Late model Ford police cruisers...i wonder

Yep, the "Panther" platform dates to 1978, for the 1979 model year "full-size" Ford. It was in response to GM's downsized 1977 models. Before that the Ford full-size "platform" dated to 1965, & before that, it was 1949. Ford gets a LOT of mileage out of its "platforms".
 
My GF has a Lincoln Continental of that general variety. It has the 4.6L engine and has decent pep, although no race car, for a big tanker. She drives ~60 miles round trip for work on a secondary highway with 5 slowdowns between here and there.

I think her trip computer generally says around 25mpg, but not much city driving in that.

EDIT: Clarification... 25mpg on the trip computer based on mostly the back and forth to work, with a little city driving. 28mpg on the trip meter if it's only the back and forth to work.

This car has >200K miles and still runs pretty darn good and smooth. The only non-maintenance work I recall it needing in the last few years was one of the coil packs went out causing it to run rough.
 
FWIW all of the service cruisers in the state of AZ were retrofitted with the anti explosion kit. You could probably verify if this was done to any before you bought them. Police packages also come with some benefits such as high amp alternator,silicone hoses,and upgraded brakes.

Your mechanic if you have a trustworthy one could probably give the car a good going over and tell you what kind of life it has left.
 
:banana::banana::banana: on of my favorite movies.:banana::banana:
OldSkool said:
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"It's got a cop motor, a 440 cubic inch plant, it's got cop tires, cop suspensions, cop shocks. It's a model made before catalytic converters so it'll run good on regular gas. What do you say, is it the new Bluesmobile or what?"
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the only thing that gripes my ass about those crown vic,s is when you know your speeding and one tops the hill and your heart jumps out of your body and only to realize it is grandma and grandpaw going somewhere in their lookalike police car. how many has been there and done that. steve
 
rcaman said:
the only thing that gripes my ass about those crown vic,s is when you know your speeding and one tops the hill and your heart jumps out of your body and only to realize it is grandma and grandpaw going somewhere in their lookalike police car. how many has been there and done that. steve
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i used to work in the rental car business years ago...we had a fleet of white crown vics,not "cruiser class"but nothing too fancy...about what an unmarked police car looked like in that city at that time[and there were many of those]...driving one of those in traffic,[while in my blue uniform shirt and tie no less]was an an exercise in total frustation,nobody would pass me,nobody would get out of the way,NOBODY broke the speed limit anywhere near me,or did ANYTHING but slow down...i honestly don't know how cops put in a shift out on the road...they were nice driving cars but came with some damn annoying side effects.
 
"Chief" or "detective" vehicles are the best...some even have cloth upholstery instead of the industro-vinyl regular squads get. Cabbies like the all-rubber interior of the squads, though...after your last fare loses 8 martinis in the back seat you can just head to the car wash, open both doors and blast it clean.
 
I see a lot of blue smoke coming from older Vics. Wonder if that's from worn compression rings or leaky valve seals, or what?
 
We had a crown vic for a couple years and it was a piece of junk, in and out of the shop constantly. IMO Wouldnt get out of its own way, our suburban had better acceleration lol. Not a bad driving car at all, as comfy as a ford seat gets.. Kinda church pew with a cushion comfy. And NO ford is "cheap" to work on. may not be as high as a Mercedes but by far from bein a bargain in the service world. Plus ford is bad about making easy jobs difficult just for fun.
 
A Caprice with the slightly detuned version of the Corvette LT1 engine isn't a bad deal either. My Roadmaster (same engine and platform) went 278,000 trouble-free miles.
 
Clmrt said:
I see a lot of blue smoke coming from older Vics. Wonder if that's from worn compression rings or leaky valve seals, or what?
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Usually ring blow-by or valve seals from lack of maintenance. Many fleets (especially cab companies) don't change oil as often as they should.

My buddy used to be a Ford tech at a dealership that serviced alot of police cars and cabs. Its amazing how long they go without oil changes (75,000 miles in one case, don't ask me how it was still running.) 250k on the stock air filter (it literally looked like a black brick.) Stuff that just defies logic.
 
WhiteSE said:
interesting that it received the 5 star rating when they are still debating why Ford puts the gas tank behind the axel and so in a rear collision, it ruptures and causes fires...instead of putting the tank in front of the axle..

I see many police dept's and towns are suing Ford for that. Its the civilian gas tank basically. no puncture proof or shielding of any kind.
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Just about every car has the fuel tank behind the rear axle , under the trunk.
 
birddog said:
And you are out of luck if you want to buy a new Crown Vic off the dealers lot:

Ford To Halt Crown Vic Sales to Public

According to a story in the Cleveland Plain Dealer on October 27, 2007, Ford has made a decision to stop selling its deadly Crown Victoria model to the public. The article says Ford will continue to sell these fire traps to police departments and cab companies, however.


The company blamed slow sales and increasing decisions by police to buy ‘faster” alternatives to the Crown Victoria Police Interceptor, although police say it’s because alternatives are safer.


Ford's Panther line of cars, which consists of the Crown Victoria, Lincoln Town Car and Grand Marquis, is the oldest auto platform in North America. They are the only cars still designed with the fuel tank located outside the protection of the rear axel and within the car's "crush zone." No other passenger cars manufactured on this continent have retained this fuel tank position because it has been considered too dangerous. At least five million of these unprotected vehicles are estimated to be in use on roads today.

More than 30 law enforcement officers have burned to death after their Crown Victoria Police Interceptors (patrol cars, or CVPIs) were rear-ended from behind. Hundreds more civilians have died in Ford civilian Crown Victorias, Lincoln Town Cars and Grand Marquis.
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Absolute BS. As bad as the Plain Dealer is , the writers can probably spell 'axle'. Have a look under every car in a WalMart parking lot , between the rear wheels and back bumper-SURPRISE! Fuel tank! The quoted rubbish probably came from a letter to the editor. Cleveland isn't exactly the hometown of sophistication.
 
Always liked the 1969-72 Ford 4 door "post" sedan's looks-They just looked "right" to me for some reason...a buddy of mine had a '69 Galaxie 500 that had been a Signal Mountain Fire Chief's car-it had all the "Cop" stuff on it-including a 427 SOHC that would make the car absolutely leave the earth.
 
a buddy of mine had a '69 Galaxie 500 that had been a Signal Mountain Fire Chief's car-it had all the "Cop" stuff on it-including a 427 SOHC that would make the car absolutely leave the earth.
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:drool: i sure wish i had that 427sohc to throw in my 68 galaxie:sigh: all i have is a 302.mind you i could always turn it into a boss:D
 
was that the cammer engine? I know a dude out here that has one on an engine stand. That engine is awesome! It's known for the exhaust manifolds to glow red hot!

Sandy G said:
Always liked the 1969-72 Ford 4 door "post" sedan's looks-They just looked "right" to me for some reason...a buddy of mine had a '69 Galaxie 500 that had been a Signal Mountain Fire Chief's car-it had all the "Cop" stuff on it-including a 427 SOHC that would make the car absolutely leave the earth.
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