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History / OriginalityGot a question about 1982-1992 Camaro or Firebird history? Have a question about original parts, options, RPO codes, when something was available, or how to document your car? Those questions, answers, and much more!
I have locally seen third gens, LT1 4th gens, and LS1 4th gens, all with the B4C police package, and I have seen atleast 5 of them in person that had 4 point roll bars in them. Bolt in, and in 2 different styles. What's the real story? We're these actually factory installed? I bought one years ago out of a wrecked and rusty 92 B4C car and I always wondered if it was a genuine GM part or if it was built by a conversion company or what. I have seen pics of them all over the country with both styles of roll bars, and I just want to know what everybody knows about them.
What you likely saw were cars that were either modified by post-service owners or cars that were setup for drivers training for government agencies. Those cars were often fitted with roll bars, and not all were police. There were some other posts about the US Department Treasury having had some (secret service fell under treasury until creation of DHS post-9/11). Those may have been service cars or advanced driver training cars. If you're seeing consistencies, its possible one supplier did conversions for local police forces.
I wonder if it was possibly a west coast thing? I have a hard time believing they were post service installed being as they all look the same and have that factory look to them. I wonder if they were done by some sort of a coach builder for the west coast for persuit cars.
I would imagine there's an entire aftermarket we civilians are not privy to. One which manufactures the chemically impervious polymer rear seats, light bars, sirens, radar, laser, gaydar, Dunkin' Donuts Proximity Alert systems, Cow Catchers, and so on... Similarity could simply be that it was a catalog item from general supplier.
This is the style I'm talking about, I bought one out of a wrecked B4C, I see this car has the exact same one, and when I was working in LA in 2009 there was a group of F body guys auto crossing third gens and 2 of them had B4C's with this exact same bar, then the most recent one I saw was at a les Schwall one of the guys that worked there had one. All of them had the plastics cut the same, with a little piece of trim over the edges. I would have to think if they weren't factory they would have had to have been all done by a coach builder of some kind.
I'm just guessing what some of those antennas might be for... The last cruiser I saw had so many antennas, it looked like the mother ship from Close Encounters.
I'd assume if the bars weren't built in-house custom for each LEA, they were probably an aftermarket accessory from a specialty dealer... Can't see GM bothering.
that is my 1992 CHP Camaro leading the pack in that video! the roll bar was installed after the car was delivered to the CHP - not factory installed. the car now has 33000 miles on it and it is basically a garage queen, seen only at local shows every once in a while.
