Body on frame full size American cars are all but dead, and as seen in 1991, this was the beginning of the end. Both GM and Ford redesigned their big cars for 1991 and 1992 respectively, both bringing new tech to an old idea, GM brought styling, Ford brought its first use of the modular OHC engine. This basic design is far more accepted by fleet, and municipal services, in fact the only way to get the optional 5.7 liter V8 in the Caprice, was to become a law man. The typical retail buyer of them fell off quickly, GM eventually killed the cars after 1996, while Ford held on a full twenty years with this platform. While the basic platform that underpinned this ‘Top Hat’ redesign, stemmed all the way to 1977. it quickly was dubbed the ‘Whale’, based on its healthy, plump buxom body, it definitely was something to lay your eyes on and was enough to win Motor Trends 1991 car of the year, albeit in LTZ guise!
Jon Davis is right on. They should have had some kind of independent rear suspension – however simple – to take it into the 90’s. Also the styling was too radical. Notice when it’s coming toward you the way you can still see the middle of the car. It just looks like it’s fat, not futuristic. They could have retained the rounded look but with more pleasing proportions by making the front axle centerline the widest part of the car.
The 95 model looks much better, but by the time this car was launched, the market preference shifted from big sedans and wagons to SUVs.
A quick search on websites like cars.com, autotrader and ebay show that good Caprices fetch for crackpipe prices and the cheap Caprices are either almost splitting in half or ruined with huge horrid chrome wheels, stupid stickers and vulgar interiors. Why is it so difficult to find a decent one for less than $5k?
I don’t mean an “one old lady owner only driven on weekends” example for the price of a brand new Impala. I mean a fair shape one with less than 200,000 miles, no rust AC still working for less than 5k that hasn’t been ruined by drug dealer.
I Like 1991 Chevrolet Caprice Classic With Police Car Era Was Name Motor Trend ’91 Car Of The Year Assembly Plant: Arlington,Texas
Try and find an LTZ! Almost rarer than an impala ss
Jon Davis is right on. They should have had some kind of independent rear suspension – however simple – to take it into the 90’s. Also the styling was too radical. Notice when it’s coming toward you the way you can still see the middle of the car. It just looks like it’s fat, not futuristic. They could have retained the rounded look but with more pleasing proportions by making the front axle centerline the widest part of the car.
The 95 model looks much better, but by the time this car was launched, the market preference shifted from big sedans and wagons to SUVs.
A quick search on websites like cars.com, autotrader and ebay show that good Caprices fetch for crackpipe prices and the cheap Caprices are either almost splitting in half or ruined with huge horrid chrome wheels, stupid stickers and vulgar interiors. Why is it so difficult to find a decent one for less than $5k?
I don’t mean an “one old lady owner only driven on weekends” example for the price of a brand new Impala. I mean a fair shape one with less than 200,000 miles, no rust AC still working for less than 5k that hasn’t been ruined by drug dealer.