The last Ford Crown Victoria ever built

jpd80 · 16-09-2011, 06:08 AM

As FG Falcon gets an update, the last big American RWD sedan exits the market...

Quote:

The last Ford Crown Victoria ever built
By Justin Hyde Sep 15, 2011 1:30 PM

After 32 years in production, the last Ford Crown Victoria will roll off the assembly line today. It's a record that surpasses all other North American vehicles, including the Model T. Its final destination, however, isn't a museum in Detroit or a American collector. It's being sent to Saudi Arabia.

Possibly the most profitable Ford car ever — thanks to bean-counting that denied it capital for major updates — Ford decided in 2009 that the cost of bringing the Panther platform to 21st-century standards and replacing its worn-out tooling was not worth the trouble.

Its factory in St. Thomas, Ontario, has slowly wound down over the past few months; workers were sent home early Wednesday with the final five cars on the assembly line because they didn't have enough parts. The city is looking for potential new buyers for the plant, but most of the 1,200 workers will either have to move or quit.

And with the death of the Crown Vic goes a whole slew of iconic vehicles from Ford's classic Police Interceptor — that will be replaced either by other automakers' cars or the new Taurus-based Ford Police Interceptor; to the New York City taxi cab — that will be replaced by either the Ford Transit Connect, a Nissan van (that our fearless leader hates) or some other random egg-shaped vehicle.

The last Ford Crown Victoria ever built

Wretched · 16-09-2011, 07:23 AM

it might be the last one to be built but it certainly looks its age.

Ford_The_Win · 16-09-2011, 08:06 AM

A V8 that produces less than 200kw and a 4 speed automatic, it's definitely old hat now.

LTDHO · 16-09-2011, 08:12 AM

It looks like it came straight out of the 90's!

TC200six · 16-09-2011, 11:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LTDHO

It looks like it came straight out of the 90's!

It pretty much has, its last styling update was in 1998

2011G6E · 16-09-2011, 12:15 PM

Interesting comment about the loooong engine bay. There were a few built and tested quite some years back for Highway Patrol duties with a V10 engine from Ford.
The "soft suspension" and "for straight line stuff only"...yep...typical big American car. I've even heard that the Chrysler 300C we get here in Oz has a much better suspension setup than the softy that the Yanks get. We test drove a diesel one a couple of years back, expecting a big soft doughy thing, but it felt really nice to drive.

Ford_The_Win · 16-09-2011, 12:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 2011G6E

Interesting comment about the loooong engine bay. There were a few built and tested quite some years back for Highway Patrol duties with a V10 engine from Ford.
The "soft suspension" and "for straight line stuff only"...yep...typical big American car. I've even heard that the Chrysler 300C we get here in Oz has a much better suspension setup than the softy that the Yanks get. We test drove a diesel one a couple of years back, expecting a big soft doughy thing, but it felt really nice to drive.

Interesting that you mention that about the 300C, I remember reading that all the Crown Vics sold outside North America have an 'export' suspension package, because foreign buyers in the Middle East wouldn't tolerate a big sloppy whale

**Polyal** · 16-09-2011, 08:14 AM

Lol I was going to say the same...retro?

duaned · 16-09-2011, 08:18 AM

Any interior pics of this slab on wheels?

Ford_The_Win · 16-09-2011, 08:37 AM

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Originally Posted by duaned

Any interior pics of this slab on wheels?

I don't think the interior has changed for 10+ years either

mik · 16-09-2011, 02:36 PM

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Originally Posted by Ford_The_Win

I don't think the interior has changed for 10+ years either

wow, look at all that room, definitely function over form, not a bad thing i reckon, cars these days have in built flaws being slaves to "fashion" the ve is a perfect example imo.

Ford_The_Win · 16-09-2011, 02:49 PM

I prefer the layout of modern cars, I would find that interior awkward, look where the HVAC controls are, down near the transmission hump, and you'd be sliding all over the place on that bench seat. Personally, if I'm going to buy a car with a bench seat, slab dashboard and column shifter, it's gonna have fins and lots of chrome...not a 2011 model..

**Professor Farnsworth** · 16-09-2011, 03:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ford_The_Win

I prefer the layout of modern cars, I would find that interior awkward, look where the HVAC controls are, down near the transmission hump, and you'd be sliding all over the place on that bench seat. Personally, if I'm going to buy a car with a bench seat, slab dashboard and column shifter, it's gonna have fins and lots of chrome...not a 2011 model..

yes that sounds so much better. Also you're not part of the US demographic. You'd be mad to take it around any sort of corner anyway.

Tobey · 16-09-2011, 08:42 AM

Looks like an EA inside!

2011G6E · 16-09-2011, 08:57 AM

Not a bad car, but from what I've heard from workmates thathave travelled to the USA recently and things I've read in the past, it was a perfectly good car for most people who just wanted "a big lump of car", and you can pick them up very cheap second hand.
The biggest issue was that it had a big boot...but it was a shallow boot. Much like an old '63 AP5 Valiant Regal I once owned, it had a very long and very wide boot...but it was so shallow you couldn't fit an esky into the damn thing because it was so shallow. Even a good sized suitcase would be pressed for room.

