MSP Cars

Part 4

1970-1979

1970 Plymouth Fury I. The 1970 and 1971 Plymouths were nearly identical. All were equipped with 440 CID V8 engines, although compression ratios began to drop. Previously 10.1:1, compression went to 9.7 :1 in 1970 and 9.5:1 in 1971. 1971 would be the last year the front doors were painted white and the last year the cars required premium gasoline.

1971 Plymouth

Beginning in 1972, cars were equipped with air conditioning. It would be the final year for the white roof. Also, rather than painting the doors white, the Highway Patrol shield was printed on a sheet of white vinyl, which was applied to the doors to give the look of a painted door without the cost. This method remained in effect through 1991. Compression dropped on the 440 again to 8.2:1.

1973

1974 saw Plymouth sell more police package vehicles than any other car maker. The 440 V-8 with 4-bbl carburetor produced 275 horsepower and was mated to an automatic transmission. This was the final year for the Fury I, II, III monikers from Plymouth.

Renamed Gran Fury, the 1975 Plymouth was distinguished from its 1974 counterpart by the bold chrome bar in the grille and the chrome moulding on its sides. 1975 marked the first use of the full-color door shield. The proven 440 V-8 continued in use, although horsepower dropped again to 250. The State Patrol also used the somewhat smaller, 400 V-8 equipped, Fury in their fleet this year.

In the middle and late 1970s, the national 55 mph speed limit was saving fuel and saving lives. In an effort to discourage would-be scofflaws from violating the speed limit, Governor Rudy Perpich wanted the State Patrol to make their presence known and mandated all State Patrol cars be fully marked. As a result, all previously unmarked cars were retrofitted with lights and graphics, traded in, or tucked away for future use. Photo courtesy of Jon Moe.

With a 1975 Plymouth in the foreground, a line of 1976 and 1977 Plymouths follow during this detail in west central Minnesota during early 1978.

The Gran Fury was treated to little more than a facelift for 1976. The grille was a little bit larger than the previous year’s and quad headlamps gave way to a two lamp system. The cars were equipped this year with power windows, a very welcome accessory.

Virtually unchanged since 1974, the 440 V-8 equipped Plymouth Gran Fury remained the choice of the Minnesota State Patrol in 1977. The Gran Fury name would take a two-year hiatus after the 1977 model year.

1978 Plymouth Fury. With the full-size Gran Fury no longer in production, the somewhat smaller Fury became the car of choice. The insignia on the rear doors were added in 1979 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Minnesota State Patrol.

This was the last of the 440 V8 equipped cars.

1979 marked the State Patrol’s 50th anniversary. This Dodge St. Regis is equipped just as it was in 1979. Chrysler downsized their full-sized cars for 1979 and the biggest engine available was the 360 CID V-8. Coupled to a 3-speed automatic and a 2.9:1 rear axle, they were very good performing units. They were also very good handling vehicles.

Lt. Joel Brown and his 1979 Dodge St. Regis. Photo courtesy of Mavis Brown.

Bruce Carlson shows off his Frost Blue St. Regis.

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