuselage styling. Flush exterior door handles and double-shell roofs were new on the Caprice – both features first appearing on the 1970½ Camaro and Pontiac Firebird. The new styling was highlighted by a Cadillac-like "egg-crate" grille with a "Caprice" emblem in the center and brushed metal trim surrounding the taillights on the rear deck. The "Full-Perimeter" frame and all-coil suspension were refined for improvements in ride and noise reduction. Inside were revised interiors featuring a two-spoke cushioned steering wheel and new instrument panel with horizontal sweep speedometer and instrument placement similar to previous full-sized Chevrolets. Caprices continued with higher grade interiors than their Impala counterparts with luxurious cloth-and-vinyl upholstery, wood grain trim on the dash, steering wheel, and door panels as well as carpeting on lower door panels on both sedans and coupes. A center front seat armrest was also featured on sedans. Station wagons now used a unique 125-inch (3,200 mm) wheelbase and were larger than ever before. Station wagons continued to use unique model names. The Kingswood Estate wagon was considered to be equivalent to the Chevrolet Caprice being the top-level wagon. Unlike previous years, station wagons had unique rear suspension using a solid axle with leaf springs as opposed to coil springs and trailing arms on sedans and coupes. Wagons featured a "clamshell" design marketed as the Glide-away tailgate, also called a "disappearing" tailgate because when open, the tailgate was completely out of view. On the clamshell design, the rear power-operated glass slid up into the ro

Third generation (1977–1990)

=== 1977–1979 === Launched in late September 1976, the 1977 Caprice Classic was drastically downsized, which reduced its weight and exterior dimensions, while increasing headroom, rear-seat legroom and trunk space compared to 1976 models. GM called its downsizing program Project 77 and invested $600 million to develop the most changed full-size Chevrolet to date. The weight reductions from the 1976 models were 611 lb (277 kg) for coupes, 637 lb (289 kg) for sedans and 871 lb (395 kg) for wagons. The 1977 Caprice coupe and sedan were over 10 inches (250 mm) shorter while the wagon was 14 inches (360 mm) shorter. Wheelbases were reduced to 116 inches (2,900 mm) from 121.5 inches (3,090 mm) for coupes and sedans and 125 inches (3,200 mm) for wagons. Width was reduced by 4 inches (100 mm) for sedans and coupes; the wagon's width remained virtually unchanged. Heights were increased by 2.5 inches (64 mm) and trunk capacities were increased to 20.9 cubic feet (0.59 m3) for sedans and 19.8 cubic feet (0.56 m3) for coupes. Although by modern standards the downsized Chevrolet cars are large, the new Chevrolet had exterior dimensions closer to the intermediates of its day. The 1977 Caprice shared the same 116-inch (2,900 mm) wheelbase as the intermediate Chevrolet Chevelle; 1977 also marked the first model year in history that a midsized car, the Monte Carlo, was larger than a full-sized car. The introduction of a downsized full-size car was considered a risk for General Motors. To help ensure the car was a success, preview clinics were held by Chevrolet that returned positive results. Ford would respond with advertising the Ford LTD's traditional full-size attributes and downsized the line two years later. Chrysler responded concurrently with Ford when it re-engineered its inter

Fourth generation (1991–1996)

Introduced in April 1990 for the 1991 model year in America, the Caprice was restyled, replacing the previously rectilinear styling with rounded, more aerodynamic sheetmetal. The Caprice Classic received Motor Trend's 1991 Domestic Car of the Year. General Motors initially decided in 1980 to eliminate the production of the former generation model by 1989 for the 1990 model year, but a business decision in 1985 to plan an exterior redesign gave a further continuation and this generation's fiberglass prototype model was first shown in April 1987. While the body and interior were new, the chassis, powertrain, and transmission were largely carried over from the former generation 1977 and 1990 models respectively; the steel fuel tank was replaced by an HDPE tank (with capacity on sedans decreasing from 25 US gallons (95 L) to 23 US gallons (87 L)), and anti-lock brakes were added as standard equipment on all models. Several major components (including the floor pan) are entirely interchangeable between 1977 and 1996, merely having a reskinned body on an already dated body-on-frame platform introduced in 1977. Much of the engine availability was carried over from the previous generation, which included for all models the 5.0 L L03 V8. The 5.7-liter L05 V8 was also carried over; it was originally only available on 1991 and 1992 9C1 Police package models (which featured a digital speedometer), but finally made available to the general public on the 1993 Caprice LTZ, and the LB4 4.3 L V6 was carried over to the 1992–93 Caprice 9C6 taxi package for increased fuel economy at significantly reduced power output. Two trim levels were initially offered, Caprice and Caprice Classic, replacing the previous Classic and Brougham models. The final B-body Caprice was not well received by

Fifth generation (1999–2006)

General Motors revived the Chevrolet Caprice nameplate in the Middle East and Latin/South American markets on imported Holden Statesman and Caprice models built by its Australian subsidiary Holden, these cars were lengthened versions of the Commodore range, which was at this time based on the Opel Omega. The WH series Statesman/Caprice was the first series to be engineered to support both left- and right-hand drive (Middle Eastern market being LHD while Australia right-hand drive) in order to allow for manufacturing of export versions. Same was true for the related short-wheelbase Holden VT Commodore, whose left-hand drive version became the Chevrolet Lumina in the Middle East. The Middle Eastern Caprice came out for 2000 in four versions, base LS, standard mid-range LTZ, a sporty SS and the range topper Royale (introduced in 2002). Differences between the models were mostly equipment and slight styling tweaks. The base LS came with a 3.8 L V6 engine; the LTZ came standard with a 220 kW (295 hp) 5.7 L Gen III V8, the SS and Royale came with a 242 kW (325 hp) version of the same engine. In 2003, Holden launched a revised and facelifted Statesman and Caprice (WK), which was reflected in their Middle Eastern versions for the 2004 model year. The new models sported new front and rear fascias and completely redesigned interior. Engines carried over unchanged. In 1999, GM had again considered resurrecting the Caprice name in America for 2000, this time under this generation, and as a new Caprice 9C1 long before the appearance of the sixth-generation model (third-generation Holden Caprice) as the Caprice PPV, but it did return several years later as such.

Sections adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0); text is shortened. Read the full article for the complete history and citations.

Specifications

name: Chevrolet Caprice
Manufacturer: Chevrolet (1964–1996), Holden (General Motors) (2000–2017)
Production: 1965–1996, 2000–2017 (Holden)
Model years: 1966–1996 (for civilian and police), 2000–2016 (Middle East), 2011–2017 (North America, PPV exclusive)
Predecessor: Chevrolet Impala (Argentina), Chevrolet Lumina (Mexico), Pontiac G8 (U.S.)
Class: Full-size
Platform: B-body (1966–1996), V-body (2000–2006) (Middle East), Zeta platform (2007–2017) (Middle East) (2011–2017) (U.S.)
Layout: FR layout