I used to hit the TX state police auctions pretty often. I really liked the 9C1 Caprice basically the car the 1994-1996 Impala was based on. A little bit Cadillac, a little bit Camaro. Iron block and heads version of the LT1 improved reliability/durability. Could take speed bumps at 70 mph without flinching and was a phenomenal highway car especially for TX. Highway Patrol (DPS) cars are issued to specific troopers and not whored out to the whole department on a 24 hour rotation, so they are generally much better looked after.

Anyway I happened to hit one auction that was unique. Before, they put a really crappy paint job on to cover up the black and white paint scheme. After, they cheaped out and just spray painted white squigglies all over the car. I picked up a nice 1995 still black and white 9C1 for $2600.

Rocketing between Houston and Austin at over 100 mph, cars would move over to let me pass. Cops on the other side heading the other way would wave instead of pulling me over. On the rare occasion I did get pulled over, the registration showed previous owner as DPS since I bought directly from them myself. So I always got off with a warning.

Man I miss that car. They quit making them so they could make more SUVs…

Also the DPS Mustangs were stick shift so of course I grabbed one of those too!