The
Ford Crown Victoria is a rear-wheel drive full-size car first produced by the
Ford Motor CompanyThe Ford Motor Company is an American multinational corporation based in Dearborn, Michigan, a suburb of Detroit. The automaker was founded by Henry Ford and incorporated on June 16, 1903. In addition to the Ford, Lincoln, and Mercury brands, Ford also owns Volvo Cars of Sweden, and a small stake...
for the North American market in the mid-1950s. Its current incarnation has been in production since 1992 at Ford's
St. Thomas AssemblySt. Thomas Assembly is an automobile plant in Talbotville, Ontario, located near St. Thomas, Ontario. The facility, encompassing opened in 1967 building the Ford Falcon.It currently produces cars on the Panther platform, such as:...
plant.
The Crown Victoria, and its Mercury and Lincoln stablemates, are the only full-frame rear-wheel-drive passenger cars built in North America. Beginning with the 2008 model year, it has been available only for fleet sales, mainly in police and taxi form, but also for rental car companies.
The Crown Victoria was replaced as Ford's flagship with the introduction of the 2005
Ford Five HundredThe Ford Five Hundred is a full-size sedan that was produced by the Ford Motor Company during the 2005 to 2007 model years in North America. In North America, the name evoked the classic Fairlane 500 and Galaxie 500 models of the 1950s through 1970s.The Five Hundred was introduced at the 2004...
. However, the 5,424 Crown Victorias sold in January 2007 far exceeded the 3,526 of the newer Five Hundred (rebranded as the Taurus in 2008) which was a more technically advanced full-size car with similar passenger space and better fuel economy. But while newer front-wheel drive platforms may have been popular among consumers, they have not challenged the Crown Victoria's dominance as a
taxi cabA taxicab, also taxi or cab, is a type of vehicle for hire, with a driver, for a single passenger, or small group of passengers, typically for a non-shared ride. A taxicab conveys passengers between locations of their choice...
, fleet vehicle and
police carA police car is the description for a vehicle used by police, to assist with their duties in patrolling and responding to incidents. Typical uses of a police car include transportation for officers to reach the scene of an incident quickly, to transport criminal suspects, or to patrol an area,...
where durability, cost and performance rather than efficiency are top requirements. The
"Crown Vic" remains popular for these applications due to its conventional rear-wheel drive, V8 power, popular with police driving techniques. As one of the few remaining passenger cars with
body-on-frameBody-on-frame is an automobile construction technology. Mounting a separate body to a rigid frame which supports the drivetrain was the original method of building automobiles, and its use continues to this day...
construction, it is rugged, and enables repairs after minor accidents without the need to straighten the
chassisA chassis consists of a framework that supports an inanimate object, analogous to an animal's skeleton, for example in a motor vehicle or a firearm.- Examples of use :...
– an important benefit for a car frequently used by police forces for
PIT maneuverThe PIT maneuver is a method by which one car pursuing another can force the pursued vehicle to abruptly turn sideways to the direction of travel, causing the driver to lose control and stop. The acronym "PIT" has a number of different meanings, depending on the agency using it or school teaching...
s: ramming a car to spin it out. The Crown Victoria is one of the few surviving US vehicles still in production with features such as the column-mounted
gear shiftThe gear shift is the part of the gearbox which has the shift forks and allows the contact from the driver to the synchronization. Most of the time they are so much like the gear counter plus the reverse gear. And they make it possible to choose the gear and to switch this in or out...
and a two-bench, six-passenger seating layout, which has otherwise largely been replaced by the two front-bucket layout popularized by imports.
Retail sales dwindled to just 3,000 in 2006, compared to 38,280 of its stablemate
Mercury Grand MarquisThe Mercury Grand Marquis is a full-size rear-wheel drive sedan sold by the Mercury division of the Ford Motor Company. It is essentially Mercury's version of the Ford Crown Victoria with which it shares its Panther platform along with the Lincoln Town Car. All three vehicles are presently...
in the first nine months of 2007. Following its withdrawal from Canadian retail dealers, the Crown Victoria has been limited in the US market since the 2008 model year to fleet sales, which constituted 95% of its total sales in recent years. The
Mercury Grand MarquisThe Mercury Grand Marquis is a full-size rear-wheel drive sedan sold by the Mercury division of the Ford Motor Company. It is essentially Mercury's version of the Ford Crown Victoria with which it shares its Panther platform along with the Lincoln Town Car. All three vehicles are presently...
, as well as the platform-sharing
Lincoln Town CarThe Lincoln Town Car is a full-size, rear-wheel drive luxury sedan sold by Ford's upscale Lincoln brand. The Town Car features a V8 engine and large exterior and interior dimensions....
, will continue to be available to retail consumers. A longer wheelbase version is available for taxi use.
