If you’re a true gearhead, especially one with a soft spot for old-school police cars, you have to check out Chase Classic Motors‘ latest video on their YouTube channel. It spotlights a true legend—Ross Urtel’s 1977 Michigan State Police Plymouth Fury Police Pursuit. This isn’t just any classic cruiser either. It’s believed to be the last known surviving 7.2-liter (440 cubic-inch) 4-BBL Big Block V8 (E86) Fury Pursuit on the planet.
For those who grew up watching The Blues Brothers or old car chase movies, you know how tough these old Mopar police cars were. They weren’t just movie props; they were real-deal high-speed machines built to protect and serve. Now thanks to guys like Urtel and his “partner in crime” Eric Laesch, their legacy is still alive and well.
What made these police Furys even tougher was the A38 Police Pursuit Package. The 1977 A38 option took the standard civilian four-door platform — a 117.4-inch wheelbase unit-body chassis that hadn’t changed much since 1975 — and beefed it up for serious law enforcement duty. Chrysler didn’t cut corners: the A38 gave these cars heavy-duty tuned suspension with thicker front and rear sway bars, bigger brakes, slotted 7-inch-wide steel wheels, and 62-inch track width. Fabric-belted radial police pursuit tires were added for high-speed runs.
Under the hood, things got even better: a 500-amp heavy-duty battery with heat shield, a 100-amp alternator, and a high-capacity radiator made sure the Fury could take the abuse. It even had an oil cooler and available transmission and power steering coolers. A calibrated 140-mph speedometer reminded troopers they had serious firepower at their right foot. Meanwhile, the 9¼-inch Chrysler rear differential could be ordered with different gear ratios depending on the department’s needs.
This car originally rolled off Chrysler’s Lynch Road Assembly Plant in Detroit back in April 1977 and served at the Grand Haven post for the Michigan State Police. Even with all the government-mandated emissions gear of the late ’70s, this beast could still rip past 120 mph without breaking a sweat. Chrysler didn’t play when it came to police cars—they built them to be fast, tough, and reliable for the hardest duty imaginable.
But like most police cars, this one had a rough life. After retiring from the force, it bounced through owners—from a cab company owner in Cleveland to a pilot with a vacation house in Mackinaw City, Michigan. It was eventually rescued by a young enthusiast and later found its way into Ross’s hands after a long and complicated journey.
If you love Mopars, muscle cars, or police pursuit history, you seriously need to head over to the Chase Classic Motors YouTube channel. Hit that subscribe button and buckle up—because Ross, Eric, and the Chase Classic Motors crew are keeping American car history alive, one legendary Mopar at a time.
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