Ford Crown Victoria
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| Ford Crown Victoria<tr><td colspan=2>Image:Ford-Crown-Victoria.jpg</tr> | |
| Manufacturer: | Ford Motor Company<tr><th>Production:<td>1955–1956 1992–Present</tr><tr><th>Assembly:<td>Ontario, Canada<tr><th>Class:<td>Full-size</tr><tr><th>Body style:<td>4-door sedan</tr><tr><th>Layout:<td>FR layout</tr><tr><th>Platform:<td>Panther</tr><tr><th>Engine:<td>4.6L SOHC V8 (Modular)</tr><tr><th>Transmission:<td>4 speed 4R70W automatic</tr><tr><th>Related:<td>Mercury Grand Marquis Mercury Marauder (2003–2004) Lincoln Town Car</tr><tr><th>Similar:<td>Buick Roadmaster Chevrolet Caprice</tr> |
|---|---|
- For the Police Interceptor version used by law enforcement, see Ford Crown Victoria Police Interceptor. For the 1979–1991 version known as the LTD Crown Victoria, see Ford LTD Crown Victoria.
The Ford Crown Victoria is the current model nameplate for the rear-wheel drive full-size car produced by the Ford Motor Company in the mid-1950s, and then again since the early 1990s. The Crown Victoria represents the top-of-the-line sedan in the Ford lineup.
While the Crown Victoria only has mediocre sales to the general public, the Crown Victoria is also commonly used as a taxi cab, fleet vehicle and police car, a segment in which Crown Victorias make up the vast majority of vehicles used. The current Crown Victoria can be seen as the latest evolution of the standard (full) sized Ford, starting with the Model T. The "Crown Vic" is popular due to its body-on-frame construction, which enables repairs after minor accidents without the need to straighten the chassis - an important benefit for a car frequently used by police forces for "Pit Maneuvers" (ramming a car to spin it out).
While it shares components with the Lincoln Town Car, it shares almost no exterior sheetmetal or interior parts. The 1992-onward model has had a number of upgrades, and is the most common vehicle used by law enforcement in North America, followed by the Chevrolet Impala.[citation needed]
Contents |
[edit] Production
The Crown Victoria is manufactured in St. Thomas, Ontario, Canada, rides on the 1979-vintage Ford Panther platform and utilizes the universal 4.6 L SOHC SEFI V8. As of 2005, prices range from US$25,000 for the base model to $32,000 for the high-end LX Sport trim.
[edit] 1955-1956
- See also 1955 Ford
The first "Crown Victoria" appeared in 1955; it was a 2-door 6-seater hardtop coupe, part of the Ford Fairlane range, that differed from the regular Victoria model (named after a type of carriage) 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 Skyliner had the front part of the roof, in front of the steel band, in plexiglass. This made the car difcult 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 a plexiglass roof.
[edit] 1979–1980
In 1979, Ford redesigned its full size car line, now on the Panther platform. The deluxe version of the LTD line 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.
[edit] 1983
When the LTD was based on a rebodied Ford Fairmont, all full-size LTDs were badged as LTD Crown Victorias, and the mid-sized version became the LTD. The midsize LTD seems to be a lesser-known model, as the name is easily confused with its fullsize Crown Victoria brother, but shares the same basic "fox" chassis with the 1979-1993 Ford Mustang, so certain components are easily interchangeable with the more popular "pony car". Perhaps the highlight of midsize LTD production begain in 1984 when the Bondurant racing school, which favored Ford Mustang GTs, transplanted the Mustang's 5.0L V8 into a midsize LTD for use at the school. One result of this was Ford's introduction in 1985 of an option package called the LTD LX. Known by some as essentially a four-door Mustang, this car had the 5.0L Central Fuel Injected engine paired with Ford's AOD four-speed automatic transmission, and included details such as blacked-out exterior trim, a floor shifter, and a 140-mph speedometer. Police models received the 5.0/AOD drivetrain, certified 140-mph speedometer, and dog-dish hubcaps along with standard exterior trim. Interiors generally featured vinyl seating and rubber floormat, and many examples were equipped with special push bumpers on the front. The midsize "fox-body" LTD was discontinued after the 1986 model year to make room for the new-for-1987 front-wheel-drive Taurus.