While the Crown Victoria shares its platform and components with the
Lincoln Town CarThe Lincoln Town Car is a full-size, rear-wheel drive luxury sedan sold by Ford's upscale Lincoln brand. The Town Car features a V8 engine and large exterior and interior dimensions....
, it shares almost no exterior sheet metal or interior parts. The current model has had a number of upgrades. Since the exit of General Motors from rear-drive full-size cars with the
Chevrolet CapriceThe Chevrolet Caprice and Caprice Classic were full-sized automobiles produced by General Motors in the United States and Canada from 1965 through 1996 model years and in Mexico from 1977 through 1983....
, it held a near-monopoly as a pursuit vehicle in North America, despite front-wheel-drive offerings such as the
Chevrolet ImpalaThe Chevrolet Impala is a full-size automobile built by the Chevrolet division of General Motors. One of America's most successful nameplates, the early Impala became the best-selling automobile when full-sized cars dominated sales, though the name was eventually revived in 2000 for a full-size...
. However, the
Dodge ChargerThe Dodge Charger is an American automobile manufactured by Chrysler, under the Dodge brand name. There have been several different Dodge vehicles, on three different platforms, bearing the Charger nameplate. The name is generally associated with a performance model in the Dodge range; however, it...
has started to challenge this dominance with some significant adoptions among police and taxi fleets since its introduction. While there has been speculation of replacements, some based on the slightly smaller Australian Falcon, no firm plans have been announced by Ford; however the similar Grand Marquis has since been replaced by the Ford Taurus as the sole full-size offering in Canada.
1955–1956
- See also 1955 Ford
The Ford line of cars gained a new body for 1955 to keep up with surging Chevrolet, although it remained similar to the 1952 Ford underneath...
The first
"Crown Victoria" appeared in 1955; it was a 2-door 6-seater
coupeA coupé or coupe is a closed car body style, the precise definition of which varies from manufacturer to manufacturer, and over time...
, part of the
Ford Fairlane- Automobiles :* Ford Fairlane , a mid-size car manufactured by the Ford Motor Company of Australia between 1967 to 2008...
range, that differed from the regular Victoria model (named after a type of
carriageA carriage is a wheeled vehicle for people, usually horse-drawn; litters and sedan chairs are excluded, these being litters or wheelless vehicles. The carriage is especially designed for private passenger use and for comfort or elegance, though some are also used to transport goods. It may be...
) by having a stainless steel band that 'crowned' the roofline, passing right over the car, as an extension of the B-pillar line. The model was produced in 1955 and 1956.
One version called
Ford Crown Victoria SkylinerFord's 1954 Victoria Skyliner was replaced in 1955 by the Crown Victoria Skyliner, based on the new 1955 Ford design. It shared the flashy chrome "basket handle" which stretched the B-pillar across the roof of the 1955 Crown Victoria model but added a smoked acrylic glass window over the front...
had the front part of the roof, in front of the steel band, in
acrylic glassPoly poly is a transparent thermoplastic. Chemically, it is the synthetic polymer of methyl methacrylate...
. This made the car difficult to sell, especially in the southern states in USA. Thus few Skyliners were made. Most of them ended up in Sweden, possibly because the climate was more suitable for an acrylic glass roof.
1979–1980
Downsized two years after its main rival, the
Chevrolet ImpalaThe Chevrolet Impala is a full-size automobile built by the Chevrolet division of General Motors. One of America's most successful nameplates, the early Impala became the best-selling automobile when full-sized cars dominated sales, though the name was eventually revived in 2000 for a full-size...
, the new 1979 LTD was seven inches shorter than the old one, and four inches shorter than the
LTD IIThe Ford LTD II was a mid-size car built by the Ford Motor Company between 1977 and 1979 for the North American market. It was based on the Ford Torino, which it replaced, and used the same platform as the concurrent Ford Thunderbird, which was downsized and dramatically reduced in price for 1977...
. The platform was named the
PantherThe Ford Panther platform is one of Ford Motor Company's full-size, rear-wheel drive sedan automobile platforms; the other is the Australian Ford Falcon. It was introduced for the 1979 model year and has been significantly upgraded since then.-Overview:...
. The interior remained just as large as the previous LTD though, and the whole design became more efficient; the reduced width, size, and bulk all led to improved road manners and maneuverability, which had been major drawbacks in the previous LTD. Ride quality improved as well with the new car, as did fuel economy. Originally, the LTD was offered with the 302 and 351
CIDA cubic inch is a non-SI unit of volume, equal to the volume of a cube with sides of one inch.Cubic inches are still sometimes used as a unit of measurement in the United States and Canada, although SI is continuing to gradually displace non-SI usage.-Notation conventions:The following symbols...
