Chevrolet Caprice
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{{Infobox Automobile |name=Chevrolet Caprice |manufacturer=General Motors |image=Image:ChevImpCap1965.jpg |production=1965–1996 |class=Full-size car |related=Chevrolet Impala }} The Chevrolet Caprice (later called Caprice Classic) was a series name of automobile produced by Chevrolet, a division of General Motors, in the United States from the 1965 through 1996 model years.
Throughout its life, the Caprice designated the most-expensive (and most luxurious) model of the Chevrolet full-size car range, which during its lifetime also included the Biscayne, Bel Air and Impala.
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Caprice, an international brand
Image:Chevrolet Caprice (Middle East, front three quarters, right).JPG
In the United States, the Caprice was based on the Impala model, with additional trim and features; however, except for trim and other minor details, the lesser Biscayne and Bel Air models were essentially identical to the more-expensive models.
Two other model lines carried the Chevrolet Caprice name. In the 1970s, General Motors of South Africa sold the Australian Holden Statesman as the Chevrolet Caprice and Caprice Classic. Holden has also named its in-house-developed full-size car the Caprice (more precisely the Holden Statesman Caprice) and exports it to the Middle East where they are sold as Chevrolet Caprices. Model changes of these Caprices follow their Australian counterpart.
US History
The Caprice began life in 1965 as a luxury trim package for the Impala four-door hardtop sedan, in response to Ford's successful LTD series. This included a stiffer suspension, higher-grade cloth and vinyl seat and door trim (as well as thicker, higher-grade carpeting), walnut trim on the dashboard and door panels, pull straps on the doors, extra convenience lights, special full wheel covers and a vinyl top. The name for the Chevrolet Caprice was coined by Bob Lund (Chevrolet's General Sales Manager) after a classy restaurant he frequented in New York City.
The package was very well received, and was expanded in 1966 to include a two-door hardtop and a station wagon. A V8 engine was installed in every Caprice. While features such as an automatic transmission, power steering, white sidewall tires, and vinyl top were extra-cost options, virtually every Caprice was sold with them. Also, customers frequently ordered luxury options such as air conditioning, power windows, power seats and stereo radios; several automotive history books noted that a fully-optioned Caprice rivaled the appearance, comfort and convenience of the Cadillac Deville.
Image:1973 Chevrolet Caprice.jpg
As the Caprice became the new top-line full-size Chevrolet, the Impala (formerly the top model, which also included a Super Sport version) was demoted to second-best, with the Bel Air and Biscayne handling the lower part of the lineup. In 1973, the Caprice was renamed the Caprice Classic and added a convertible that lasted only three model years before it was discontinued after the 1975 model year along with its full-size B-body ragtop counterparts including the Oldsmobile Delta 88, Buick LeSabre and Pontiac Grand Ville.
By 1976—the sixth and last year of a body style introduced in 1971—the Caprice weighed approximately 4800 pounds (2180 kg) and was about 19½ ft (5.9 m) long—longer even than many modern full-size pickup trucks.
1977-1990
Image:1976 Chevrolet Caprice Classic Landau.jpg
The 1977 models were downsized, two years before Ford could respond with its downsized LTD. It was this platform that was retained (with a major body restyling for 1991) until 1996.
During the 1977-1990 era, major styling changes were made in 1980 and 1986. Model offerings included a four-door sedan, two-door pillared coupe and 2 and 3-seat station wagons. The lower-line Impala was dropped after 1985, replaced by a rebadged base Caprice for 1986, the same year that a new Caprice Classic Brougham was introduced with a more luxurious interior than the regular Caprice Classic with pillowed velour 60/40 bench seats. In 1987, an "LS" option package was made available on the Caprice Classic Brougham that included an exclusive Landau vinyl roof trim and an even more luxurious interior available in cloth or optional leather upholstery—the first full-size Chevy with real "hide" seats since the 1952 Bel Air.
Upon introduction of the downsized 1977 models — Chevrolet took over the law enforcement market with their 9C1 after Chrysler (who dominated the law enforcement/emergency vehicle market) phased out their big-block powerplants. The Chevrolet division owned 60 percent of the police market in the late 1980s and 80 percent by the early 1990s. The Caprice and Impala were also the preferred choice for cab companies during this time.
1991-1996
The 1991 model had a substantial restyle, replacing the 1977-based squared-off design with swoopier, more aerodynamic sheetmetal, although the chassis frame and many other mechanicals were carried over from the previous model. A major influence in the 1991 restyle was the success of the Ford Taurus and its sleek body and flush headlights. While the Caprice was a larger car, General Motors hoped that it too could ride the success of sleek aero-dynamic styling and regain the top spot as America's favorite automobile.
Image:1991chevroletcaprice.jpg
The car's styling was not universally well received (some of the press calling it a 'beached whale') and for 1993 there were some styling revisions, the most obvious being the removal of the skirted rear wheel wells in favor of more conventional, open wheel wells. This applied only to the sedan model, stationwagons retained the skirted wheel wells until the end of production. The Caprice also received modifications to its rear roof line and "C" pillars.