[edit] 1992–1997
| First generation<tr><td colspan=2>Image:Ford-Crown-Vic.jpg</tr><tr><th>Production:<td>1992–1998</tr><tr><th>Engine:<td>4.6 L Modular V8</tr><tr><th>Transmission:<td>4-speed automatic</tr> |
In 1992, along with dropping the LTD designation, the sedan body (production of the station wagon having ceased in 1991) was completely redesigned to the round, six-window shape (which shared many design ques with its contemporary, the newly refreshed 1992 Taurus), and there was a new 4.6 L modular engine. Critics weren't fond of the 1992's Taurus-like front-end, therefore it was given a front grille for the 1993 model year. Also added this year was a reflector strip between the rear tail lights. Another minor front & rear-end redesign followed suit in 1995, with a new different styled grille and new tail lights. To accommodate the design of the 1995's new tail lights, the rear license plate was moved from the bumper to the trunk lid, fitted between the tail lights.
[edit] 1998–2002
In 1998, the Crown Victoria's exterior styling, rear suspension, and ignition system were updated. The 1998-2002 "Crown Vics" have a revised 4-link rear suspension with a Watt's linkage. 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 1996-1999 Ford Taurus SHO 3.4L V8 engine, was later implemented on other users of the Modular V8, including the 1999-up Mustang GT, and many F/E-series trucks. The Crown Victoria also features a 114.7" wheelbase and its body now uses the more formal Mercury Grand Marquis roofline and side window styling.
[edit] 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 undercover vehicles.
[edit] Gallery
Hopewell Township Police Car- Crown Victoria/Police Interceptor |
NYPD Crown Victoria/Police Interceptor |
A traditional New York City taxi, the long-wheelbase Crown Victoria. |
2005 Ford Crown Victoria LX, rear view |
[edit] 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 taxi 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.[citation needed] 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 Marquis and Lincoln Town Car, which also use the Ford Panther platform, however, are still available at Ford & Lincoln dealerships in Canada.
According to the article of the Mercury Grand Marquis in the French book Le guide de l'auto 2006 (The 2006 Auto-Guide), Ford is rumoured to be considering bringing back the Crown Victoria to the Canadian civilian market, replacing the Grand Marquis. Although Ford hasn't made any official statement to this effect, many consider this to make sense since the Mercury brand was officially phased out in Canada in 1999 and despite the Grand Marquis' Mercury badging, it's officially sold as a Ford in all Canadian sales literature.
[edit] 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). 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 Interceptor, due to its targeted use mostly in the taxi and livery market. In the Middle East, a long-wheelbase version of the Mercury Grand Marquis is available to the general public.
[edit] 2003–Present
For the 2003 model year, the chassis was again redesigned with hydroformed steel. The front and rear suspension was also completely overhauled. New inverted monotube shocks are 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 pinion steering (replacing the recirculating ball 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 cars have improved significantly. The engine output increased due to the addition of a knock sensor for more aggressive timing.
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. The rear whip antenna has been removed from the 2006 models in favor of the integrated rear defroster antenna.
Even with the latest 2006 Crown Victoria, the overall design remains relatively unchanged from the 1979 design. It still uses a front independent suspension with a rear live axle on a body on frame design, using a traditional rear wheel drive drivetrain. The design has been popular with police departments and cab companies to the same extent as the Chevrolet Caprice in the 1980s and early 1990s, especially in New York City where they make up the majority of the taxi and New York City Police Department fleets, as well among the general populace.
The Crown Victoria has often been characterized as an "older person's car", but this is a misconception considering nearly all vehicles in this class tend to have an older client base (because most older drivers were accustomed to driving larger cars). It is considerably more durable than modern front wheel drive cars that rely on constant velocity joints for transmission of power to the steering wheels. It also offers more interior space and slightly better fuel economy than many SUVs of similar weight.
Engines (MY2005 stats):
- 220hp @ 4750 rpm/265lb.ft. @ 4000 rpm/9.4:1 compression 4.6L V-8 (Fleet only.)
- 224hp @ 4750 rpm/265lb.ft. @ 4000 rpm/9.4:1 compression 4.6L V-8 (Base civilian package.)
