American Police Are Actually Driving These 13 Supercars

By Chris Lange Updated Nov 16, 2:57PM EST · Published Nov 16, 12:33PM EST

Follow 24/7 Wall St. on Google

This post may contain links from our sponsors and affiliates, and Flywheel Publishing may receive compensation for actions taken through them.

American Police Are Actually Driving These 13 Supercars — © frankysze / iStock via Getty Images

Police vehicles tend to value functionality over form as law enforcement officers need to accomplish various tasks but are not too concerned how they look doing it. This goal-oriented approach has led to a standardization of vehicles across police departments that allows for optimal functionality. However, there are some police vehicles that exist purely to be flashy.

To identify the most rare and expensive police cars in America, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed various state, media, and police sources. We included vehicle specifications, including horsepower, model year, and top speed. Vehicles alphabetically. We also included notable police departments that own the vehicle.

Starting this unusual roster is the Lamborghini Gallardo, a vehicle typically associated with the ultra-wealthy. The Los Angeles Police Department added this Italian sports car to its fleet, not for pursuits but as a public relations tool to enhance youth engagement. With a top speed of roughly 200 mph, this Lambo truly stands out. (Also see, the most outrageous car collections in the world.)

Most of the vehicles on this list are similar to the aforementioned Lamborghini in that they are not truly in the service of the police departments for the purpose of pursuits or traffic stops. Instead, most are used for public relations or have been charitable donations from a wealthy benefactor. However, this is not true of all cars on the list.

Harris County, home to Houston, Texas, recently adopted a series of Chevrolet Camaros called ”ghost cars” to be used in traffic stops and pursuits. These cars are equipped with police graphics and special lights, but noticeably there are no telltale top emergency lights or reflective graphics, which make them difficult to spot in passing. These Camaros also have a top speed of over 160 mph.

One of the rarest cars on this list is the Ford Mustang Saleen S302, which was donated to the Riverside Police Department of California in 2017. This car is not only rare among police departments but rare overall – only about 350 are built each year. With a whopping 730 horsepower, this is easily one of the most powerful cars in any police fleet in the country.

Although many of the vehicles have enough horsepower and speed to run down most other cars on the road today, most departments use them for public relations. Another noteworthy aspect is that practically all of the cars on this list were built within the last decade, and there are no real classic cars on this list. And speaking of classic cars, this is the world’s greatest classic car.

Here is a look at the rarest and most expensive police cars in the United States.

Chevrolet Camaro
> Used by: Harris County, Texas, Sheriff’s Office
> Model year: 2021
> Top speed: 165 mph
> Horsepower: 650

[in-text-ad]

Dodge Challenger R/T
> Used by: Arizona State Troopers
> Model year: 2016
> Top speed: 153 mph
> Horsepower: 305

[recirclink id=1245064]

Chevrolet C6 Corvette Z06
> Used by: New Braunfels, Texas, Police Department
> Model year: 2007
> Top speed: 198 mph
> Horsepower: 505

Chevrolet Corvette Z06 (C7) by More Cars

Chevrolet Corvette Z06 (C7) (CC BY 2.0) by More Cars

Chevrolet C7 Corvette Z06
> Used by: Escambia County, Florida, Sheriff’s Office
> Model year: 2015
> Top speed: 205 mph
> Horsepower: 650

[in-text-ad-2]

Lamborghini Gallardo
> Used by: Los Angeles Police Department
> Model year: 2014
> Top speed: 198 mph
> Horsepower: 562

BMW i3
> Used by: Los Angeles Police Department
> Model year: 2015
> Top speed: 77 mph
> Horsepower: 170

[in-text-ad]

Jaguar XJ
> Used by: Hazel Park, Michigan, Police Department
> Model year: 2011
> Top speed: 182 mph
> Horsepower: 385

[recirclink id=1244184]

Tesla Model S
> Used by: Fremont, California, Police Department
> Model year: 2019
> Top speed: 155 mph
> Horsepower: 518

Tesla Model 3
> Used by: Dallas County Sheriff’s Department
> Model year: 2022
> Top speed: 162 mph
> Horsepower: 455

[in-text-ad-2]

2017 Ford Mustang GT (CC BY-SA 2.0) by Hugh Llewelyn

Ford Mustang GT
> Used by: Arizona State Troopers
> Model year: 2016
> Top speed: 155 mph
> Horsepower: 435

Ford Mustang Mach-E GT
> Used by: New York Police Department
> Model year: 2022
> Top speed: 120 mph
> Horsepower: 480

[in-text-ad]

Ford Mustang Saleen S302
> Used by: Riverside, California, Police Department
> Model year: 2017
> Top speed: 268 mph
> Horsepower: 730

[recirclink id=1264780]

Ferrari Nero F8 Tributo
> Used by: West Bloomfield, Michigan, Police Department
> Model year: 2022
> Top speed: 211 mph
> Horsepower: 711

About the Author Chris Lange →

Chris Lange is a writer for 24/7 Wall St., based in Houston. He has covered financial markets over the past decade with an emphasis on healthcare, tech, and IPOs. During this time, he has published thousands of articles with insightful analysis across these complex fields. Currently, Lange's focus is on military and geopolitical topics.

Lange's work has been quoted or mentioned in Forbes, The New York Times, Business Insider, USA Today, MSN, Yahoo, The Verge, Vice, The Intelligencer, Quartz, Nasdaq, The Motley Fool, Fox Business, International Business Times, The Street, Seeking Alpha, Barron’s, Benzinga, and many other major publications.

A graduate of Southwestern University in Georgetown, Texas, Lange majored in business with a particular focus on investments. He has previous experience in the banking industry and startups.