Michigan test archive
1983 Michigan State Police Patrol Vehicle Test
Fifteen cars, a propane-fueled Canadian Plymouth, the Mustang’s 132-mph debut — and a book dedicated to a driver.
A year after Michigan tested a Mustang and declined to print the numbers, the numbers arrived — and they were worth the wait. The Ford Mustang 302 H.O. with a four-speed manual reached 60 mph in 8.32 seconds, crossed the quarter mile at 86.25 mph, hit 100 in 22.71 seconds — needing only four tenths of a mile — and topped out at 132.0 mph. The next-fastest American-market car of 1983 was seventeen seconds behind it to 100; the Canadian Impala, fourteen. The Special Service era starts on this page of the archive.
Fifteen cars ran in all: five competing against the Michigan specification, a fuel-injected LTD and a K-derived Plymouth Reliant among the also-rans, four small-engine cars, and — for the first time — three Canadian-market cars with different emissions packages, including a Plymouth Caravelle running its 318 on propane. The straight-line tests ran at Chrysler’s proving grounds on 18 September 1982, between 52 and 62 °F in winds of 4 to 14 mph; the dynamics laps on the 1.635-mile Michigan International Speedway road course, now scored as the average of the 12 fastest of 16 laps.
For the second year running, the bids were still sealed when the book went to print — so the total weighted score is the year’s verdict.
The five competing cars — full evaluation
| Car | Engine | 0–60 (s) | ¼-mile (s @ mph) | 0–100 (s) | Top speed (mph) | Miles to 100 mph | Dynamics (s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ford LTD Crown Victoria S | 351 H.O.-VV | 12.22 | 18.83 @ 75.25 | 39.81 | 117.9 | 0.77 | 90.59 |
| Plymouth Gran Fury | 318-4V | 12.38 | 19.10 @ 76.5 | 39.68 | 120.0 | 0.76 | 92.64 |
| Dodge Diplomat | 318-4V | 12.81 | 19.30 @ 75.5 | 40.46 | 118.8 | 0.77 | 93.54 |
| Chevrolet Malibu | 305-4V | 11.71 | 18.78 @ 75.0 | 40.73 | 116.3 | 0.79 | 92.13 |
| Chevrolet Impala | 350-4V | 11.67 | 18.55 @ 73.5 | 42.51 | 115.0 | 0.84 | 92.21 |
Gold row: highest total weighted score (see the scoring table below). The Gran Fury’s 120.0 mph was the fastest sedan speed of the year; the Crown Victoria S — new name, dual exhaust — set the fastest dynamics average of the year at 90.59 seconds, two tenths shy of the 1981 Malibu 350’s 90.37.
Tested but not competing
| Car | Engine | 0–60 (s) | ¼-mile (s @ mph) | 0–90 (s) | 0–100 (s) | Top speed (mph) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ford Mustang | 302 H.O.-4V, 4-speed | 8.32 | 16.68 @ 86.25 | 18.16 | 22.71 | 132.0 |
| Ford LTD Crown Victoria S | 302-CFI | 13.94 | 19.93 @ 71.25 | 36.76 | 69.01 | 104.4 |
| Plymouth Reliant | 2.6L-2V | 15.49 | 19.70 @ 68.0 | 49.43 | — | 102.8 |
| Chevrolet Impala (6-cyl) | 229-2V | 17.40 | 21.50 @ 67.0 | 51.57 | — | 104.3 |
| Ford Fairmont Futura (6-cyl) | 200-1V | 17.68 | 21.93 @ 66.25 | 58.49 | — | 97.7 |
| Dodge Diplomat (6-cyl) | 225-1V | 18.75 | 22.03 @ 63.5 | 74.32 | — | 96.5 |
| Ford Fairmont Futura (4-cyl) | 140-1V | 18.40 | 21.83 @ 65.0 | 83.57 | — | 95.8 |
The fuel-injected LTD — the only injected car of the field — missed the 0–80 requirement by a third of a second and needed sixty-nine seconds to reach 100. Central fuel injection would need a few more years. The Mustang, not a police package car, wasn’t scored — but its 151.3-foot Phase I stop from 60 mph was the shortest of the entire test.
The Canadian cars
| Car | Engine | 0–60 (s) | ¼-mile (s @ mph) | 0–100 (s) | Top speed (mph) | Miles to 100 mph |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chevrolet Impala (Canadian) | 350-4V | 11.03 | 18.30 @ 76.5 | 36.65 | 107.1† | 0.71 |
| Chevrolet Malibu (Canadian) | 305-4V | 11.59 | 18.35 @ 75.75 | 42.74 | 112.5 | 0.85 |
| Plymouth Caravelle (Canadian) | 318, propane fuel | 12.14 | 18.95 @ 74.25 | 42.45 | 113.6 | 0.84 |
† The book’s own note: the Canadian Impala reached 107.1 mph, after which its speed steadily decreased due to mechanical difficulties. Before that, it had already made the point of the exercise: 36.65 seconds to 100 mph — quickest sedan of the entire test, nearly six seconds ahead of the US Impala with the same displacement. That gap is the price of the US emissions package, measured. And yes: a propane-fueled 318 Caravelle out-accelerated three of the five US competitors to 60 mph.
