You may remember, not even a decade ago, the mere glimpse of a Ford Crown Victoria’s front end would make your heart skip a beat, as it usually meant a police officer was driving it. When you saw that iconic front fascia you’d instinctively check your speedometer, pretend you weren’t just using your phone, and try to remember if your license plate sticker is up-to-date. A car which can instill any sort of feeling in someone, be it good or bad, means it has reached icon status one way or another.
But, the Crown Vic wasn’t just relegated to police duty, even though it’s what it’s most known for. They also served as taxis, fleet and military vehicles, and it was even a limousine. Whatever sort of driving duty needed doing, the Crown Victoria did it without a complaint, and soldiered on well after the job was done. That’s what makes them such great first-time buys, too. So, let’s get into how it became such an icon, why it deserved this status, and where the Crown Victoria and its siblings stand today.
The following information pertaining to the Ford Crown Victoria, Mercury Grand Marquis, and Lincoln Town Car was sourced from various sites, such as Ford heritage press material.
Where It Came From, And What It Can Do
The Ford Crown Victoria: Three Key Facts
The “Crown Victoria” name was first used on the 1955 Ford Fairlane Crown Victoria Became a standalone model in 1992 Spent nearly 20 years in production, with the final Crown Victoria being built in 2011
The Crown Vic’s Roots
As we mentioned above, the Crown Victoria is widely known as a standalone model. However, it didn’t start out like that. The name “Crown Victoria” was first attached to the 1955 Ford Fairlane, and denoted the top-of-the-line model, and featured unique options like a B-pillared roofline fitted with a wide, stainless steel band which, effectively, “crowned” the roof, hence the creation of the iconic name. The Fairlane Crown Victoria was only in production for two years, with the last model being produced in 1956. The Ford Fairlane Skyliner replaced the Crown Victoria as the top trim.
Ford brought the name back once again in 1979 for the 1980 model year and attached it to the top-end iteration of the new Ford LTD sedan, which utilized Ford’s then-newest full-sized car architecture, the Panther Platform, which would be used for the entirety of the Crown Victoria’s lifespan, albeit with extensive upgrades to keep it viable throughout the years.
Like its grandfather, it featured a heavily revised version of the B-pillared roof. 1983 marked Ford’s decision to separate the LTD and the LTD Crown Victoria, with the former becoming a mid-size sedan replacement for the outgoing Ford Granada, and the latter becoming the new flagship sedan. The LTD Crown Victoria was produced until 1991, when Ford axed it to make room for its new, upcoming flagship sedan.
The Icon As We Know It
Ford
After the discontinuation of the LTD Crown Victoria, Ford decided to retain the famous name and give it its own, standalone model, rather than continuing to relegate it to trim levels or denoting the largest of something. The new Ford Crown Victoria arrived at showroom floors in early 1991 as a 1992 model, and was a hit both in civilian sales and, eventually, fleet sales. Its fleet sales were postponed for a little over a year to ensure availability.
The 1991 launch of the new Crown Victoria coincided with Chevrolet’s redesign of the Caprice, a similarly-large sedan which was also targeting a large portion of fleet sales. The new Crown Vic featured a dramatically reduced drag coefficient over the previous LTD Crown Victoria, measuring in at 0.34, earning the first-gen Crown Victoria the nickname “Aero”. In the same year, Mercury, one of Ford’s subsidiaries, launched their newest iteration of the Crown Victoria, the Grand Marquis. The Mercury version was meant to be a more upscale, civilian-only model. Lincoln, Ford’s luxury arm, also had a Panther Platform derivative, the Town Car.
The Crown Victoria’s notoriety as a police car became much more cemented during its second generation, which began in 1998, six years after its initial launch. The Crown Victoria’s exterior underwent a complete redesign, and now resembled what we all know and love today. As for its cabin, the second-gen Crown Victoria largely resembled its first generation, although the seats were updated and some more digital tech was peppered throughout. Its 4.6-liter V8 was now rated for 200 horsepower, or 215 horses with dual exhaust option.
As time went on, the Crown Victoria received minor interior upgrades, such as redesigned door panels, headrests, and seats were seen in 2003. The second-gen Crown Vic never received a mid-cycle refresh, and its exterior remained virtually unchanged for its thirteen-year lifespan, apart from losing its amber-colored turn signal flashers following the 2005 model year. It seemed Ford didn’t want to, presumably, mess with perfection.
In 2008, the Crown Victoria’s civilian sales ceased, and it became a fleet-only vehicle, as pedestrian interest in the model dwindled to the point where it was no longer profitable to offer a civilian model in the US market.
In 2011, the fabled nameplate was discontinued, as Ford was planning to offer its Explorer SUV and newly-refreshed Taurus with police interceptor packages, removing the Crown Victoria’s near-sole purpose for the last few years of its life once civilian sales dried up. Ford also was unwilling to update the Crown Vic for the times, as the aforementioned models were much more modern and streamlined. Because of this, the tried-and-true Crown Victoria, with no where left to go, was axed. The final Crown Vic left the factory floor on September 15, 2011, as a 2012 model, and was bound for Saudi Arabia.
The Crown Victoria Led Many Lives
As we mentioned previously, the Crown Victoria wasn’t just a large, comfortable sedan for those who were getting on a bit in life. It also served its time as a vehicle in a few different ways, something nearly all other civilian vehicles can’t claim to have done.
Its most popular and iconic role is, of course, as a police car. There aren’t many other cars in modern memory that sport a more recognizable face than the Crown Vic’s, especially when spotted with just the running lights lit in a dark alley with a lawman at the helm, watching for speeding motorists. In its police car spec, called the P71, the Crown Vic received things like a stiffer suspension and a more spartan interior to make room for police gear which would be installed separately.
It also served a lot of time as a taxi, mostly after its time as a police car was up, and it was sold at auction to cab companies. Its other duties included fire rescue and military, and military police vehicles.
The reason for its widespread use was largely thanks to its simple and rugged construction. Its 4.6-liter Modular V8 was woefully underpowered, but it benefitted the Crown Vic because an understressed engine usually bodes well for reliability, something a police car or, especially, a taxicab needs. Repairs were also easy to undertake and parts were plentiful, as well as cheap. Its Panther Platform underpinnings were also easily serviceable, and its ride offered those who drove them for hours a day more comfort than, say, a Toyota Camry.
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The Crown Victoria Lives On
While the Crown Vic has been dead for over three years now, its impact on society is still being felt today. They’re becoming increasingly rare these days, but Crown Victoria Police Interceptors still prowl the streets in small towns that don’t see much criminal activity, as the police cars there aren’t taxed or driven nearly as much as they would be in big cities like Chicago.
It also still enjoys a wide-reaching appreciation among enthusiasts. Because of its simple construction and reliable nature, some still choose to drive Crown Victoria as their daily drivers. It makes sense, after all, as sedans these days seem to be, by and large, getting more cramped and less comfortable. Why not buy yourself a reasonably-priced, body-on-frame vehicle with cheap parts and a comfortable ride, while also avoiding a car payment? It makes sense to us, and ensures that the Crown Victoria’s legacy will continue to live on.
Sources:
TheAugustPress.com