1989 Chevrolet Caprice in Colorado junkyard – RH rear view – ©2020 Murilee Martin – The Truth About Cars
” data-medium-file=”http://offroadtrucksxtreme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/junkyard-find-1989-chevrolet-caprice-classic-ls-brougham-9.jpg” data-large-file=”http://offroadtrucksxtreme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/junkyard-find-1989-chevrolet-caprice-classic-ls-brougham.jpg” class=”aligncenter size-large wp-image-1725166″ src=”http://offroadtrucksxtreme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/junkyard-find-1989-chevrolet-caprice-classic-ls-brougham.jpg” alt=”1989 Chev1989 Chevrolet Caprice in Colorado junkyard – RH rear view – ©2020 Murilee Martin – The Truth About Carsrolet Caprice in Colorado junkyard – RH front view – ©2020 Murilee Martin – The Truth About Cars” width=”610″ height=”343″ srcset=”http://offroadtrucksxtreme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/junkyard-find-1989-chevrolet-caprice-classic-ls-brougham.jpg 610w, http://offroadtrucksxtreme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/junkyard-find-1989-chevrolet-caprice-classic-ls-brougham-8.jpg 75w, http://offroadtrucksxtreme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/junkyard-find-1989-chevrolet-caprice-classic-ls-brougham-9.jpg 450w, http://offroadtrucksxtreme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/junkyard-find-1989-chevrolet-caprice-classic-ls-brougham-10.jpg 768w, http://offroadtrucksxtreme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/junkyard-find-1989-chevrolet-caprice-classic-ls-brougham-11.jpg 120w, http://offroadtrucksxtreme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/junkyard-find-1989-chevrolet-caprice-classic-ls-brougham-12.jpg 800w” sizes=”(max-width: 610px) 100vw, 610px”>For better than three decades, Chevrolet sold Americans full-sized sedans with angular lines and — in most cases— V8 engines. Beginning in 1959 (or even earlier, depending on how strict you are about the definition of “angular”), a big rear-drive Chevy box sedan was the most mainstream American motor vehicle… and that came to an end in 1990, after which the Caprice got a new cetacean body on the old 1977-vintage chassis.
These late Box Caprices have become very tough to find in junkyards, so I decided to document this picked-over example in Colorado before they’re all gone forever.
<img data-attachment-id="1725188" data-permalink="https://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2020/06/junkyard-find-1989-chevrolet-caprice-classic-ls-brougham/26-1989-chevrolet-caprice-in-colorado-junkyard-photo-by-murilee-martin/" data-orig-file="https://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/26-1989-Chevrolet-Caprice-in-Colorado-junkyard-photo-by-Murilee-Martin.jpg" data-orig-size="3000,1688" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="1989 Chevrolet Caprice in Colorado junkyard – emblem" data-image-description="
1989 Chevrolet Caprice in Colorado junkyard – emblem – ©2020 Murilee Martin – The Truth About Cars
” data-medium-file=”http://offroadtrucksxtreme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/junkyard-find-1989-chevrolet-caprice-classic-ls-brougham-14.jpg” data-large-file=”http://offroadtrucksxtreme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/junkyard-find-1989-chevrolet-caprice-classic-ls-brougham-1.jpg” class=”aligncenter size-large wp-image-1725188″ src=”http://offroadtrucksxtreme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/junkyard-find-1989-chevrolet-caprice-classic-ls-brougham-1.jpg” alt=”1989 Chevrolet Caprice in Colorado junkyard – emblem – ©2020 Murilee Martin – The Truth About Cars” width=”610″ height=”343″ srcset=”http://offroadtrucksxtreme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/junkyard-find-1989-chevrolet-caprice-classic-ls-brougham-1.jpg 610w, http://offroadtrucksxtreme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/junkyard-find-1989-chevrolet-caprice-classic-ls-brougham-13.jpg 75w, http://offroadtrucksxtreme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/junkyard-find-1989-chevrolet-caprice-classic-ls-brougham-14.jpg 450w, http://offroadtrucksxtreme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/junkyard-find-1989-chevrolet-caprice-classic-ls-brougham-15.jpg 768w, http://offroadtrucksxtreme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/junkyard-find-1989-chevrolet-caprice-classic-ls-brougham-16.jpg 120w, http://offroadtrucksxtreme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/junkyard-find-1989-chevrolet-caprice-classic-ls-brougham-17.jpg 800w” sizes=”(max-width: 610px) 100vw, 610px”>The Impala name went away after 1985, not to return for nearly a decade, and the plain Caprice replaced the Impala for 1986. The Caprice Classic was the upscale version, becoming the only Caprice for the 1989 and 1990 model years.