V8s. The deluxe version of the LTD was the
LTD Landau, as in previous years. In 1980 the LTD Landau was renamed
LTD Crown Victoria. It replaced the previous year's Landau model, and used a stainless steel band over the roof at the B-pillar (the "crown") to evoke the 1950s model. Crown Victoria had been a decor package for the Landau models since 1975. For 1981 and 1982, Ford offered a 255 CID V8. The 302 V8 was supplied with the Variable Venturi
CarburetorA carburetor or carburettor is a device that blends air and fuel for an internal combustion engine. It was invented by Karl Benz before 1885 and patented in 1886...
which was prone to malfunction. Most 1979-1980 LTDs were sold with the three-speed automatic transmission, with the AOD four-speed optional.
1983–1991
In 1983, when the LTD name was shifted to the mid-size
Ford GranadaFord Motor Company used the Ford Granada for unrelated vehicles sold in different markets:* The European Ford Granada was built and marketed in Europe from 1972 to 1985...
replacement, the
full-sizeA full-size car is a marketing term used in North America for an automobile larger than a mid-size car. In the United States, the EPA uses "large car" to denote full-size cars....
LTD was renamed LTD Crown Victoria.
Civilian models were powered by a fuel-injected 302 cu in V8, while police vehicles used a 5.8 L (351 cu. in.) V8 with Ford's Variable venturi
carburetorA carburetor or carburettor is a device that blends air and fuel for an internal combustion engine. It was invented by Karl Benz before 1885 and patented in 1886...
. It is a common misconception that from 1986 on they utilized a 4 barrel
Holley-People:* Alexander Lyman Holley, mechanical engineer* Charles Hardin Holley was the real name of singer, Buddy Holly* George Holley , England international footballer...
carburetor, when in fact only T5-equipped Mustang GT's (automatic Mustangs used CFI) used these carburetors. Both engines were coupled to the
AODThe AOD was a four-speed automatic transmission with overdrive. Introduced in 1980, it was Ford's first four-speed automatic overdrive transmission. The design is based on the same gearset as the Ford FMX transmission of the 1960s and 1970s...
4 speed overdrive automatic.
Various other changes were made during these years. 1983 saw the introduction of central fuel injection (CFI) on the 302-cubic-inch models (identifiable by a fender badge reading "Electronic Fuel Injection"), which was replaced with sequential electronic fuel injection (SEFI) in 1986 (accompanied by the deletion of said fender badge). Many mechanical changes were made during this time as well, but most important, it should be noted that all 302/5.0 L engines from 1985-on were equipped with a hydraulic roller valvetrain that allowed the use of improved camshaft profiles across the production line. The Crown Victoria, along with its cousin, the
Mercury Grand MarquisThe Mercury Grand Marquis is a full-size rear-wheel drive sedan sold by the Mercury division of the Ford Motor Company. It is essentially Mercury's version of the Ford Crown Victoria with which it shares its Panther platform along with the Lincoln Town Car. All three vehicles are presently...
, received exterior facelifts for the 1988 model year to improve aerodynamics, followed by an all-new dash, door panels, standard power windows, and standard driver's side airbag and revised steering column in 1990.
1992–1994
In 1992, along with dropping the LTD designation, the Crown Victoria sedan (production of the
station wagonA station wagon is a passenger automobile with a body style similar to a sedan, or saloon, but with the roofline following the full, sometimes extended rear cargo area and sometimes an extra row of sometimes rear-facing seats, ending with a more vertical door than on a hatchback.Also sometimes...
having ceased in 1991) was completely redesigned to the rounder, eight-window shape (which shared many design cues with its contemporary, the newly redesigned 1992 Taurus), and there was a new 4.6 L Modular engine. Also new for 1992, a performance-oriented "Touring Sedan" trim was added. The model featured dual exhausts for an increased engine output of 210 HP, wider tires and a police-sourced suspension for improved handling, along with two-tone paint and special wheels.
Critics disapproved of the Taurus-like front end; consequently, it was given a front grille for the 1993 model year. Also added that year was a reflector strip between the taillights. The Touring Sedan was dropped after 1992, though its sport-oriented upgrades lived on with the availability of a "Handling and Performance" Package.
1995–1997
Another minor restyle followed suit in 1995, with a new grille, taillights, and dash. To accommodate the design of the 1995's new taillights, the rear license plate was moved from the bumper to the trunklid, fitted between the taillights. The restyle was better received than
General Motors'General Motors Company, often known as simply GM, is a United States based automaker with headquarters in Detroit, Michigan. GM was the world's 18th largest corporate entity and third largest automaker as ranked by 2008 revenues on the Fortune Global 500. Ranked by global unit sales for 2008, it...
more radical restyle of the
Chevrolet CapriceThe Chevrolet Caprice and Caprice Classic were full-sized automobiles produced by General Motors in the United States and Canada from 1965 through 1996 model years and in Mexico from 1977 through 1983....
which may have contributed to its exit and Ford's ultimate dominance of this segment.
