9C1 (Chevrolet Police package)

The Nova 9C1 was offered to police agencies between 1975 & 1979 originally starting off as a prototype for the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department in 1974.[1] The Nova 9C1 was available to police agencies as either a 2-door coupe or 4 door sedan with an array of different options.

A 9C1-equipped Malibu with an LT1 350 Z-28 Camaro V8 engine driven by E. Pierce Marshall placed 13th of 47 in the 1979 Cannonball Baker Sea-To-Shining-Sea Memorial Trophy Dash, better known as the Cannonball Run.[2]

1996 Chevrolet Caprice 9C1

Starting in 1986 the Caprice would replace the Impala for the retail, taxi, and police markets based on the third generation model which was launched in 1977. Like its civilian counterparts the car would get a facelift in 1987 and would remain the same until 1990. The Caprice 9C1 was available with either a V6 or V8 in this generation.

When the fourth generation 1991 model came, the V6 was dropped and only two choices of V8 were offered (the 5.0 V8 carried from the former generation and 5.7 V8) and featured a digital instrument cluster unlike its civilian version's analog interface, which would remain until 1993 when the LTZ version was introduced. When the 1993-96 model cars lost its rear fender skirts design, this increased the 9C1's sales and appeal to law agencies, as this feature wasn't popular on the 4th generation Chevrolet Caprice for the 1991-92 model years, 5.7-liter Police 153 kW / 205 hp / 208 PS ( SAE net ), torque: 407 Nm / 300 lb-f.

From 1994 to 1996, the detuned 260 hp (190 kW) LT1 350 c.i. engine found on the fourth generation Chevrolet Corvette was a popular option on the 9C1 (the 4.3 V8 (RPO L99) being standard for police agencies looking for a more fuel efficient option), and standard equipment on other GM B-bodies such as the; Chevrolet Impala SS, Buick Roadmaster, and the Cadillac Fleetwood. The 9C1 option, however, was not offered on any of these three models.

Despite General Motors ending production of the fourth generation model 9C1 Caprice in 1996, many police departments across the nation kept them in service a lot longer than most other police vehicles, reason being for lack of finding a good enough equivalent for replacement with decent fuel mileage for its large size, high horsepower, affordable sales pricing, and reliability. With General Motors leaving the police market in 1996, Ford's second generation Ford Crown Victoria police interceptor became the de facto police car, despite being more costly, for many police departments starting in 1998 through 2011 when Ford ceased production of their Panther platform.

In 1999 the Caprice 9C1 name would be revived for the Middle East based on the Holden Caprice from the WH Statesman/Caprice range for the 2000 model year. This same police package was used in the VT Commodore range at the time which was also sold in the Middle Eastern market as the Lumina. The same range of Holden Caprice almost got imported in North America right around the time that the Impala 9C1 based on the 8th generation Impala in FWD form was about to hit the police market.[3]

2000-2005 Chevrolet Impala 9C1

2012-2016 Chevrolet Impala 9C1

The modern day 9C1 police package has been offered with the 2000-2005 8th generation Impala & 2006-2013 9th generation Impala/2014-2016 Impala Limited in FWD form.

2014 Chevrolet Caprice PPV

Replacing the Impala, the Caprice PPV (Police Patrol Vehicle) was manufactured by Holden in Australia, a left-hand drive version of the Holden WM/WN Caprice exported to North America. Introduced for 2011, the PPV was offered exclusively for sale to law enforcement. The 9C1 package made its return, denoting patrol-ready versions, deleting the standard center console (for police computers), handbrake (for a footbrake), and vinyl flooring. In 2012, a 3.6L V6 was introduced as a standard engine, with the 6.0L V8 becoming an option (the first time since 1990 that a V6 was offered in a Caprice).

Following the introduction of the WN Caprice for 2014, all PPVs adopted the 9C1 package, with the update including a column-mounted transmission shifter. Coinciding with the closure of Australian manufacturing operations by General Motors after the 2017 model year, the Holden/Chevrolet Caprice ended production without a successor.

While not directly offered to sale outside of law enforcement, some initial examples of the Caprice PPV were purchased from General Motors as used cars by virtue of factory demonstrators being cycled out by the company, surplus unsold dealer inventory, and special one-time purchases (usually by fleet upfitters for equipment demonstration use).[4]