10k: 12-Sec Sleeper: 1986 Chevrolet Caprice Brougham
From the seller: “IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE MORE FUN THAN HAVING YOUR FRIENDS IN THE CAR WITH YOU AND SEEING THE FACE OF THE GUY IN THE CORVETTE, CAMARO, & MUSTANG DRIVERS (sic) YOU PASS BY ??” No, I’m pretty sure a 560-horsepower Grandpa mobile is the peak of fun no matter who you are. Find all-motor enjoyment in this 1986 Chevrolet Caprice Brougham sleeper for $9,989 in Madison, WI. Words by DT contributor slowcarSLOW-MPGlol.
For when you really need to get to bingo, this is your whip. A 383 stroker based on an SBC 350 replaces the 140-horsepower 4.3-liter V-6 or the 165-horsepower 5.0-liter V8. The build looks fantastically clean and includes a high-performance radiator, even though the 383 isn’t known to overheat like some 400s are. It even has a column-shifted automatic so you can fumble with your post-cataract surgery sunglasses without being interrupted by a pesky redline.
The Brougham package includes illuminated door sills, a vinyl roof, and other touches within the blue cloth interior. There’s just the right amount of chrome. Really, everything works together to absolutely nail the Driving Miss Daisy look, right down to the wire wheels and tires that look better suited for wintering in Naples than trapping 114 in the quarter mile.
We’re not sure what dealer would pick up something like this, or what precedent they would use for pricing it. Where’s the 12-second Caprice category in NADA? $10,000 seems fair for an unnecessary amount of power in a spotless, AARP-approved package. Whoever buys this better keep the stock charade going, although they’re forgiven if they slap on a Reagan-Bush ’84 sticker.
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slowcarSLOW-MPGlol knows how many licks it takes to reach the center
of a Tootsie Pop, and he’s not telling. As someone with a B+ blood type,
he considers himself an optimist. Unless it has structural rust.
Totally cool sleeper right here, my dad had many of these as company cars and it was hilarious to race the town fools in their beat up Camaro and win with even the stock V8. I cant imagine how insane this would be on the road playing around with unsuspecting sportscar pilots.
It reminds me of the cars Roadkill guys build
Not typically my thing, but this presses all the right buttons. Not sure I'd want to fork out $10K for it, but it is pretty sweet!
"pushes all the buttons" is ***exactly*** the phrase that popped into my head when i saw this, and i almost never use that phrase – that can't be a coincidence – anyone else get that vibe?
Love this. Not for $10k, but it sure looks tip top. And with A/C to boot.
seeing as it's an 86, technically you'd have to go with the Bush-Quayle, amiright? now we are ready for any unforeseen event that may or may not occur, because if we don't succeed we run the risk of failure
Not gonna do it. Read my lips, a thousand points of light…ad nauseam.
Bush didn't run until 88, that's still a Reagan wagon.
I don't buy the 12 second claims nor the 560 horsepower claims. So I won't be buying the car. If they'd have said high 13 second quarters, then maybe.
Agreed. There's no description of *how* they achieved these 12 sec passes. A posi rear end and fatter tires I assume, but you'd think if it had either they would mention it.
Timeslips & pictures of rear suspension/drag tires please.
Still doesn't take away from the fact that it's a gorgeous looking car, though
I was wary of that too. "IT PRODUCES ABOUT 560 HORSEPOWER" … 400 of which is useless with those tires.
I doubt the 4L60 trans could hold 560 horsepower – I doubly doubt the rear tires pictured on that car can propel it to low 12 quarters. I speak from experience.
I'm local to this car and I've seen it for sale on CL for at least a year. For about the same price. Neat Caprice, I have a soft spot for the wagons (family car of my youth).
It seems like wider steelies and tires with those wire covers would still easily mask the sleeper that it is. I'd maybe ask $8k, but you really can't put a price on a sleeper like that. Dyno and time slips should indeed confirm what it has/does, and how. Frankly the car itself is in such good shape in it's own right that I'd be looking at it in the street based off cleanliness alone. It hasn't rusted half to death, and isn't a donk– those attributes alone are enough for me to give props.
"about" in regards to HP, makes me think it has only been tested on the ol' butt dyno. Under the hood, I don't see enough to make me believe 560 HP… Love the car though.
I am amazed at some peoples ability to rate horsepower from a keyboard. No matter how close I have a seller hold the phone to the car I can't seem to master it.
I do like this but since I'm in the Skokeys and this things in Wisconsin and priced about $2,000-$3,000 more than I would likely pay I will stick to my late model P71 crown Vic. It has an unknown but sastisfactory amount of horsepower thanks to a few mods, sounds meaner than it is , blows cold AC and people still move out of your way in traffic.