The 1996
model yearThe model year of a product is a number used worldwide, but with a high level of prominence in North America, to describe approximately when a product was produced, and indicates the coinciding base specification of that product....
brought two trim levels: Crown Victoria (base) and LX. Dual front airbags and a single-key entry system became standard, along with a hidden audio antenna, rear window defroster and tinted glass. A Handling and Performance Package with touring tires, an anti-lock brake system (ABS), and traction control system were optional and radial-spoke wheel covers were available on the base model. Automatic climate control and a
JBLJBL is an American audio electronics company currently owned by Harman International. It was founded in 1946 by James Bullough Lansing. Their primary products are loudspeakers and associated electronics. There are two independent divisions within the company — JBL Consumer and JBL Professional...
audio system became available on the LX.
For 1997, only slight adjustments were made in anticipation of a 1998 redesign. They included increased responsiveness and improved steering control.
1998–2002
In 1998, the Crown Victoria's exterior styling, rear suspension, and ignition system were updated, while the interior remained the same. The 1998 to 2002 "Crown Vics" had a revised 4-link rear suspension with a
Watt's linkageWatt's linkage is a type of mechanical linkage invented by James Watt to constrain the movement of a steam engine piston in a straight line....
. The general road handling manners have improved, but towing capacity has been reduced. The Crown Victoria also uses a coil-on-plug ignition design rather than traditional spark plug wires. This design, already being used on the 1996 to 1999
Ford TaurusThe Ford Taurus is an automobile manufactured by the Ford Motor Company in the United States. Originally introduced in the 1986 model year, it has remained in near continuous production for more than two decades, making it the fourth oldest nameplate that is currently sold in the North American...
SHO's 3.4 L V8 engine, was later implemented on other vehicles that used the
Modular V8The Modular engine is Ford Motor Company's current high volume overhead camshaft V8 and V10 gasoline engine family. It gradually replaced the Windsor small-block and 385 big-block engines over several years in the mid-1990s. Contrary to popular belief, the Modular engine did not get its name from...
, including the 1999-onwards
Mustang GTThe Ford Mustang is an automobile manufactured by the Ford Motor Company. It was initially based on the second generation North American Ford Falcon, a compact car. Production began in Dearborn, Michigan on March 9, 1964 and the car was introduced to the public on April 17, 1964 at the New York...
, and many
F-Series trucksThe F-Series is a series of full-size pickup trucks from Ford Motor Company sold for over five decades. The most popular variant of the F-Series is the F-150. It was the best-selling vehicle in the United States for 23 years and has been the best-selling truck for 31 years, though this does not...
. The Crown Victoria also features a 114.7 in wheelbase and the body moved further away from the Taurus-like styling of the 1992 model, borrowing the rear doors and roofline from its Mercury Grand Marquis counterpart. 1998 marked the first year for standard 16" wheels across the model line to accommodate the larger brakes used on the refreshed car. 1998 was also the first year that Ford made center caps available on Police cars that attached onto the lug nuts (sourced from the Explorer SUV). Earlier model CVPIs were equipped with Full Wheel covers or dog dish covers that held onto the wheel by 4 nubs, that were specific to P71 and P72 cars only (HD Steel Wheels).
Not much changed for the 1999 model year, with the Crown Victoria receiving three more exterior colors and standard ABS brakes. 2000 brought an emergency trunk release system, child seat anchor brackets in the back seat, the "Belt Minder" chime to the Crown Victoria. This was followed in 2001 by adjustable pedals and increased engine output. For the 2002 model year, heated exterior side mirrors became available, along with standard floor mats, improved cloth upholstery, and a new trunk storage system option on the LX.
2003–2007
For the 2003 model year, the chassis was again redesigned with
hydroformedHydroforming is a cost-effective way of shaping malleable metals such as aluminum or brass into lightweight, structurally stiff and strong pieces....
steel. The front and rear suspension were also completely overhauled. New inverted monotube shocks were now used (replacing the old twin-tube shocks that had been used since the 1960s). In the front, new aluminum control arms, and
rack and pinionA rack and pinion is a pair of gears which convert rotational motion into linear motion. The circular pinion engages teeth on a flat bar - the rack...
steering (replacing the
recirculating ballRecirculating ball, also known as recirculating ball and nut or worm and sector, is a steering mechanism commonly found in older cars and some trucks. Most newer cars use rack and pinion steering instead, but some significant manufacturers still use this technology in some models, e.g...
units) have been implemented. The rear suspension was redesigned for durability in police-duty applications and the rear shocks were moved outboard of the frame rails for better handling and ease of maintenance. As a result, the road-handling manners of the
Panther platform carsThe Ford Panther platform is one of Ford Motor Company's full-size, rear-wheel drive sedan automobile platforms; the other is the Australian Ford Falcon. It was introduced for the 1979 model year and has been significantly upgraded since then.-Overview:...
had improved significantly. The engine output increased due to the addition of a knock sensor for more aggressive timing.
