How fast is the 1970 Dodge Polara police car?
The 1970 Dodge Polara police car could reach roughly 130 mph in stock police configuration, with speed varying by engine, gearing, and equipment. Below is a detailed look at what powered the car, how it achieved its top end, and how those speeds are viewed today.
Under the hood: the police package engine options
The Polara’s police package relied on large-displacement V8s paired with rugged components designed for highway patrol duties. The most common setup used the 440 cubic-inch Magnum V8, typically with a heavy-duty automatic transmission and highway gearing to emphasize sustained speeds on open interstates. A smaller 383 cubic-inch V8 was also available, offering adequate performance but not the same top-end capability as the 440 when properly equipped. In rarer configurations, departments could opt for higher-output combinations, but the 440 Magnum was the workhorse for top speed.
- 383 cubic-inch V8 (standard or optional in some configurations)
- 440 cubic-inch Magnum V8 (the performance choice for speed and patrol endurance)
In summary, the top-end capability of the 1970 Polara police models largely hinged on engine choice, with the 440 Magnum delivering the greatest speed potential among factory options.
What determined its top speed
Several mechanical and design factors set the ceiling for the Polara’s speed in patrol service. The following elements shaped how fast a given unit could go in real-world conditions.
- Rear axle ratio and gearing (commonly in the vicinity of 3.23:1 to 3.54:1, with variations by department)
- Transmission type and tuning (a heavy-duty TorqueFlite automatic was standard for police use)
- Vehicle weight and equipment (police radios, sirens, protective gear, and other hardware added bulk)
- Tire size and overall aerodynamics (aerodynamics and wheel/tire setups influenced top speed)
These factors combined to set a practical ceiling for top speed. In practice, the same car could be tuned differently from one department to another, yielding slightly different performance figures.
Period tests and historical benchmarks
Historical road tests from the era provide a sense of where the Polara sat in the speed spectrum when equipped for police duty. Magazine coverage from the late 1960s and early 1970s frequently cited top speeds in the low-to-mid 130 mph range for the 440-powered Polara police cars, with variations based on gearing, condition, and maintenance. Cars fitted with smaller engines or less aggressive highway gearing typically posted lower top speeds, closer to the 110–120 mph range.
- 440 Magnum-equipped Polaras commonly reported in the 130 mph vicinity in period tests
- 383-powered Polaras generally landing on the lower end of the spectrum, often around 110–120 mph in testing
- Real-world patrol deployments could see modest deviations from tested figures due to maintenance and load
Overall, period benchmarks suggest a clear speed advantage for the 440-powered versions, with substantial variation based on the car’s specific build and how it was set up for patrol use.
Modern perspective: safety, maintenance and legacy
Today’s collectors and historians view the 1970 Polara police model as a snapshot of era-era policing and automotive design. Its speed was impressive for its size and era, but contemporary safety standards and fuel economy concerns temper any enthusiasm for such high-speed performance. Restored examples are valued for their design, engineering, and historical context more than for raw performance today.
Summary
The 1970 Dodge Polara police car could reach roughly 130 mph in its typical 440 Magnum configuration, with a slower peak for the 383 option. Top speed depended heavily on engine choice, rear-axle gearing, and police hardware. Period tests placed most 440-powered Polaras in the 125–135 mph range, while those with smaller engines or less aggressive gearing lagged behind. Today, the Polara’s speed is viewed as part of its historical character—remarkable for its time, but approached with caution and respect for safety and legacy.
What was the fastest police car in the 1970s?
The 70s brought a different game to the police car game because smog laws made everything slower—including police cars. The fastest production police car in 1978 was the Dodge Monaco. This Dodge had a 440 big block too–but it was choked off so much the Monaco could only hit 126 miles per hour.
What is the top speed of the Dodge Polara police car?
The 1969 Polara Pursuit, with its 375 bhp 440, sleek new "fuselage" bodystyle, and standard 3.23 axle, could do 0-60 in 6.3 seconds, the quarter mile in 14.3 seconds (at over 99 mph), and run out to a top speed of (or, by some accounts, above) 147 mph.It took a 25 years, a Corvette engine, and a four-speed transmission ...
How much is a 1970 Dodge Polara worth?
Typically, you can expect to pay around $10,625 for a 1970 Dodge Polara in good condition with average spec.
How much horsepower does a 1970 440 six pack have?
390 hp
Powered by a 440 Magnum Six Pack V8 engine fed by three two-barrel carburetors producing 390 hp and 490 lb-ft of torque through a 4-speed manual transmission with Hurst Pistol Grip.
