Ontario cops just pulled over a driver using a vintage police car from the 1980s

One Ontario motorist experienced quite an unconventional traffic stop over the weekend when a long-retired vintage cop car assisted in official police business.

A pickup truck driver pulled over in Wasaga Beach this weekend likely required a double-take after noticing the historic Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) car 7-500, a vintage 1989 V8 Chevrolet Caprice, in its rear-view mirror.

OPP Central Region shared a photo of the unusual traffic stop on social media, writing, "Car 7-500 sealed its weekend off by assisting in a traffic stop in Wasaga Beach, near beach 1. Even in retirement, it's still protecting and serving our community."

#HurWOPP. Car 7-500 sealed its weekend off by assisting in a traffic stop in #WasagaBeach, near beach 1. Even in retirement, it’s still protecting and serving our community. #seatbeltssavelives ^mo pic.twitter.com/B5OqmQlJiD

— OPP Central Region (@OPP_CR) September 15, 2024

The vintage cop car was in town to participate in the Wasaga Beach Blues Festival but managed to squeeze some work into that leisure visit when it assisted in official police matters.

#HurWOPP. Car 7-500 rolls into the #WasagaBeach Blues Festival in true Blues Brothers style! What a fitting end to an incredible weekend. Thanks to the #community for all the waves and smiles! ^mo pic.twitter.com/vijCPfsLlH

— OPP Central Region (@OPP_CR) September 15, 2024

The 35-year-old law enforcement vehicle was photographed around town "patrolling the streets."

#HurWOPP. Car 7-500 is still an epic road warrior, out patrolling the streets of #WasagaBeach and #ClearviewTwp. Making stops at the council offices and keeping our communities safe, one beat at a time. ^mo pic.twitter.com/WxEfom2ChJ

— OPP Central Region (@OPP_CR) September 15, 2024

Car 7-500 was built in June 1989, and marked the final black and white cop car off the production line before the OPP switched to all-white cars with reflective blue and gold stripes (the OPP would later revert to black and white livery in 2007).

To commemorate this change, General Motors of Canada donated car 7-500 to the OPP, for which it has served as a museum piece ever since.

According to the OPP, the Caprice Police Model boasted the fastest 0-100 mph, the fastest road course time, the highest top speed, and the best fuel economy in tests for pursuit-rated cars of the era. 

It may look old, but car 7-500 is equipped to reach blistering top speeds of 200 km/h.

In a window into the changing requirements of law enforcement, car 7-500 does not offer any physical barrier or cage to separate officers in the front from suspects seated in the rear — which was standard for police cars in this era.