For 2004, Ford altered the transmission, revised the torque converter for better acceleration, and updated the layout of the optional overhead console. Laminated door glass also became available to deter break-ins and thefts, reduce road and wind noise, improve protection from flying glass in a collision and filter out ultraviolet rays, reducing heat buildup and fading of the interior.
The Crown Victoria retained the same exterior styling, but 2005 models received a rear whip radio antenna rather than an integrated rear defroster antenna. 2005 models also received a new steering wheel, optional power moon roof and 6-CD changer.
The rear whip antenna was removed from the 2006 models in favor of the integrated rear defroster antenna. 2006 models also received a redesigned instrument cluster featuring a speedometer (civilian models) and a tachometer. Other additions included a standard trip computer on the LX and a perimeter alarm as an option.
For the 2007 model year, the LX Sport trim was dropped leaving the Standard and LX. Most of the LX Sport's components were then made available with the new optional Premium Sport-Handling and Performance Package. Standard AM/FM audio system with CD player and the remote keyless entry system "SmartLock" became available on all models as did daytime running lights. Even with the 2007 Crown Victoria, the overall design remained relatively unchanged from the 1979 design. It still used front
independent suspensionIndependent suspension is a broad term for any automobile suspension system that allows each wheel on the same axle to move vertically independently of each other. This is contrasted with a beam axle, live axle or deDion axle system in which the wheels are linked - movement on one side affects...
with a rear
live axleA live axle, sometimes called a solid axle, is a type of beam axle suspension system that uses the driveshafts that transmit power to the wheels to connect the wheels laterally so that they move together as a unit....
on a body on frame design, using a traditional rear-wheel drive drive train.
2008–present
Starting with the 2008 model year, the Crown Victoria became available solely through Ford Fleet. As of June 21, 2007, the Crown Victoria was removed from Ford's website, most likely to promote the 2008
Ford TaurusThe Ford Taurus is an automobile manufactured by the Ford Motor Company in the United States. Originally introduced in the 1986 model year, it has remained in near continuous production for more than two decades, making it the fourth oldest nameplate that is currently sold in the North American...
. This has been the case in Canada since the 2000 model year (see below). Also, with the descent into fleet-only sales across North America, the LX Premium Sport and Handling Package and the Handling and Performance Package (the only Crown Victorias produced for the North American market with dual exhaust, save for the Police Interceptor) have been officially discontinued by Ford.
Ford had reportedly announced that it would "freshen" both the Crown Victoria and the
Mercury Grand MarquisThe Mercury Grand Marquis is a full-size rear-wheel drive sedan sold by the Mercury division of the Ford Motor Company. It is essentially Mercury's version of the Ford Crown Victoria with which it shares its Panther platform along with the Lincoln Town Car. All three vehicles are presently...
for the 2009 model year. Ford had told the Canadian Auto Workers that it would invest $200 million in the vehicles, which are assembled at the St. Thomas Assembly Plant in
St. Thomas, OntarioSt. Thomas is a city in Southern , Ontario, Canada. It is the seat for Elgin County and gained its city charter on March 4, 1881.-History:The city, located at the intersection of two historical roads, was first settled in 1810...
. However, Ford released the 2009 Crown Victoria with few if any changes from the 2008 model, with no announced plans for changes in the future.
For 2009, Ford narrowed the available Crown Victorias in North America by one more model. The Standard (P73) model designation has gone by the way side, in favor of the LX. To make the LX more appealing to future buyers (those who buy the cars after their service in rental fleets) it now uses the 5-spoke alloy wheels once used specifically for the LX Premium Sport and Handling package. These wheels are used in favor of the 9-spoke design the LX has used since 2003, purportedly due to the Lincoln Town Car using 17" wheels standard, as well as the Police Interceptor and the Taxi/Commercial (P72) model. The Grand Marquis has undergone a similar change to 17" Lincoln Town Car wheels. Also, the LX Sport wheels were used on all Crown Victorias (save for the LX) sent to the Middle East. For the Police Interceptor, there are two pieces of standard equipment added to its list. The power pedals are now standard on all models, presumably to cut manufacturing costs (Crown Victoria LX, Grand Marquis LS and Lincoln Town Car all had them as standard equipment previously) and side impact airbags are also standard. There are also new, federally mandated recessed window switches.
