What modifications did CHP specify for the 1969 Dodge Polara pursuit package?
Executive summary
The California Highway Patrol (CHP) special‑ordered a 1969 Dodge Polara "pursuit" package that went beyond Dodge’s regular options by specifying a high‑performance 440 Magnum V8, reinforced driveline and gearing, heavy‑duty suspension and brakes, and law‑enforcement equipment such as lights and siren; Chrysler even produced some department‑specific parts for the order [1] [2] [3]. Contemporary testing at Chrysler’s proving grounds demonstrated extraordinary top‑speed performance for a four‑door sedan — a key reason the CHP demanded these modifications — but publicly available reporting does not publish a single exhaustive spec sheet from CHP, so reconstruction relies on company and enthusiast accounts [2] [4].
1. Why CHP placed a “special order” and how it differed from factory fleet options
Rather than taking a standard police package off the dealer order sheet, the CHP treated the Polara as a special‑order pursuit car: the department specified changes to suspension, handling and trim that exceeded a production police Polara and effectively constituted a bespoke fleet build tailored to high‑speed highway enforcement [1]. Multiple accounts note the CHP’s direct role in shaping the vehicles — Chrysler made parts specifically for CHP and LAPD use — which indicates the package was more than a dealer option and reflected operational demands rather than showroom marketing [2].
2. Powertrain: the 440 Magnum and documented performance
The hallmark of the CHP pursuit Polara was the 440 Magnum V8 rated at about 375 horsepower; surviving documentation and restorers repeatedly cite the 440 as the top power choice ordered by CHP, and Chrysler testing produced headline top‑speed runs in the 147–149.6 mph range on the test track, a benchmark unmatched by many four‑door sedans for years [1] [2] [4]. Those test speeds underpin why the CHP wanted the higher‑capacity engine and related driveline choices rather than the smaller 318 or 383 engines that were more common in civilian Polaras [3].
3. Driveline and gearing: built for sustained highway speeds
Reporting identifies specific drivetrain choices associated with the pursuit cars — for example, axle ratios (3.23 cited in enthusiast sources) that complemented the 440 to yield high top‑end speeds while preserving durability for patrol use — and Chrysler engineers tuned gear and axle combinations to meet CHP requirements [2]. Accounts from sellers and forums echo that the pursuit Polaras were tested at Chrysler’s proving grounds and that the department’s VON (vehicle order number) range aligns with a dedicated production run, reinforcing that gears and related components were specified for the role [4] [5].
4. Chassis, suspension and braking upgrades CHP demanded
Contemporary restorers and Hemmings reporting emphasize “heavy‑duty suspension” and “monstrous brakes” as core to the CHP spec, language that reflects reinforced springs, shocks and brake hardware intended for repeated high‑speed stops and the rigors of pursuit driving — elements explicitly distinguished from production‑spec Polaras [1]. While exact component part numbers or spring rates are not listed in the available sources, multiple restorations and enthusiast writeups consistently cite upgraded suspension and stopping systems as defining features of the CHP pursuit package [1] [6].
5. Pursuit equipment, trim and Chrysler’s department‑specific parts
Beyond mechanical changes, the CHP pursuit Polaras carried law‑enforcement kit — lights, siren and pursuit‑calibrated trim — and dealers/enthusiast listings note the cars often retain the full law‑enforcement package, including auxiliary lighting and siren gear [3]. Code3 and other sources report Chrysler manufactured specific parts for CHP and LAPD customers, indicating factory‑level accommodations for pursuit duties rather than aftermarket retrofits [2].
6. Production numbers, testing legacy and limits of the public record
CHP ordered roughly 1,564 Polaras in 1969, and period testing produced the notable top‑speed numbers still cited by restorers; however, the survival rate of original CHP Polaras is low and public accounts derive from archival photos, tester recollections and enthusiast documentation rather than a single released CHP spec sheet, meaning some granular details (exact brake part numbers, spring rates, or a complete option list) are not available in the cited reporting [1] [6] [4]. Sources agree on the package’s broad contours — 440 Magnum power, heavy‑duty chassis work, pursuit gearing and police equipment — but a definitive factory spec sheet from CHP was not published in the materials reviewed [1] [2] [3].