WELCOME TO THE LAST CROWN VIC
My Nephew aboard one of my Crown Vics. I think I had four of them over the years!
THE STORY
I been waiting for the right time, not wanting to be too early, but definitely not wanting to wait too long. I am launching this website in March of 2022. The last of the Crown Victoria Panther Platform Police Interceptors are now eleven years old. I still see a few around, but sometimes a month goes by between sightings.
Who is going to have the last Crown Vic in service? Who will win the prize? You heard me right, there will be a prize, giving due consideration to your agency’s regulations, of course. Maybe “recognition” would be a better word.
Over the next few weeks I will begin reaching out to agencies around the U.S., and Canada and elsewhere. I hope to hear from all of you that still have Crown Vics. Send me pictures, mileage, the estimated future retirement date for the car, and anything else you think would be of interest to other Crown Vic fans in the LE world.
Marked? Unmarked? Makes no difference to me if it is a police car. I encourage agencies to mark up your surviving unmarked Crown Vics. Put them back into patrol service if only for a little while so that they can go out looking refreshed and with dignity.
And, if you took your last Crown Vic out of service in the last year or so, I would like to hear about that, as well. I will give it a spot in the “Recently Retired” section.
That’s what this is about. At the bottom of the website you will see info on sending pictures and information, and reaching out to me with comments, questions, or ideas. I am open to corrections if you see glaring errors, just be ready to back it up! If you see a photo you would like credit for, just ask.
THE FORD CROWN VICTORIA POLICE CAR – A BRIEF RETROSPECTIVE.
The first modern day Ford Panther Platform Crown Victorias were an offshoot, Ford would say a natural progression, based on the Ford LTD Crown Victoria of the 1970s that would eventually become the late 1970s Crown Victoria. The Crown Vic started appearing as a police car around 1978. Anybody drive one of those? Boats, right?
I think that is Springfield, MO. Nicely refurbished. Maybe a 1979 due to the single headlights? These earlier body styles stayed with us through 1991.
MAYBE YOUR COUSIN… FROM BOAASTUN.
SHARP LOOKING CHP CROWN VIC
1992 – A NEW BODY THAT WOULD STAY WITH US THROUGH 1997.
A MINNESOTA STATE TROOPER ALONGSIDE HIS TRUSTY STEED.
NYPD BLUE
1998 – 2011 THE FINAL YEARS
DELAWARE STATE POLICE
1998 Crown Vic, a nice looking car
Washington State Patrol Trooper Randy Elkins, as any state trooper is expected to, took very good care of his patrol car. His was the last Crown Vic purchased by WSP, back in 2011. Even now in 2022 I still occasionally see one on the road. But seriously WSP, Corfam shoes?
Back in 2020, CHP announced that the last two of their Crown Vics, seen here, were nearing the end. Are they still with us? Probably not.
The news article associated with this picture is dated December of 2021. Unknown if that is when this picture of an Austin, Texas P.D. Crown Vic was taken. It looks awfully clean, but I do know that the City of Austin bought 176 Crown Victoria in 2011, with plan to stash them away for future use, knowing the end of the line was near. Good call Austin. Is this one still around? I intend to find out.
You can just see some of the hood at the bottom of the photo. Kansas State Trooper Michael Winner receives the keys to his new patrol car from Captain Scott Harrington. It was the last Police Interceptor to come off the Ford line, sometime in 2011. I don’t have a picture of the whole car, but KHP bought a bunch of them to deck them out handsomely and a bit retro for their 75th anniversary.
THE OTHER LAST ONE
The St. Thomas Ford Plant in Southwold, Ontario, Canada put out more than one and a half million Crown Victorias between 1991 and 2011. Thanks neighbor.
Apparently not a Panther Police Interceptor Model, the very last Crown Victoria came off the Southwold assembly line on 09/15/2011. It was headed to Saudi Arabia. If you have spent any time in the Middle East, you know they loved their Crown Vics. And if you’ve been there, you know at the rate they crash cars it is unlikely that this one has survived.
