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There are no flashing red lights, wailing siren or emblazoned logo saying POLICE. But the 1991 Caprice Classic LTZ is Chevrolet Motor Division’s civilian version of a police car.

Just coming to the Indianapolis automobile market, the LTZ is inspired by the police-equipment package that Chevrolet offers to law enforcement agencies.

More than just a pretty face, the redesigned Caprice in LTZ form embraces engineering changes that enhance handing and durability.

Design features that differ from the regular Caprice Classic include a 3.23-to-1 rear-end gear ratio, rather than the Caprice’s standard 2.56-to-1 ratio (the higher the number, the lower the gear). That gives the LTZ quicker acceleration.

The LTZ has a limited-slip differential that powers both driving wheels, rather than just one wheel, on slippery surfaces. That increases tractive effort.

Heavy-duty rear brakes have been added to resist brake fade. That boosts the “whoa” power.

Massive, speed-rated Goodyear Eagle GT-plus-4 tires put a huge footprint on the ground. That increases vehicle control.

When these engineering features are added to a thicker-gauge heavy-duty frame, a transmission oil cooler, a heavy-duty radiator and standard anti-lock brakes, the car emerges as one of the more spectacular six-passenger sedans on the road.

Motor Trend magazine named the LTZ its 1991 Car of the Year. The magazine dubbed the car “a new benchmark in a high-quality, performance-oriented family sedan.”

In driving the LTZ that Chevrolet’s Nancy Libby provided for a test car, the considerable difference in handling characteristics between this model and a standard Caprice Classic immediately became apparent.

The big wheels and tires made the power-steering effort just a bit heavier. But this contributed to the feel of the wheel. When you threw the car into a fast corner, it acted as if it were nailed to the pavement.

Chevy’s 5.0-liter V-8 has a ton of low-speed torque, so the engine just gets in and digs when you get on the throttle. In normal driving, the ride, while firmer, isn’t sports-car stiff.

The standard Caprice Classic is offered as an upscale, luxury Chevrolet, and the civilian-oriented LTZ retains this concept.

The test car was easy to drive, and the full range of optional comfort and convenience items made it very pleasant.

Being full sized, there was a plethora of front- and rear-seat room. The only complaints were that the doors were little heavy and they swung out so far it was difficult to reach them from the driver’s seat.

Maybe the cost of a full load of factory options was cause to beef a little, but the LTZ is no run-of-the-mill Caprice Classic.

The LTZ is in a class of its own, and it possesses engineering parameters not found in other luxury automobiles.

1991 Chevrolet Caprice LTZ Base price: $18,470As tested: $21,849Type: Front-engine, rear-drive, six-passenger, full-sized sedanEngine: 5.0-liter, 16-valve, 170-horsepower, fuel-injected V-8Mileage: 17 mpg (city), 26 mpg (highway)Acceleration: 0-60 mph in 9.5 secs.Length: 214.1 inchesWheelbase: 115.9 inchesCurb weight: 3, 951 poundsOptions: LTZ equipment package, preferred equipment group, rear defogger, custom paintArea dealers: Blossom, Hubler, Young, McIntire, Wells, Wolf, Estes, Blanck, Bradley, Howdy, Hare, Weliever, Mahoney, Hanna Classic