Police Interceptor
Starting with the 1999 model year, the police version of the Crown Victoria, previously named
Crown Victoria P71, was changed to
Police Interceptor and new rear badging was assigned instead of the civilian Crown Victoria badge. Though, to date, the Crown Victoria badge is still affixed to Police Interceptors equipped with the
Street Appearance package for vehicles that require civilian styling (office/city motor pool, fire departments, etc). Police Interceptor models come with a black honeycomb-styled front grille and a black rear fascia on the trunk lid, with black trim under the tail lights. They also have several "heavier-duty" mechanical upgrades and newer models have additional safety features to deal with fuel tank safety concerns. On April 19, 2006, Ford Motor Company announced that the Crown Victoria Police Interceptor will remain in production "well into the future". However, in 2009 Ford revealed that production of the Crown Victoria would end in 2010 with the 2011 model year cycle.
Change of Canadian availability
In Canada, 1999 was the last year the Crown Victoria was individually available to civilians from Ford dealerships. Since 2000, the Crown Victoria has only been available in Canada as a
Police Interceptor for law enforcement, or as a
taxiA taxicab, also taxi or cab, is a type of vehicle for hire, with a driver, for a single passenger, or small group of passengers, typically for a non-shared ride. A taxicab conveys passengers between locations of their choice...
or
Special Service Vehicle for commercial fleets. The civilian Crown Victoria is only available when ordered as a fleet directly from Ford Motor Company of Canada, Limited and is not available through Ford dealerships. Civilians can, however, purchase used 2000 & up civilian Crown Victorias that are available at dealerships every so often, or used Police Interceptors or Special Service Vehicles from various auctions. The
Mercury Grand MarquisThe Mercury Grand Marquis is a full-size rear-wheel drive sedan sold by the Mercury division of the Ford Motor Company. It is essentially Mercury's version of the Ford Crown Victoria with which it shares its Panther platform along with the Lincoln Town Car. All three vehicles are presently...
and
Lincoln Town CarThe Lincoln Town Car is a full-size, rear-wheel drive luxury sedan sold by Ford's upscale Lincoln brand. The Town Car features a V8 engine and large exterior and interior dimensions....
, which also use the
Ford Panther platformThe Ford Panther platform is one of Ford Motor Company's full-size, rear-wheel drive sedan automobile platforms; the other is the Australian Ford Falcon. It was introduced for the 1979 model year and has been significantly upgraded since then.-Overview:...
, however, were still available at Ford & Lincoln dealerships in Canada through the 2007 model year. Starting with the 2008 models, Ford stopped selling the Grand Marquis in the Canadian market, but continued to sell the Town Car.
Middle East market
Large American sedans have always been part of the landscape in the
Middle EastThe Middle East is a region that spans southwestern Asia, southeastern Europe, and northeastern Africa. It has no clear boundaries, often used as a synonym to Near East, in opposition to Far East...
. Since the
Chevrolet CapriceThe Chevrolet Caprice and Caprice Classic were full-sized automobiles produced by General Motors in the United States and Canada from 1965 through 1996 model years and in Mexico from 1977 through 1983....
was discontinued in 1996, the Crown Victoria and its twin, the
Mercury Grand MarquisThe Mercury Grand Marquis is a full-size rear-wheel drive sedan sold by the Mercury division of the Ford Motor Company. It is essentially Mercury's version of the Ford Crown Victoria with which it shares its Panther platform along with the Lincoln Town Car. All three vehicles are presently...
have been the car of choice for large American car buyers in the region. Even after
General MotorsGeneral Motors Company, often known as simply GM, is a United States based automaker with headquarters in Detroit, Michigan. GM was the world's 18th largest corporate entity and third largest automaker as ranked by 2008 revenues on the Fortune Global 500. Ranked by global unit sales for 2008, it...
realized their loss of market share and introduced the Australian
Holden StatesmanThe Holden Statesman and Caprice are a series of full-size luxury vehicles produced by the Australian General Motors division of Holden since 1990. Between 1971 and 1984, Holden marketed their long-wheelbase sedans under the Statesman marque...
in left hand drive form as a Chevrolet Caprice, sales of the
Ford Panther platformThe Ford Panther platform is one of Ford Motor Company's full-size, rear-wheel drive sedan automobile platforms; the other is the Australian Ford Falcon. It was introduced for the 1979 model year and has been significantly upgraded since then.-Overview:...
remain strong, especially in
KuwaitThe State of Kuwait is a sovereign Arab emirate bordered by Saudi Arabia to the south and Iraq to the north and west. The greatest distance from north to south is 200 km and from east to west 170 km . The name is a diminutive of an Arabic word meaning "fortress built near water." It has a...
and
Saudi ArabiaSaudi Arabia , is an Arab country and the largest country of the Arabian Peninsula. It is bordered by Jordan on the northwest, Iraq on the north and northeast, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, and the United Arab Emirates on the east, Oman on the southeast, and Yemen on the south...