<img data-attachment-id="1725182" data-permalink="https://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2020/06/junkyard-find-1989-chevrolet-caprice-classic-ls-brougham/18-1989-chevrolet-caprice-in-colorado-junkyard-photo-by-murilee-martin/" data-orig-file="https://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/18-1989-Chevrolet-Caprice-in-Colorado-junkyard-photo-by-Murilee-Martin.jpg" data-orig-size="3000,1688" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="1989 Chevrolet Caprice in Colorado junkyard – emblem" data-image-description="
1989 Chevrolet Caprice in Colorado junkyard – emblem – ©2020 Murilee Martin – The Truth About Cars
” data-medium-file=”http://offroadtrucksxtreme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/junkyard-find-1989-chevrolet-caprice-classic-ls-brougham-19.jpg” data-large-file=”http://offroadtrucksxtreme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/junkyard-find-1989-chevrolet-caprice-classic-ls-brougham-2.jpg” class=”aligncenter size-large wp-image-1725182″ src=”http://offroadtrucksxtreme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/junkyard-find-1989-chevrolet-caprice-classic-ls-brougham-2.jpg” alt=”1989 Chevrolet Caprice in Colorado junkyard – emblem – ©2020 Murilee Martin – The Truth About Cars” width=”610″ height=”343″ srcset=”http://offroadtrucksxtreme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/junkyard-find-1989-chevrolet-caprice-classic-ls-brougham-2.jpg 610w, http://offroadtrucksxtreme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/junkyard-find-1989-chevrolet-caprice-classic-ls-brougham-18.jpg 75w, http://offroadtrucksxtreme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/junkyard-find-1989-chevrolet-caprice-classic-ls-brougham-19.jpg 450w, http://offroadtrucksxtreme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/junkyard-find-1989-chevrolet-caprice-classic-ls-brougham-20.jpg 768w, http://offroadtrucksxtreme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/junkyard-find-1989-chevrolet-caprice-classic-ls-brougham-21.jpg 120w, http://offroadtrucksxtreme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/junkyard-find-1989-chevrolet-caprice-classic-ls-brougham-22.jpg 800w” sizes=”(max-width: 610px) 100vw, 610px”>For the final couple of Box Caprice years, the top-of-the-line Caprice Classic was the LS Brougham Sedan. MSRP on this car started at $16,835, or about $35,650 in 2020 dollars. Chrysler wanted $18,345 for a rear-wheel-drive Fifth Avenue sedan that year, and it was smaller and less powerful (though plusher) than the Caprice Classic LS Brougham. The Ford LTD Crown Victoria LX went for $16,767 in 1989 and still had 20 fewer horsepower than the Chevy.
<img data-attachment-id="1725174" data-permalink="https://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2020/06/junkyard-find-1989-chevrolet-caprice-classic-ls-brougham/11-1989-chevrolet-caprice-in-colorado-junkyard-photo-by-murilee-martin/" data-orig-file="https://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/11-1989-Chevrolet-Caprice-in-Colorado-junkyard-photo-by-Murilee-Martin.jpg" data-orig-size="3000,1688" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="1989 Chevrolet Caprice in Colorado junkyard – engine" data-image-description="
1989 Chevrolet Caprice in Colorado junkyard – engine – ©2020 Murilee Martin – The Truth About Cars
” data-medium-file=”http://offroadtrucksxtreme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/junkyard-find-1989-chevrolet-caprice-classic-ls-brougham-24.jpg” data-large-file=”http://offroadtrucksxtreme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/junkyard-find-1989-chevrolet-caprice-classic-ls-brougham-3.jpg” class=”aligncenter size-large wp-image-1725174″ src=”http://offroadtrucksxtreme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/junkyard-find-1989-chevrolet-caprice-classic-ls-brougham-3.jpg” alt=”1989 Chevrolet Caprice in Colorado junkyard – engine – ©2020 Murilee Martin – The Truth About Cars” width=”610″ height=”343″ srcset=”http://offroadtrucksxtreme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/junkyard-find-1989-chevrolet-caprice-classic-ls-brougham-3.jpg 610w, http://offroadtrucksxtreme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/junkyard-find-1989-chevrolet-caprice-classic-ls-brougham-23.jpg 75w, http://offroadtrucksxtreme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/junkyard-find-1989-chevrolet-caprice-classic-ls-brougham-24.jpg 450w, http://offroadtrucksxtreme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/junkyard-find-1989-chevrolet-caprice-classic-ls-brougham-25.jpg 768w, http://offroadtrucksxtreme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/junkyard-find-1989-chevrolet-caprice-classic-ls-brougham-26.jpg 120w, http://offroadtrucksxtreme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/junkyard-find-1989-chevrolet-caprice-classic-ls-brougham-27.jpg 800w” sizes=”(max-width: 610px) 100vw, 610px”>The only engine available in the civilian 1989 Caprice Classic was this fuel-injected 305-cubic-inch (5.0-liter) small-block, rated at 170 horsepower (fleet buyers could still get the 4.3-liter V6). The General had finally gotten around to fixing small-block rear main seal and valve-cover oil leaks a few years earlier, so these engines no longer dripped (as much) on your garage floor.