In 1994, Chevrolet revived the Impala SS name by upgrading a Caprice 9C1 with a special grille, spoiler, special interior treatment and 17" alloy rims made by ROH on BF Goodrich 255/50/17 tires. In addition, the Caprice got a detuned version of the Corvette's LT-1 350 in³ (5.7 L) engine that put out 260 hp (194 kW) and 330 ft·lbf (447 N·m) of torque. In 1996, the Impala SS was freshened by moving the shifter to the floor and analog gauges were in the dash as opposed to digital gauges in the standard Caprice (except the 9C1).
The Caprice's interior had a redesign to level with the Impala's reintroduction, which featured a Camaro steering wheel, digital speedometer and a new console. The rear quarter windows were redesigned to the Impala style in 1995, and new wing mirrors were fitted.
During the Impala SS's reign, the Caprice 9C1 was also fitted with the LT-1 and it became one of the most legendary modern day police vehicles. One of the most notable performance stats is that it actually took down a Ford Mustang SS4 with a 5.0 L V8 on the dragstrip. This vehicle established such a great devotion by many police departments that some actually shipped out their 9C1s to be refurbished after the Caprice was cancelled.
The car was not well received by critics, and eventually the car's production was stopped in 1996. This was blamed on the smaller Chevrolet Lumina growing in size. Throughout the Caprice's production run, its 9C1 package was a popular police vehicle, the 1994-1996 model with the Corvette-derived LT1 350 in³engine is regarded by many as the best police vehicle ever produced.
The Caprice was twice honored with the Motor Trend Car of the Year award, in 1977 and 1991. The Caprice Classic was also on Car and Driver magazine's Ten Best list for 1983.
Engines for United States models
| Generation | Years | Engine | Power | Torque |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| I | 1965-1967 | 283 in³ Small-Block V8 | ||
| 1965-1969 | 327 in³ Small-Block V8 | |||
| 1965-1969 | 396 in³ Big-Block V8 | |||
| 1966-1969 | 427 in³ Big-Block V8 | |||
| 1968 | 307 in³ Small-Block V8 | |||
| 1969-1970 | 350 in³ Small-Block V8 | |||
| 1970 | 400 in³ Small-Block V8 | |||
| II | 1971-1976 | 350 in³ Small-Block V8 | ||
| 1971-1976 | 400 in³ Small-Block V8 | |||
| 1971-1972 | 400 in³ Big-Block V8 | |||
| 1970-1976 | 454 in³ Big-Block V8 | |||
| 1976 | 305 in³ Small-Block V8 | |||
| III | 1977-1980 1981-1985 (police) | 350 in³ Small-Block V8 | ||
| 1977-1985 | 305 in³ Small-Block V8 | |||
| 1977-1979 | 250 in³ V6 | |||
| 1980-1984 | 229 in³ V6 | |||
| 1980-1982 | 267 in³ Small-Block V8 | |||
| 1980-1984 | 350 in³ LF9 Diesel V8 | |||
| 1985 | 262 in³ V6 | |||
| IV | 1986-1991 (police) | 350 in³ Small-Block V8 | ||
| 1986-1990 | 305 in³ Small-Block V8 | |||
| 1986-1988 | 4.3 L/262 in³ V6 | 140 hp (104 kW) | 225 ft·lbf (305 N·m) | |
| 1986-1990 | 5.0 L/305 in³ Small-Block V8 | 170 hp (127 kW) | 255 ft·lbf (346 N·m) | |
| 1987-1990 | 5.7 L/350 in³ Small-Block V8 | |||
| V | 1991-1993 | 5.0 L/305 in³ Small-Block V8 | 170 hp (127 kW) | 255 ft·lbf (346 N·m) |
| 1992-1996 | 5.7 L/350 in³ Small-Block V8 | |||
| 1994-1996 | 4.3 L/265 in³ Small-Block V8 | 200 hp (149 kW) | 235 ft·lbf (319 N·m) | |
| Impala SS | 1994-1996 | 5.7 L/350 in³ LT1 V8 | 260 hp (194 kW) | 330 ft·lbf (447 N·m) |
Transmissions for U.S. cars
- 3-speed manual: standard 1965-early 1971.
- 4-speed manual: optional 1965-1969.
- Powerglide, 2-speed automatic: optional 1965-1970.
- Turbo Hydra-Matic 350 and 400, 3-speed automatic: Optional 1965-early 1971, standard late-1971-1988.
- Turbo Hydra-Matic 200 4-R and 700R4/4L60, 4-speed overdrive automatic: Optional 1981-1988 models, standard 1989-1996.
References
- Template:Cite book
- Boyce, Terry V. 1971-1976 Chevrolet: Full-Blown Farewell To the Full-Size Era. Collectible Automobile Magazine, October 2005.de:Chevrolet Caprice