. The Australian Caprice, however, has certainly brought some serious, tough competition for what used to be a niche market.
Vehicles destined for the
Middle EastThe Middle East is a region that spans southwestern Asia, southeastern Europe, and northeastern Africa. It has no clear boundaries, often used as a synonym to Near East, in opposition to Far East...
are referred to as "GCC Spec" vehicles, and the Crown Victoria is available in five different trim levels in Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries; Standard (P72 VIN designation) Sport (P73), Standard Long-Wheelbase (P70), LX (P74) and LX Sport (P74). While options and standard features vary from country to country in the region, the following is listed as standard equipment on present models:
- A true dual exhaust system (except Standard Long-Wheelbase)
- 17" 5-spoke aluminum sport wheels with P235/55HR17 all-season tires (16" 9-spoke aluminum wheels and P225/60VR16 all-season tires on LX models)
- Remote keyless entry system with driver's door mounted keypad (rare option on Standard, not available on Standard Long-Wheelbase)
- 40/20/40 split bench with rear air vents and 8-way power driver's seat, 4-way manual front passenger seat (available in both luxury cloth and leather trim; rear air vents not available on LX Sport models)
- Speed control
- Dual-Media AM/FM stereo/cassette with a single-CD player (except Standard and Standard Long-Wheelbase, which come with AM/FM stereo/cassette player)
A driver's side spotlight assembly is optional on Standard and Standard Long-Wheelbase models, whilst a monochromatic paint job is optional on Sport, LX and LX Sport models. Choice of colors on monochromatic paint jobs include Dark Toreador Red, Silver Birch, Tungsten and Black. A
Mercury MarauderThe Mercury Marauder was the name of different automobiles made by the Mercury division of Ford Motor Company.-Early models 1963-1965:The early Marauder was a V8-engined large automobile. It débuted as a 1963½ model as a two-door "fastback" hardtop version of the full-size Mercury...
rear spoiler is standard equipment on Sport and LX Sport models, being an option on the LX and Standard trim. LX and LX Sport models also come with power 8-way driver and front passenger seats.
Worthy of note, the American Handling and Performance Package (HPP) has been changed to "Export Handling Package" for the
Middle EastThe Middle East is a region that spans southwestern Asia, southeastern Europe, and northeastern Africa. It has no clear boundaries, often used as a synonym to Near East, in opposition to Far East...
. The only differences between the two is that GCC Spec models have a 2.73 rear axle ratio (as opposed to 3.27) and as a true dual exhaust system is standard equipment, it does not come as part of the package. Vehicles equipped with this package also come with a monochromatic paint job. The Export Handling Packages (EHP) comes with a tuned rear air suspension, revised coil springs, handling shock absorbers and an upsized rear stabilizer bar. EHP is standard on Sport and LX Sport models and is only an option on the LX trim. It is not available on Standard and Standard Long-Wheelbase models.
2007 and newer models now come with an available DVD entertainment system (marketed as "Export DVD Entertainment System"). This has been made optional on Sport, LX and LX Sport models.
The Crown Vic comes with a 5 year/200,000 kilometer (125,000 mile) warranty – whichever comes first.
As far as the market in
KuwaitThe State of Kuwait is a sovereign Arab emirate bordered by Saudi Arabia to the south and Iraq to the north and west. The greatest distance from north to south is 200 km and from east to west 170 km . The name is a diminutive of an Arabic word meaning "fortress built near water." It has a...
is concerned, where Grand Marquis sales exceed that of the Crown Victoria, only the Standard and Standard Long-Wheelbase models are available. Other models have not been imported as of the year 2000, and 1999 was the last year for the LX trim level. This was part of the authorized dealer/importer's decision to focus on the Grand Marquis due to the market size.
2008 "Special Edition"
With no major redesign since 1998, in order to remain competitive Ford came up with a trim package for the Crown Victoria in the Middle East, known as the
Special Edition, for 2008. Only available on the P72 Standard model, this cosmetic package adds the following:
- A new 3-bar grille.
- Mercury Marauder spoiler, also found on models equipped with the Export Handling Package.
- Chrome trim under the license plate on the front bumper.
- Chrome trim underneath the Ford logo on the trunk.
- Special Edition logos on the front fenders, trunk and dashboard.
