1994 Chevrolet Caprice

The Chevrolet Caprice was produced from 1965 through 1996, returning to the North American market in 2011 as a full-size, rear-wheel-drive police vehicle.

The 1994 Chevy Caprice Classic was available as a sedan and station wagon and came in base and LS form. Standard equipment included a 4.3-liter V8 fitted with a sequential fuel injection system, new dual airbags, and a new PASS-KEY II security system. Chevrolet produced a total of 90,026 examples of the Caprice Classic Sedan and 7,719 examples of the station wagon.

The interior of the 1994 Chevrolet Caprice was redesigned with a Camaro steering wheel, a new instrument panel, and a digital speedometer.

1994 was part of the fourth generation of styling, introduced in 1991 and continuing until the vehicle's demise in 1996. The rectilinear design of the previous generation became more rounded and aerodynamic with the B-body Caprice. Motor Trend magazine awarded the Caprice Classic Domestic Car of the Year in 1991. GM had hoped for strong sales and enthusiasm for the Caprice, possibly a return to the top spot as America's favorite automobile, however, its design was not well received by critics and the buying public, often described by automotive journalists as a 'beached whale' or an 'upside-down bathtub.' Chevrolet listened to these critiques and in 1993 applied revisions that included the removal of the unpopular skirted rear wheel wells for more conventional, open-wheel well designs. The station wagons, however, continued to use the skirted rear wheels. Another facelift was introduced in 1995 in the form of a restyled side window between the C pillar and back door, and the station wagon received the same mirrors as the sedan.

Two trim levels were initially offered including the base Caprice and the Caprice Classic, replacing the previous Classic and Brougham trim levels. New optional engines became available in 1994 including the mildly detuned version of the Corvette's LT1 350 CID V8 delivering 260 horsepower and 330 lb-ft of torque. The LT1 was optional in the 9C1 police package, standard in all station wagons, and standard in civilian sedans with the V92 towing package. The V92 Towing Package included a heavy-duty suspension with similar spring rates to the 9C1 police car, V08 heavy-duty cooling with a mechanical fan, a limited-slip differential, heavy-duty rear drum brakes, and 2.93 gears.

Due to poor sales, production of the Caprice ceased in December 1996. Consumer's preferred Chevrolet's mid-size Lumina, and demand had shifted from full-sized family sedans to sport utility vehicles.

Production of 1991 to 1996 Chevy Caprice models was 689,257 units.

by Daniel Vaughan | Jul 2014