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Were these cars mid-sized or full sized? What would have been the competing offerings from Ford and GM? I am guessing Ford Granada / Chevy Malibu, etc?
I agree with The Continental on the full size GM's with the 305 engine. They had plenty of room, a decent look, and were reliable. I also had a 305 engine in the full size Chevy van we owned from 1990-2000; it was a good engine, though other major components did not hold up as well.
The R-Body New Yorkers are getting harder to come by, the sister Newport and Gran Fury models even more so, but I cannot even remember the last time I saw a Dodge St. Regis. I agree with Tennesseestorm, they had quite a nice look to them.
I remember growing up one of the hockey moms that drove us to practice used to drive a 1982 burgundy dodge miranda I remember my best friend back then threw up in the backseat one time
The R-Body New Yorkers are getting harder to come by, the sister Newport and Gran Fury models even more so, but I cannot even remember the last time I saw a Dodge St. Regis. I agree with Tennesseestorm, they had quite a nice look to them.
The last time I've seen a Dodge St. Regis is back in the Summer of 2005 when I've seen one parked on a college campus and the car appeared to be in good shape, I've only seen maybe 2 or 3 of them in my entire lifetime (I'll be 30 years old in August), I see slightly more R-body Newport's than the New Yorker's and I haven't seen an R-body Fury in years
I have a 1979 Chrysler Newport 4dr pillared base hardtop. These cars were a disappointment to many Police Departments. Just remember most agencies had been driving big block cars. The 440 was common, as was the 427, 455, 428 and others. The "small" engines were 318, 350, and 360.
My car is a low compression 318 2 barrel, the best available engine was the 360 4 barrel. The compression ratio, very mild cam profiles, and small heads with a restrictive exhaust killed performance.
These cars were comfortable, important when it is your "office" for eight or more hours. The handling wasn't bad for the era. Stability was good, engines were durable, MaMopar made the price right. Some things were not good, but it beat a Ford Maverick, LTD II, Cutlass, and others.
My car always gains attention at car shows. Most people forgot about them. It was unusual when there were three R bodies. An Ontario Provincial Police and a New Mexico State Police fully marked unit. Mine is a slick top semi marked.
It has period correct Motorola radio and walkie, Federal Signal PA 200 siren and speaker, FS. switch box, hand held radar, clipboard, leather ticket book, streamlight sl-20, wire mesh "screen", dash-grille-rear deck lights, first aid kit (with merthiolate and ammonia inhalants!), fire blanket, slim jim, jumper cables...I still have push bumpers, shotgun lock, and walkie charger, and headlight flasher to install. Many kids like to have their photographs taken in the back seat. Perfect car? No, but the warts and blemishes work! I love my R body, but it would be better with at least a 300 horse 360.
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