- A Premium head unit with single CD and cassette
Everything else on this vehicle is identical to the Standard model. Whilst this vehicle is not listed in any sales literature, in
Saudi ArabiaSaudi Arabia , is an Arab country and the largest country of the Arabian Peninsula. It is bordered by Jordan on the northwest, Iraq on the north and northeast, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, and the United Arab Emirates on the east, Oman on the southeast, and Yemen on the south...
it is available with a choice of different colors. In
KuwaitThe State of Kuwait is a sovereign Arab emirate bordered by Saudi Arabia to the south and Iraq to the north and west. The greatest distance from north to south is 200 km and from east to west 170 km . The name is a diminutive of an Arabic word meaning "fortress built near water." It has a...
, this model is only available in black (due to market size), and costs KWD 6,000 (approximately $22,000 USD).
Long-wheelbase commercial version
In 2002, Ford introduced a long-wheelbase version of the Crown Victoria, available only to commercial fleets (mostly used by taxi companies) in North American markets. This version gives 6 extra inches of wheelbase length, made possible by a new frame and extended body.
This version is not available to the general public, nor is there a stretched version of the
Police InterceptorThe Crown Victoria Police Interceptor is the law enforcement version of the Ford Crown Victoria. It is one of the most widely used automobiles in law enforcement departments of the United States and Canada....
. However, there was a special service version available for the police market from 2002-2006, with an available street appearance trim option from 2002-2004, due to its targeted use mostly in the taxi and livery market.
In the
Middle EastThe Middle East is a region that spans southwestern Asia, southeastern Europe, and northeastern Africa. It has no clear boundaries, often used as a synonym to Near East, in opposition to Far East...
, long-wheelbase versions of both the
Mercury Grand MarquisThe Mercury Grand Marquis is a full-size rear-wheel drive sedan sold by the Mercury division of the Ford Motor Company. It is essentially Mercury's version of the Ford Crown Victoria with which it shares its Panther platform along with the Lincoln Town Car. All three vehicles are presently...
and Crown Victoria are available to the general public.
Fuel tank safety concerns
While the car has been highly rated for safety, there was some controversy and lawsuits in the 1990s over Ford Crown Victoria (and its Mercury & Lincoln counterparts) gas tank leaks after certain types of high speed impacts, specifically when being hit in the rear end at high speeds. These impacts did cause fuel tank failures in the Crown Victoria. The leaking fuel in combination with friction between the vehicle and the road was found to be the cause of fires.
The reports that the cars were more prone to fires during a rear collision was a simple combination of four things. First, most law enforcement agencies rely heavily on the Crown Victoria as their primary vehicle, meaning that any police-related auto accident is very likely to involve a Crown Victoria. Second, the accidents occurred as the result of the officers intentionally parking their vehicles close to active traffic to shield a stopped motorist - something most civilians would never do. Third, the impacting vehicle was often traveling at, or above, the posted legal limit (70-75 mph in most jurisdictions).
The condition was exacerbated by police equipment installers drilling over the package tray in the luggage compartment. Due to the gas tank's orientation, drilling through the package tray may result in drilling into the gas tank. Installers also used screws set directly into the bulkhead and facing the fuel tank. In the event of a high-energy collision, these screws could be forced into the tank, both rupturing the tank and possibly acting as a spark source. Long bolts for mounting heavier equipment were also directly suspect. The manufacturer provided an aftermarket shield to help prevent these items from puncturing the tank during impact. Further, many investigations, both performed by federal/state agencies, and the police department themselves, have found that removable items in the trunk were improperly stowed. These items became tank-piercing projectiles during the rear-collision scenarios. Ford's second solution came in the form of a recall kit including patterns to mark unsafe areas (to drill) in the luggage compartment. Also included were rubberized kevlar and hard ballistic nylon shields for the differential cover lower shock bolts. They also included a kevlar-based trunk liner. Ford used similar kits on early-1980s model passenger vehicles. For 2005 and newer models, Ford offers an optional on-board fire-suppression system for the Crown Victoria Police Interceptor units. The system itself is integrated with the anitlock braking system as part of the activation, and can be activated manually. However, Ford does cite several system limitations regarding fuel loss and impact speeds.
As a result of these crashes, other companies looked at potential solutions to the problem. FIRE Panel introduced a solution in 2003 that utilized a hollow panel that encapsulated fire suppression powder. The panel was designed to shatter in a high speed, rear impact.
http://www.firepanel.net/frameset1.html The results were so successful that the US Army and Marines now use it to protect large vehicle fuel tanks against
IEDAn improvised explosive device is a homemade bomb constructed and deployed in ways other than in conventional military action...
s.
Despite numerous court cases charging Ford with partial liability for fires caused in accidents, the company has never been found liable in a Crown Victoria accident.
Intake manifold defect
Model years 1996 to 2001 inclusive, using an all-composite intake manifold, are subject to coolant leaks. Late in 2005 Ford settled a class action lawsuit. See Intake Manifold Defect for details.
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