Complete acceleration data — every 10-mph increment
| 0 to… | Impala 350 | Malibu 305 | Diplomat 318 | LTD CV-S 351 | LTD CV-S 302 | Mustang 302 | Gran Fury 318 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 mph | 2.51 | 2.64 | 3.08 | 2.88 | 2.80 | 2.33 | 3.16 |
| 30 mph | 4.09 | 4.27 | 5.09 | 4.79 | 4.72 | 3.40 | 5.13 |
| 40 mph | 6.09 | 6.23 | 7.15 | 6.74 | 7.14 | 4.69 | 7.05 |
| 50 mph | 8.69 | 8.59 | 9.53 | 9.14 | 10.14 | 6.42 | 9.27 |
| 60 mph | 11.67 | 11.71 | 12.81 | 12.22 | 13.94 | 8.32 | 12.38 |
| 70 mph | 16.08 | 15.70 | 16.71 | 16.26 | 19.06 | 10.70 | 16.26 |
| 80 mph | 22.09 | 21.70 | 22.09 | 21.35 | 26.34 | 14.23 | 21.05 |
| 90 mph | 30.14 | 29.90 | 30.13 | 28.94 | 36.76 | 18.16 | 29.19 |
| 100 mph | 42.51 | 40.73 | 40.46 | 39.81 | 69.01 | 22.71 | 39.68 |
| 0 to… | Impala 350 (Cdn) | Malibu 305 (Cdn) | Caravelle 318 propane |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20 mph | 2.54 | 2.55 | 2.63 |
| 30 mph | 4.08 | 4.17 | 4.21 |
| 40 mph | 5.91 | 6.08 | 6.12 |
| 50 mph | 8.30 | 8.57 | 8.93 |
| 60 mph | 11.03 | 11.59 | 12.14 |
| 70 mph | 14.75 | 15.38 | 16.26 |
| 80 mph | 20.04 | 20.91 | 22.11 |
| 90 mph | 26.79 | 29.09 | 29.31 |
| 100 mph | 36.65 | 42.74 | 42.45 |
| 0 to… | Reliant 2.6L | Impala 229 | Fairmont 200 | Diplomat 225 | Fairmont 140 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 mph | 3.25 | 3.81 | 3.65 | 3.56 | 3.60 |
| 30 mph | 5.31 | 6.38 | 6.21 | 5.89 | 6.21 |
| 40 mph | 7.68 | 9.17 | 9.12 | 9.07 | 9.17 |
| 50 mph | 11.14 | 12.60 | 12.76 | 13.26 | 12.98 |
| 60 mph | 15.49 | 17.40 | 17.68 | 18.75 | 18.40 |
| 70 mph | 21.21 | 23.51 | 24.39 | 27.70 | 26.89 |
| 80 mph | 32.00 | 34.75 | 35.74 | 41.77 | 41.95 |
| 90 mph | 49.43 | 51.57 | 58.49 | 1:14.32 | 1:23.57 |
‡ Cell illegible or scrambled in the archive scan; to be verified against the physical book. The book’s quarter-mile lesson this year: the US Gran Fury and the Canadian Impala both crossed the quarter at exactly 76.50 mph — but the Canadian car got there eight tenths of a second sooner, because cars do not accelerate at a uniform rate.
Brakes, fuel economy, ergonomics
| Car | 60–0 Phase I (ft) | 60–0 Phase II (ft) | Avg decel (ft/s²) | EPA city (mpg) | Ergonomics (pts) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ford Mustang 302 | 151.3 | 163.4 | 24.97 | 17.0* | — |
| Plymouth Gran Fury 318 | 158.1 | 157.4 | 24.92 | 14.0 | 196.31 |
| Chevrolet Malibu 305 | 159.0 | 159.7 | 24.50 | 17.8 | 185.11 |
| Dodge Diplomat 318 | 166.0 | 155.5 | 24.26 | 14.0 | 196.31 |
| Ford Fairmont Futura 140 | 160.2 | 165.5 | 24.22 | 20.9 | — |
| Ford LTD Crown Victoria S 351 | 163.7 | 164.0 | 23.99 | 14.0 | 202.93 |
| Plymouth Reliant 2.6L | 164.9 | 163.7 | 23.96 | 24.0 | — |
| Chevrolet Impala 350 | 167.6 | 169.8 | 23.22 | 14.8 | 188.43 |
* Manufacturer’s figure, supplied by Ford — EPA data for the Mustang was not yet published. The Diplomat and Gran Fury ergonomics totals are identical as printed; the two cars shared their body and interior. The Crown Victoria S took the best ergonomics score of the year.
