Revving Up Nostalgia: The Breathtaking Roar of the 1959 Chevrolet Biscayne Duntov V8 Patrol Car

1959 Chevrolet Biscayne Duntov V8 Patrol Car Start Up, Beautiful Sound

This dark blue Chevrolet Biscayne was indeed a patrol car, one of forty like it.

It’s a bare-bones setup, with rubber floor mats, the most low-buck interior offerings that Chevrolet had, a three-on-the-tree, and an upgraded suspension. No different that most Chevrolet units that went out of the door that year. But this Biscayne has more in common with a Yenko Camaro than it does a 1959 Impala.

Why do we say that? Because this is one of forty Biscayne patrol cars that were massaged by Chevrolet engineer, Corvette legend and performance wizard Zora Arkus-Duntov.

Using standard-fare hot-rodding tricks like 11.0:1 pistons, solid lifters and one of his own specially-designed camshafts, he was able to punch the 348ci V8 up to 305 horsepower, fifty more than the standard 348.

Not only was it a hot patrol car, but you could consider the Biscayne “Duntov” a legit muscle car. When Motor Trend tested on in 1958, they compared it to the Ferrari 250GT…sure, the Ferrari accelerated faster, but the Chevrolet had the top end the Ferrari just didn’t have.

In an era of chrome and flash, the Biscayne looks understated and absolutely sinister…just the way we like them. And the noise of that Duntov-tweaked W-motor at idle is delicious. Crank the speakers and take it in!