- 239hp @ 4750 rpm/276lb.ft. @ 4000 rpm/9.4:1 compression 4.6L V-8 (Perf. & Handling Pkg.-equipped only; includes Sport)
- 250hp @ 4900 rpm/287lb.ft. @ 4100 rpm/9.6:1 compression 4.6L V-8 (Police Interceptor package only)
[edit] 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 gas tank leaks after certain types of high energy impacts, specifically when being hit at a certain angle offset in the rear 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 these 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 Vic 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). Fourth, the design of the vehicle which [laces the gas tank behind the rear axle, places the tank in a vulnerable area.
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 removeable 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 the first-ever on-board fire-suppression system for the Crown Victoria Police Interceptor units, which effectively choke any fire on-board when detected. The problem, for all intents and purposes, ceases to exist when the vehicles are struck at non-highway speeds.
Despite numerous court cases charging Ford with partial liability for fires caused in accidents, the company has never been found liable. Numerous cases were settled out of court with non-disclosure clauses binding on all parties. 74.64.87.172 04:09, 14 November 2006 (UTC)
[edit] Body on frame
The Ford Crown Victoria, Mercury Grand Marquis, and the Lincoln Town Car are the only mass-produced passenger cars with body-on-frame construction in the United States. This construction style is opposed to the now more commonly used unibody construction style where the body panels are load-bearing members. In 2002, Mercury introduced a performance version of the Grand Marquis called the Marauder as a 2003 model but sales were slow. The Marauder was not a market success and the model was retired after just two years of production, making 2004 its last model year.
[edit] Future
| This article or section contains information about a scheduled or anticipated future automobile. It may contain information of a tentative nature which may change significantly as the vehicle nears production and more information becomes available. |
Ford was rumored to be considering replacing the aging Panther platform with the front or all-wheel drive platform based on the D3 architecture, something Ford has denied.
Another rumor going around at Ford is that the Crown Victoria will eventually be replaced by one of two vehicles:
- Ford Australia announced plans to develop the 2009 Ford Falcon on a new Orion chassis, designed initially for Left-Hand drive and converted to Right-Hand drive for the Australian market. Some speculate that this new Falcon would eventually be built in the US or exported to the US market, reviving the Falcon name.
- The Panther platform would be retired altogether, replaced by a completely new vehicle based on the Ford D2C platform used for the Ford Mustang. To go with Ford's naming scheme of naming cars that start with the letter "F", the Crown Victoria name would be replaced by "Falcon" or "Fairlane". In addition, to go outside that naming scope, reviving the Galaxie nameplate has also been mentioned.
- As part of Ford's The Way Forward restructuring plan, it is possible for Ford to discontinue the Crown Victoria in 2009 and grow the Ford Five Hundred for 2010. Most fullsize sedans are beginning to shrink in size, and some flagship sedans (e.g. Toyota Avalon, Dodge Charger) are shorter and smaller than the Ford Five Hundred.
Despite this, Ford has announced that the Crown Victoria's better selling twin, the Mercury Grand Marquis will stay in production until at least 2009, with the "Grand" dropped off the nameplate, so it will fit Mercury's new naming scheme of making all their cars start with the letter M. It is unclear if the front bench seating (6-passenger) feature will be retained by a redesign of the car or a renamed replacement.
On April 19, 2006, Ford Motor Company announced that the Crown Victoria Police Interceptor will remain in production "well into the future". [1]
[edit] See also
- Ford Crown Victoria Police Interceptor
- Ford LTD Crown Victoria (1979-1991 models)
- Ford LTD (1978 and earlier models)
- Mercury Grand Marquis/Marauder
- Lincoln Town Car
- Ford Panther platform
- Ford Motor Company
[edit] External links
| Wikimedia Commons has media related to: |
[edit] Official websites and resources
- Ford Crown Victoria (U.S.A.): Civilian | Police Interceptor | Commercial Version (includes long-wheelbase version)
[edit] Unofficial websites and resources
- CrownVic.us Forums
- CrownVic.Net Forums
- Police Car Pics
- AutoGuideWiki.com
- Jonelle's Crown Vics, etc.
- Ford Crown Victoria user manuals archive
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