It would be nice to find one with the A38 option, but it's probably easier to find a '77 or '78 Fury/Monaco retired police car.
Let’s See Some Pictures of those 1975-1979 B Bodies
- Thread starter RR Fan Dan
- Start date
With a hint of Monte Carlo
What is the A38 option? Heavy duty suspension and 400HP?
It should be all of the normal police goodies and I would expect the car to have a 440-4V engine and appropriate trans & rear.
I haven't seen any.
A tidbit from the vehicle description notes it as an "option package" is erroneous, since this was in fact the last actual model year for the Road Runner.
Was A38 the option code for all Mopar police package cars regardless of year make and model?
Yes, but I don't know when they started the A38 option code, but I'm thinking late 1960's. I don't have my cop car book handy right now.
Vaanth
Well-Known Member
The “A38” police package designation began in 1971 for all Chrysler police models, but Chrysler Corporation first introduced their police package cars with the 1956 Dodge. Plymouth entered the police market in 1957. The police models were denoted in the VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) through 1965 with a “9” as the second digit although the “9” could also denote other special packages. In 1966, Chrysler changed the VIN system. From 1966 through 1977 police models were denoted by a "K" as the second digit of the VIN. The vehicles built as police models with the “9” or “K” digit were defined by Chrysler as police vehicles and met the established industry standards for police models. Police models were built with a low level trim.
In 1971, to meet the market for more upscale trim levels, Chrysler introduced the police package code, “ A38”. The A38 code could be ordered on several models without the “K” police designator to start with a more upscale trim level and to access additional options. The A38 code ordered on an available model would provide the police package capability to a non-"K" code vehicle. Thus, a non-”K” code vehicle with the A38 option is a police package model, not a police model. Most police models (K) from 1971 through 1977 also carried the A38 code. The A38 code can be found on vehicles so equipped on the fender tag and broadcast sheet.
After 1977, K-code vehicles were no longer produced. All police vehicles were now A38 police package vehicles. All 1978 and later police vehicles contained no VIN encoding to denote a police model. The distinction between an A-38 and "K" is generally small. The A-38 package cars had access to more trim options. The police mechanicals were the same in both cases.
In 1982, A38 K-body cars, Dodge Aries and Plymouth Reliant, were made available. These were not as substantial police packages as the older A38 models and the then current A38 M-body rear wheel drive models.
In 1984, Chrysler instituted another new VIN and package coding system. The A38 police package code was also changed to AHB. 1984 and later police package models carry the AHB code on the fender tag and broadcast sheet. The AHB car VIN contains no encoding to denote a police model.
The police models and police package models contained several options (fleet, heavy duty, etc.) as part of the package. The AHB M-bodies, Dodge Diplomat and Plymouth Gran Fury (Caravelle in Canada), were discontinued after 1989 with the demise of the rear wheel drive M-body platform. Chrysler continued various police package vehicles including the Jeep Cherokee and the current Dodge Charger.
Although A38 and other package codes indicated Chrysler specific purpose built vehicles intended for police use, cars could be ordered and used with other fleet and non-fleet options by police agencies.
Police Coding Summary, 1956 - 1989
| Years Used | Coding Detail |
| 1956-1965 | Second VIN digit is '9' for police models. |
| 1966-1977 | Second VIN digit is "K" for police models. |
| 1971-1977 | A38 option code denotes police package. |
| 1978-1983 | A38 option code denotes police package. No VIN encoding. |
| 1984-1989 | AHB option code denotes police package. No VIN encoding. |
The following image shows my two A38 police cars. The 1977 Fury is a K-code (RK41...).
Last edited:
What were they called in the 60s. The
Road Belvedere ?
Roadrunners, cause that was how they were born. They then started to identify as satellites and then eventually fury’s.
Similar threads
- Locked
