Chasing Redemption: The Forgotten Chrysler R-Body Police Cars

Chase Classic Motors is back, and this time they’re on a mission to rescue the reputation of one of Mopar’s most overlooked and misunderstood lineups—the Chrysler R-body sedans. In their latest deep-dive video, Ross Urtel and Eric Laesch put the spotlight on the Chrysler Newport, Dodge St. Regis, and Plymouth Gran Fury—three full-sized four-doors that were all but written off after a short three-year production run from 1979 to 1981.

While these cars might be remembered today as outdated and unloved, they were once some of the most respected patrol vehicles on American roads. That’s right—before the Crown Vic took over police fleets, Chrysler’s R-bodies were briefly the best full-size cop cars you could get. And Chase Classic Motors is here to tell you why.

The episode kicks off with a no-nonsense test drive of a real-deal 1979 Chrysler Newport Police Pursuit, complete with its original E58-code 5.9-liter (360 cubic-inch) 4-barrel V8 under the hood. It might not have the big-block power of the ‘70s Mopars that came before it, but with 195 horsepower and a top speed of 120 mph, it had enough grunt to get the job done—and it earned a solid reputation among law enforcement agencies in the late Malaise Era.

These cars weren’t designed from scratch. Chrysler didn’t have the budget. Instead, the R-body was a reworked version of the old B-body platform dating back to the early ’60s. With sharper lines, updated tech, and a more “modern” look (for 1979, anyway), the R-body was Chrysler’s attempt to compete with General Motors’ (GM’s) downsized Caprice and Ford’s new Panther-platform LTD.

Sales started strong in 1979—over 121,000 units moved—but then the Iranian oil crisis hit, gas prices spiked, and Chrysler’s big sedans became showroom dust collectors almost overnight. But police departments loved them. They were roomy, smooth, reliable, and easy to service. Even though big-blocks were gone, the 360 V8 was strong enough for high-speed pursuits and durable enough for daily abuse.

One of the most interesting bits Chase Classic Motors uncovers is how the Plymouth Gran Fury almost didn’t exist. Initially, Chrysler execs decided not to offer a Plymouth R-body to save cash. That didn’t sit well with Plymouth dealers, who were shut out of lucrative fleet sales. Eventually, Chrysler gave in and brought the Gran Fury back for 1980.

And then there’s the political side of the story. The R-body era lined up with Chrysler’s worst financial crisis, one that nearly wiped the company out. Lee Iacocca had just taken the reins, and the R-bodies were already on borrowed time. The platform was scrapped after 1981, replaced by the smaller M-body cars like the Dodge Diplomat and Plymouth Gran Fury (redux).

Whether you’re a Mopar die-hard, a former patrol officer, or just a fan of obscure American iron, this episode is a must-watch. The Chase Classic Motors crew turns their shop into a shrine to all things R-body, proving that even the most overlooked muscle-era leftovers can still find redemption.