Sad to see the old girl go, and it could have been much better...

LightningStrike · 16-09-2011, 09:08 AM

Looks like an AU and a Toyota Avalon got a quiet hotel room together......

Look at those seats, and the mightly column shifter!!!

Always sad to see a plant close, and a product killed due to neglect.
Shame Ford AU didn't try and grab it as an export opp, or even allow the manufacture of the Falcon on this line.

EFFalcon · 16-09-2011, 09:04 AM

i'd have a crown vic

**Luke Plaizier** · 16-09-2011, 09:27 AM

Rented one on my last US visit.

Seats are horrible. The only car I've ever head leg aches in. Punchy off the line but from then on just V8 noisy 4 cyl performance. Very softly suspended, suiting straight roads with wide radius turnpikes. Not a good handler at all.

The Argentine XK Falcon that lasted to the 1990's would have to be similar. All the same chassis and rough shape with improviements only to ancilliaries.

When I popped the hood on the Mercury Grand Marquis that we had, I noticed that even though the car and dash were big, they hadn't designed the A/C evaporator to fit under the dash - it was a big box on the engine side of the firewall. And the distance between the front of the engine and the grill, was just phenomenal. I'd estimate at least a half, even three quarters of a metre. Radiator/ac condensor and fan shroud not withstanding, the space was otherwise empty.

From Ford Australia's perspective, this is the enemy. Forget competition from other manufacturers, the existence of this vehicle single handedly denied Ford Australia any LHD export opportunity it ever had. Ford Oz would have been better off owned by ANY other manufacturer in the world and would have had a better LHD export chance than having been owned by Ford.

Lukeyson

Till_Lind · 16-09-2011, 09:57 AM

Fairwell ancient ladyyy.

I did see quite a few of these getting around with private owners (+ taxis) in Qatar, the old and fat locals seemed to like them if they wanted an all-rounder on the cheap.

Falcon_Crazy · 16-09-2011, 10:03 AM

RIP but just maybe, this could open door for FoA to have more of a say for global replacement. I could be dreaming of course.

aussie muscle · 16-09-2011, 10:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Falcon_Crazy

RIP but just maybe, this could open door for FoA to have more of a say for global replacement. I could be dreaming of course.

i'd tell you you're dreaming, but you already know it

Mr Hardware · 16-09-2011, 10:56 AM

man i'd love one of these
super LWB base model!

The Mighty Red · 16-09-2011, 11:27 AM

Damn that is one ugly son of a *****,

Bossxr8 · 16-09-2011, 12:49 PM

If the Crown Vic is no longer going to the Middle East, what is replacing it? The Falcon was denied the middle east market because of it, so why can't they take it now with Falcon?

That was the reason the E8 platform was package protected for LHD in the first place, for possible export to the middle east.

Dr Smith · 16-09-2011, 06:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bossxr8

If the Crown Vic is no longer going to the Middle East, what is replacing it? The Falcon was denied the middle east market because of it, so why can't they take it now with Falcon?

That was the reason the E8 platform was package protected for LHD in the first place, for possible export to the middle east.

What's even more ironic is the reverence some parts of the UAE show towards the real falcon bird. They even have a hospital/research study centre for Falcons and the Dubai racetrack has the image of a falcon with wings spread as the steel structure of the carpark iirc. Imagine what could have been if they could buy a car named Falcon or even Terry Turbos...

Road_Warrior · 16-09-2011, 09:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bossxr8

If the Crown Vic is no longer going to the Middle East, what is replacing it? The Falcon was denied the middle east market because of it, so why can't they take it now with Falcon?

That was the reason the E8 platform was package protected for LHD in the first place, for possible export to the middle east.

The Taurus has replaced it in the Middle East.

**Professor Farnsworth** · 16-09-2011, 12:56 PM

i love the crown vic - but the point of the article was missed by most, let me summarise it for you:

"Dear Ford fans, the Falcon is done, Love, Ford."

**Polyal** · 16-09-2011, 01:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Professor Farnsworth

i love the crown vic - but the point of the article was missed by most, let me summarise it for you:

"Dear Ford fans, the Falcon is done, Love, Ford."

Done as in over? All I see is a GRWD replacement.

**Professor Farnsworth** · 16-09-2011, 01:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Polyal

Done as in over? All I see is a GRWD replacement.

the way i see it panning out is in a few years we get either

a.) A FWD/AWD Taurus
b.) A FWD/AWD Taurus badged as a Falcon

i could be wrong, have to wait and see.

**Polyal** · 16-09-2011, 01:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Professor Farnsworth

the way i see it panning out is in a few years we get either

a.) A FWD/AWD Taurus
b.) A FWD/AWD Taurus badged as a Falcon

i could be wrong, have to wait and see.

Well its all crystal ball stuff but my hope is that Ford will need/want a GWRD car because:

1. Falcon Replacement (although that alone is not enough)
2. India/China expansion, hello Lincoln
3. Crown Vic Replacement

Surely there is enough volume there to do what Merc and BMW do with their 5 series and C class (or maybe S??) You get the point. All is not lost, but perhaps the reason its taking so long to work out whats going on is because the answer is one big MoFo from FoMoCo.