<img data-attachment-id="1725186" data-permalink="https://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2020/06/junkyard-find-1989-chevrolet-caprice-classic-ls-brougham/23-1989-chevrolet-caprice-in-colorado-junkyard-photo-by-murilee-martin/" data-orig-file="https://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/23-1989-Chevrolet-Caprice-in-Colorado-junkyard-photo-by-Murilee-Martin.jpg" data-orig-size="3000,1688" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="1989 Chevrolet Caprice in Colorado junkyard – padded roof" data-image-description="
1989 Chevrolet Caprice in Colorado junkyard – padded roof – ©2020 Murilee Martin – The Truth About Cars
” data-medium-file=”http://offroadtrucksxtreme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/junkyard-find-1989-chevrolet-caprice-classic-ls-brougham-29.jpg” data-large-file=”http://offroadtrucksxtreme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/junkyard-find-1989-chevrolet-caprice-classic-ls-brougham-4.jpg” class=”aligncenter size-large wp-image-1725186″ src=”http://offroadtrucksxtreme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/junkyard-find-1989-chevrolet-caprice-classic-ls-brougham-4.jpg” alt=”1989 Chevrolet Caprice in Colorado junkyard – padded roof – ©2020 Murilee Martin – The Truth About Cars” width=”610″ height=”343″ srcset=”http://offroadtrucksxtreme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/junkyard-find-1989-chevrolet-caprice-classic-ls-brougham-4.jpg 610w, http://offroadtrucksxtreme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/junkyard-find-1989-chevrolet-caprice-classic-ls-brougham-28.jpg 75w, http://offroadtrucksxtreme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/junkyard-find-1989-chevrolet-caprice-classic-ls-brougham-29.jpg 450w, http://offroadtrucksxtreme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/junkyard-find-1989-chevrolet-caprice-classic-ls-brougham-30.jpg 768w, http://offroadtrucksxtreme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/junkyard-find-1989-chevrolet-caprice-classic-ls-brougham-31.jpg 120w, http://offroadtrucksxtreme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/junkyard-find-1989-chevrolet-caprice-classic-ls-brougham-32.jpg 800w” sizes=”(max-width: 610px) 100vw, 610px”>The Brougham LS came with this padded “landau-style rear roof treatment” as standard equipment. This one hasn’t peeled quite as much as most vinyl car roofs do in Colorado.
<img data-attachment-id="1725184" data-permalink="https://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2020/06/junkyard-find-1989-chevrolet-caprice-classic-ls-brougham/19-1989-chevrolet-caprice-in-colorado-junkyard-photo-by-murilee-martin/" data-orig-file="https://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/19-1989-Chevrolet-Caprice-in-Colorado-junkyard-photo-by-Murilee-Martin.jpg" data-orig-size="3000,1688" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="1989 Chevrolet Caprice in Colorado junkyard – interior" data-image-description="
1989 Chevrolet Caprice in Colorado junkyard – interior – ©2020 Murilee Martin – The Truth About Cars
” data-medium-file=”http://offroadtrucksxtreme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/junkyard-find-1989-chevrolet-caprice-classic-ls-brougham-34.jpg” data-large-file=”http://offroadtrucksxtreme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/junkyard-find-1989-chevrolet-caprice-classic-ls-brougham-5.jpg” class=”aligncenter size-large wp-image-1725184″ src=”http://offroadtrucksxtreme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/junkyard-find-1989-chevrolet-caprice-classic-ls-brougham-5.jpg” alt=”1989 Chevrolet Caprice in Colorado junkyard – interior – ©2020 Murilee Martin – The Truth About Cars” width=”610″ height=”343″ srcset=”http://offroadtrucksxtreme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/junkyard-find-1989-chevrolet-caprice-classic-ls-brougham-5.jpg 610w, http://offroadtrucksxtreme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/junkyard-find-1989-chevrolet-caprice-classic-ls-brougham-33.jpg 75w, http://offroadtrucksxtreme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/junkyard-find-1989-chevrolet-caprice-classic-ls-brougham-34.jpg 450w, http://offroadtrucksxtreme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/junkyard-find-1989-chevrolet-caprice-classic-ls-brougham-35.jpg 768w, http://offroadtrucksxtreme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/junkyard-find-1989-chevrolet-caprice-classic-ls-brougham-36.jpg 120w, http://offroadtrucksxtreme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/junkyard-find-1989-chevrolet-caprice-classic-ls-brougham-37.jpg 800w” sizes=”(max-width: 610px) 100vw, 610px”>Inside, the optional leather interior.