Hardware: horsepower, axle ratios, test weights
| Car | HP (SAE net) | Axle ratio | Test weight (lb) | Transmission |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ford Mustang 302 H.O. | 175 | 3.08 | 2,970 | 4-speed manual w/ overdrive |
| Ford LTD CV-S 351 | 165 | 2.73 | 4,059 | 4-sp auto w/ overdrive (AOD) |
| Ford LTD CV-S 302-CFI | 130 | 3.08 | 3,892 | 4-sp auto w/ overdrive (AOD) |
| Dodge Diplomat 318 | 165 | 2.94 | 3,887 | 3-sp auto (A727) |
| Plymouth Gran Fury 318 | 165 | 2.94 | 3,881 | 3-sp auto (A727) |
| Chevrolet Impala 350 | 155 | 3.08 | 3,993 | 4-sp auto w/ overdrive (700R4) |
| Chevrolet Malibu 305 | 145 | 2.73 | 3,516 | 3-sp auto (350C) |
| Chevrolet Impala 350 (Cdn) | 165 | 3.08 | 3,839 | 3-sp auto (350C) |
| Chevrolet Malibu 305 (Cdn) | 145 | 2.73 | 3,443 | 3-sp auto (350C) |
| Chevrolet Impala 229 (6-cyl) | 110 | 2.73 | 3,713 | 3-sp auto (250C) |
| Dodge Diplomat 225 (6-cyl) | 90 | 2.94 | 3,688 | 3-sp auto (A904) |
| Ford Fairmont Futura 200 | 92 | 2.73 | 2,872 | 3-sp auto (PEN-C) |
| Ford Fairmont Futura 140 | 90 | 3.08 | 2,979 | 3-sp auto (C3) |
| Plymouth Reliant 2.6L | 93 | 3.02 | 2,659 | 3-sp auto (A470) |
Two overdrive automatics arrived this year: Ford’s AOD returned, and the Impala debuted GM’s new 700R4 four-speed. The US Impala was rated at 155 horsepower against the Canadian car’s 165 — and the Canadian was six tenths quicker to 60 and nearly six seconds quicker to 100.
The scoring — the Crown Victoria’s year
The weighting held at 25% dynamics, 25% fuel economy, 15% acceleration (0–100 time), 15% top speed, 10% brakes, and 10% ergonomics. With the bids still sealed at print time, the total weighted score is the verdict of record — and it belongs, clearly, to the dual-exhaust Crown Victoria S: fastest around the pursuit course by a second and a half, best ergonomics, second-quickest to 100.
| Car | Dynamics (s) | 0–100 (s) | Brakes (ft/s²) | Top speed (mph) | Ergonomics (pts) | EPA city (mpg) | Total weighted score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ford LTD Crown Victoria S 351 | 90.59 | 39.81 | 23.99 | 117.9 | 202.93 | 14.0 | +0.528 |
| Chevrolet Malibu 305 | 92.13 | 40.73 | 24.51 | 116.3 | 185.11 | 17.8 | +0.310 |
| Plymouth Gran Fury 318 | 92.64 | 39.68 | 24.92 | 120.0 | 196.31 | 14.0 | +0.249 |
| Dodge Diplomat 318 | 93.54 | 40.46 | 24.26 | 118.8 | 196.31 | 14.0 | −0.319 |
| Chevrolet Impala 350 | 92.21 | 42.51 | 23.23 | 115.0 | 188.43 | 14.8 | −0.767 |
What Michigan ordered
The September 1982 specification (Mich. 3905-0010) kept the familiar bones — the ⅛-inch steel roof plate welded under the roof panel, drilled and pre-wired down the corner post for the beacon; Unity #225 spotlights with aircraft landing lamps on both A-pillars, individually fused; a limited-slip differential, maximum cooling, an 80-amp alternator with 45 amps at idle, and a 455 cold-cranking-amp battery; blue cloth seats (all-vinyl not acceptable); paint to Dulux 93-032 on Goodyear rayon police radials.
Two additions collectors should note on a 1983 survivor: a tilt steering wheel was now required equipment, and the specification spelled out a certified speedometer — accurate to ±3 mph, in 2-mph increments, reading to at least 120. A front license plate bracket and factory power door locks were also written in. See how to identify a genuine police package car and the police package option codes guide.
What 1983 settled
Two futures announced themselves in one book. The Mustang — 132 mph, 100 mph in the space of four tenths of a mile — made every sedan in the test look like what it was, and within a model year the Special Service Mustang was in service with the CHP. And the Crown Victoria S took the total score with the combination that would define Ford police cars for two decades: not the fastest in a straight line, but composed everywhere at once.
The fine print carried its own lessons: a Canadian Impala proved the US emissions package was costing nearly six seconds to 100 mph, a propane Plymouth kept pace with the gasoline field, and the fuel-injected LTD showed the injection era wasn’t ready — yet.