[Canuck]

My Home town of St .Johns Newfoundland was on a financial squeeze in the early 70's and decided to replace the police cars one by one rather than a fleet purchase. The last "poloce spec" units were 1970 Fords and by 1973 they were worn or rusted out. The city started purchasing whatever the Chev dealer had in stock in 4 door Chevs. Biscaye, Bel Air and probably the odd Impala. They were put on the road as they were with a light and police radio. Cars were typically 350 TH350 and no HD suspension, full wheel covers,whitewalls some with vinyl tops, Paint varied from Beige to Green.Interiors were whatever was on a Bel Air or Biscayne. The cars barely lasted a year, spindles would break, springs, suspension bushings failed. 50,000 miles and they were done. The city relized by going cheap cost them twice as much. By 1977 they were rollng on Police Spec Crown Victorias. Lesson Learned.
When the Nova was conceived as a police car it benefitted by being the smallers 4 door with a host of bigger car parts that just bolted on. keep in mind the fastest regular production cars of the era were a Mercedes 450SEL 6.9 4 door and the Dodge Monaco police cruiser with a 440.