Between radar traps and automatic speed enforcement cash-boxes, Toronto motorists have enough to worry about. Apparently defunding the police still left enough in the OPP budget for a 200+ MPH mid-engine supercar. Seems a little overkill to catch speeders, doesn’t it?
Back in the day, Ontario speeders only had this to contend with. OPP Car No. 1 was a 1941 Chevrolet Master Deluxe Coupe. These cars marked the police’s switch from patrolling on motorcycles to cars, and were the first to wear the ‘black and white’ paint. Powered by a 216 cubic inch straight-six, the car made 90 HP and could easily run down a hopped up Model A .
The Chevrolet Caprice with “police package” was standard issue for the OPP and Hollywood car chase scene until 1989. Equipped with upgraded suspension and heavy-duty brakes, the ‘box’ Chevy had the fastest 0-100 mph, fastest road course time and highest top speed at the Michigan State Police tests for pursuit rated cars.
So, what about the OPP’s new Chevrolet Corvette Stingray Z06 highway cruiser making the rounds this week? The mid-engine supercar is powered by a 670 HP, 5.5 L, V8 engine and can sprint from 0-100 km/h in 2.6 seconds, so catching speeders will not be a problem for the black and white bowtie. But don’t worry people. It’s only a show car, on loan from GM, and rapped in police livery to attract attention and hopefully new recruits.
Just check the map of speed cameras, and head out on the highway, people. You can all rest easy knowing the cop car is a fake!