<img data-attachment-id="1725176" data-permalink="https://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2020/06/junkyard-find-1989-chevrolet-caprice-classic-ls-brougham/12-1989-chevrolet-caprice-in-colorado-junkyard-photo-by-murilee-martin/" data-orig-file="https://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/12-1989-Chevrolet-Caprice-in-Colorado-junkyard-photo-by-Murilee-Martin.jpg" data-orig-size="3000,1688" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="1989 Chevrolet Caprice in Colorado junkyard – LH front view" data-image-description="
1989 Chevrolet Caprice in Colorado junkyard – LH front view – ©2020 Murilee Martin – The Truth About Cars
” data-medium-file=”http://offroadtrucksxtreme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/junkyard-find-1989-chevrolet-caprice-classic-ls-brougham-39.jpg” data-large-file=”http://offroadtrucksxtreme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/junkyard-find-1989-chevrolet-caprice-classic-ls-brougham-6.jpg” class=”aligncenter size-large wp-image-1725176″ src=”http://offroadtrucksxtreme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/junkyard-find-1989-chevrolet-caprice-classic-ls-brougham-6.jpg” alt=”1989 Chevrolet Caprice in Colorado junkyard – LH front view – ©2020 Murilee Martin – The Truth About Cars” width=”610″ height=”343″ srcset=”http://offroadtrucksxtreme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/junkyard-find-1989-chevrolet-caprice-classic-ls-brougham-6.jpg 610w, http://offroadtrucksxtreme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/junkyard-find-1989-chevrolet-caprice-classic-ls-brougham-38.jpg 75w, http://offroadtrucksxtreme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/junkyard-find-1989-chevrolet-caprice-classic-ls-brougham-39.jpg 450w, http://offroadtrucksxtreme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/junkyard-find-1989-chevrolet-caprice-classic-ls-brougham-40.jpg 768w, http://offroadtrucksxtreme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/junkyard-find-1989-chevrolet-caprice-classic-ls-brougham-41.jpg 120w, http://offroadtrucksxtreme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/junkyard-find-1989-chevrolet-caprice-classic-ls-brougham-42.jpg 800w” sizes=”(max-width: 610px) 100vw, 610px”>A junkyard shopper grabbed much of the front and front-left bodywork, which indicates that there’s at least one Caprice Classic getting fixed up near Colorado Springs.
<img data-attachment-id="1725168" data-permalink="https://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2020/06/junkyard-find-1989-chevrolet-caprice-classic-ls-brougham/04-1989-chevrolet-caprice-in-colorado-junkyard-photo-by-murilee-martin/" data-orig-file="https://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/04-1989-Chevrolet-Caprice-in-Colorado-junkyard-photo-by-Murilee-Martin.jpg" data-orig-size="3000,1688" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="04 – 1989 Chevrolet Caprice in Colorado junkyard – photo by Murilee Martin" data-image-description="
1989 Chevrolet Caprice in Colorado junkyard – air freshener – ©2020 Murilee Martin – The Truth About Cars
” data-medium-file=”http://offroadtrucksxtreme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/junkyard-find-1989-chevrolet-caprice-classic-ls-brougham-44.jpg” data-large-file=”http://offroadtrucksxtreme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/junkyard-find-1989-chevrolet-caprice-classic-ls-brougham-7.jpg” class=”aligncenter size-large wp-image-1725168″ src=”http://offroadtrucksxtreme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/junkyard-find-1989-chevrolet-caprice-classic-ls-brougham-7.jpg” alt=”1989 Chevrolet Caprice in Colorado junkyard – air freshener – ©2020 Murilee Martin – The Truth About Cars” width=”610″ height=”343″ srcset=”http://offroadtrucksxtreme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/junkyard-find-1989-chevrolet-caprice-classic-ls-brougham-7.jpg 610w, http://offroadtrucksxtreme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/junkyard-find-1989-chevrolet-caprice-classic-ls-brougham-43.jpg 75w, http://offroadtrucksxtreme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/junkyard-find-1989-chevrolet-caprice-classic-ls-brougham-44.jpg 450w, http://offroadtrucksxtreme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/junkyard-find-1989-chevrolet-caprice-classic-ls-brougham-45.jpg 768w, http://offroadtrucksxtreme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/junkyard-find-1989-chevrolet-caprice-classic-ls-brougham-46.jpg 120w, http://offroadtrucksxtreme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/junkyard-find-1989-chevrolet-caprice-classic-ls-brougham-47.jpg 800w” sizes=”(max-width: 610px) 100vw, 610px”>Perhaps because the factory leather upholstery no longer smelled sufficiently leathery, this Caprice Classic’s final owner added a Leather Car-Freshner Little Tree.
If you want a full-size classic design, that lets out Eagle Premier!
For links to more than 2,000 additional Junkyard Finds, check out the Junkyard Home of the Murilee Martin Lifestyle Brand™.