I was talking with Larry from A1 Auto Salvage at the Penticton Beach Cruise, and we started talking about Canadian Pontiacs. He told me that his first patrol car in the spring of 1971 was a 1970 Strato Chief with a 454. He then told me he had photos of it. So I asked if I could see them and perhaps post them on here, as I knew you guys would get a kick out of it. These photos were taken at the Weyburn, Sask. detachment in early 1971. His was one of the first patrol cars fitted with radial tires by BF Goodrich as pursuit tires. He told me that the first few sets used to peel tread off at high speed, but not lose any air. He'd be chasing someone and hear a bang, and after pulling over and looking, you'd sometimes see a strip missing. The cars would top out at about 135, 136, 137 MPH , and were great on gravel roads at 80MPH. I'm sure there's more details I forgot, but here are the photos. I had them scanned today.
my cousin's husband joined the RCMP in 1969, also posted in small town Saskatchewan. He said his cruiser later on was a 70 Laurentian 454, so identical to the one shown (his was likely a Strato Chief as well). Great photo's, I'd never seen one before.
The 454 emblems are on the front of the fenders on the 70 2+2's and Safari Wagon's (very easy to get at), otherwise towards the rear of the fenders on Parisienne's, Strato Chief's and Laurentians (very hard to get at).
1960 Pontiac Strato Chief Safari 1960 Laurentian Safari 1960 Laurentian 4door(scrapped) 2001 Grand Am Traded on a '96 Suburban 2WD 2002 Hyundai Accent(SOLD) 1968 Grand Parisienne Scrapped and SOLD
I love it ! I talked to RCMP officers before, to try to get my hand on one of these old big block Chevrolet or Pontiac Interceptor but no luck, there must be some left somewhere, they can't be all crushed ??
Jeez!!! That's awesome, but you have put a frown on my face ... Now I kick myself 2wice as hard for not saving that '70 RCMP Strato I could have had a few years back.... On a funny up note, a buddy was just here in his '61 Biscayne and he put one of these sirens in it similar to the one on the fender.... One of the ones that wind up like an old cop car or ambulance siren... Funny as hell!!!
Wonder where that one ended up....... I should call the Weyburn detachment and ask them??? (lol)
-- Edited by 67Poncho on Monday 20th of July 2009 10:20:34 PM
My nieghbour bought a black and white 70 Strato when I was a kid, it had 350 fender flashes. I alway thought it was OPP but it looked just like that. He rattle canned the doors and drove it for years.
Those pics are just great, I think there is enough detail their to to a recreation if you wanted. You can find the sirens and lights on e-bay or one of the flea markets. I see them all the time
My heart has not stopped beating at a hundred miles an hour. Wow what a nice car that would be. Real cool to have period pictures of one. If we had a rear shot of car we could tell horsepower...... 345 single exhaust....390 dual exhaust. my 454 2+2 has 345 hp but was factory ordered with N20 opition, it has the correct splash pan on rear of car below bumper with the dual cuts in as well from factory for the duals. I thought all 454's came with duals, untill I bought this car and when I got the docs from George that when I found that out. I currently has three old police cars in collection, would dearly love to have a poncho enforcer.
My heart has not stopped beating at a hundred miles an hour. Wow what a nice car that would be. Real cool to have period pictures of one. If we had a rear shot of car we could tell horsepower...... 345 single exhaust....390 dual exhaust. my 454 2+2 has 345 hp but was factory ordered with N20 opition, it has the correct splash pan on rear of car below bumper with the dual cuts in as well from factory for the duals. I thought all 454's came with duals, untill I bought this car and when I got the docs from George that when I found that out. I currently has three old police cars in collection, would dearly love to have a poncho enforcer.
Love old police cars. Still remember some of the big block RCMP cars of the late 60s/early 70s in my area. What other old police cars do you have?
Hey Todd my oldest is a 1956 Fairlane out of California, she was used for advertising at a local upscale resturant in Palm Springs. Still black with 4 white doors period correct equipment. my second one is 1983 Chevrolet Mailbu 9C1 out of Penn State, this was a plain wrapper in a bronze colour. This car was done up by Penn State Police as a take down car. Was an assigned unit as the trooper who drove was trained on car. Been out of service for about ten years the trooper who drove it bought the car and fully restored it. was brought here into Canada. That buyer is with the RCMP, so knew of the car. Because of his type of work never used the car, was put up for sale last October. I bought it on the spot, this car is brutal. I have driven it a couple of times, and it has scared the hell out of me. I am going to take her to Deerfoot Cruise nite this Wednesday. My third one picked up 6 weeks ago at locale auction house in Ednonton. RCMP unmarked unit. Just realeased by RCMP. Not too sure of story on this car, but it has sat for a number of years, It is a 1994 Caprice with the LT1, fawn in colour. Put fresh fuel in the thing hammer down south bound on # 2 to calgary. Sweet car, funny thing when cleaning out car removed 30 plus shell cases, some not spent 12 guage SSG 38 Special chrome case, lots of 9 mm, sure would like to know the story on this one?????????? I do have a fourth one it is a 1999 Chevrolet Lumina 9C3 police pakage super rare car, pretty mint out of Ontario OPP unit 132 kms, shes for sale.................
That green 1970 Biscayne looks just like dad's that he bought new in January 1970. Dad's car had the wimpiest engine (250 six) but it also had a 3-speed manual (pedals and Z-bar, man!) and radio block-off plate.
A couple of pics, the snowbound picture I think was from 1976. The other picture is taken from my 1970 Chevrolet brochure (Canadian), which I scanned and then went to work on it with a graphics editing program (Paint Shop Pro).
-- Edited by CdnGMfan on Wednesday 30th of March 2011 09:51:23 PM
__________________
67 Chevelle Malibu Sport Coupe, Oshawa-built 250 PG never disturbed.
In garage, 296 cid inline six & TH350...
Cam, Toronto.
I don't judge a man by how far he's fallen, but by how far back he bounces - Patton
... Now I kick myself 2wice as hard for not saving that '70 RCMP Strato I could have had a few years back.... On a funny up note, a buddy was just here in his '61 Biscayne and he put one of these sirens in it similar to the one on the fender.... One of the ones that wind up like an old cop car or ambulance siren... Funny as hell!!!
