For decades the worst thing a speeding driver flying down the highways in any state in the union could see was a Ford Crown Victoria. You never knew if the car was grandma and grandpa out for a drive or if it was the highway patrol looking for speeders. For decades it didn’t matter where you went odds are the Ford Crown Victoria was the police car in service with highway patrol and local police.
The Mississippi Highway Patrol announced via twitter recently that its last Ford Crown Vic had been turned in and retired. MHP said that Trooper Justin Poulos had turned in the last car of the fleet. MHP also said that the Crown Vic had honorably served the troopers for over 30 years and that it hated to see the car leave.
Last summer, we talked about some police agencies still having the Crown Vic in their fleets. We hope some of the agencies retire the cars from active duty, but keep them for public outreach and parades as some agencies have with the Mustang pursuit cars. While many agencies are moving to the Dodge Charger as a police vehicle, many more are moving to the Ford Police Interceptor Utility that is based on the Ford Explorer SUV.
The Ford Police Interceptor Utility was the fastest of all police vehicles in recent testing. The Utility also comes in a hybrid version that is fast and could save cities significant money on fuel. It’s only a matter of time until all Crown Vics are retired and sold or destroyed.
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Source: WTVA
Comments
Sad end of a good, tough, and reliable car. I like to believe that if FORD had not been stupid enough to stop building them, they likely could have kept the same platform or at least the same concept with the same dimensions. It likely would not had a V8 but rather an ECOBOOST V6 or non turbo V6 as a lower cost option. Perhaps even a hybrid version for crowded downtown areas. But we’ll never know. Although there are still some CROWN VICTORIA’s still in service or as spares, farewell CROWN VICTORIA/GRAND MARQUIS, you served well and will be missed by many police departments and civilian owners.
Before the Crown Vic’s, Chrysler owned the cop market. Most cruisers had an iron rocket for an engine of its day, the 383. It’s only problem was gas mileage. During the gas crunches and raising cost of gasoline during the 1970’s, many state hwy departments were asked to idle more than cruise.
https://www.allpar.com/squads/history.html
Personally I think that this is a bad decision to put an end to the Crown Vic! It is a luxury car for all those that put their lives on the line to serve & protect us & also for people that want an upgraded vehicle to drive with the room/comfort of a Lincoln without having to pay the price of a Lincoln! Even though SUVs have pretty much taken over the market many still like to have the option of buying a full size car that has been around for decades & proven successful like the Crown Vic & the Chevy Impala.
Well, i live in Toronto Ontario , that’s in Canada for the less geographically gifted. I literally see a dozen crown Victorias’ a day. The toronto police department has a huge fleet of over 7000 vehicles of which crown vics make about 20% (my guess). The rest are the usual Taurus and explorer interceptors. Most look like they are in pretty good shape, few dings but a lot of spilt coffee.
In the past they would become taxis so maintained good price but changes to the rules regarding taxi cars have seen them sold to rural buyers who demand durability. Taxis must now be New and have fuel efficiency somewhat higher than a crown Vic could ever deliver.
Crown Vic and it’s corporate cousin, the town car were made in st Thomas Ontario, about 100 miles from Toronto. It was forced to close during the 2009 downsizing but I believe both cars could easily have continued till today with little loss. Ford said good bye to the airport limo market, Toyota said hello.
Of note rural Ontario is a haven for pre 2000 Tauruses, you can’t go anywhere without seeing one. Correction- there are 7000 police officers and approximately 2000 vehicles in Toronto. Not Toronto Ohio but Ontario!
My 2003 Grand Marquis shows 493,544 miles on the odometer. Ford doesn’t make anything I’d want to replace it with.
I own an 2011 Crown Vic ex- PA State Trooper with very; I would say, “lightwieght” duty. Love that thing to death. I will happily do everything in my power to keep this car running