I always wanted one of these! They’re big, tough, simple, and reasonably quick. You can run over all kinds of stuff and you’ll barely notice a bump. Back in 2007, I went to a North Carolina State Police auto auction in Raleigh and could have had my pick of the litter. All of the cars had just under 100K miles and were trading for $3,500-$4,000 but I just couldn’t pull the trigger. So today, I’ll review what I missed as we take a gander at a 2005 Ford Crown Victoria P71. This one is located in White Marsh, Maryland and is available, here on eBay for a current bid of $6,100 with twenty-six bids tendered so far.
Now this is a police car that hasn’t done too much policin’ as it only has 15K miles on its odometer. My thought is that this was a fleet car and maybe not used in actual police service – the Carfax Report isn’t too telling. It is a genuine P71 and it has no sign of exterior lights, other than the driver’s side moveable spotlight, or specific organization badging, decals, etc. The black cross-hatch plastic grille is a giveaway to this car’s model origin. It certainly is a bright and clean Oxford White finish, and as is often the case, both the front and rear bumpers appear to have been dragged loose a bit from driving over one of those “whatever” objects that I claimed these cars handled really well. You can also see some overspray where the rammers have been touched up. Beyond these small items, the exterior presents well.
The interior is telling of this car’s Interceptor fleet roots with its consoless woven fabric bucket seats up front and non-matching vinyl padded rear seat. Often police cars will have a molded plastic rear seat – easy to hose off, but this example is not sporting one of those likely due to its non-constable use. And that’s the reason that there’s no cage-equipped front/rear divider either, but there is a rubber mat adorning the floor. The miscellaneous dash installed switch gear is indicative of cop-like stuff too as is the circular headliner-attached overhead light. And, not to be missed is the “certified” 140 MPH speedometer. I’m not sure what’s up with the passenger seat, it’s marred by a circular hole that looks like it bit a bullet but I doubt that’s really what happened.
Other Interceptor features are the 250 net HP, 4.6 Liter V8 engine, eleven more than the dual exhaust equipped civilian version, the “severe duty” shock absorbers, and steel wheels. There is no reference as to how well this big Ford does its intercepting.
As P71s go, this one’s a rarity due to its very low mileage. There are a slew of listing images included, be sure to check them all out. The urge to own one of these has long passed me and I’m no longer inclined, but how about you?
Interesting. Assuming the car is legit (and the condition of the car seems to support it), what could be the back story? Can a P71 slip through the cracks and not get used? Even if ordered as an extra car in the fleet, wouldn’t it get used more than this? Can any of you enforcement folks provide insight?
Although the law enforcement vehicle of choice has mostly moved to the Explorer, many will still remember the ubiquitous Crown Vic. You could probably set the cruise at 70 mph on the interstate and control the traffic around you.
Good job Jim.
If it had cruise, that is.
My 2003 ex-GA State Patrol has Cruise, also carpet, supposedly it was a “Troop Commander’s” Car. Bought it in 2011 with 140K for $5000, needed rear axle seals, muffler on one side, brakes. Now has 203K, needed an Alternator at 160K, Fuel Pump at 170K, Exhaust Manifold at 180K, Intake Manifold (stupid plastic part that cracks) at 190K, I’m 3,000 miles overdue for a repair!
Tranny was replaced with a new Ford unit at 110K, still shifts firm, AC still works, AM/FM Stereo,
OH, the backup lights don’t work, one of those Police Wiring ish-yews,
Frank
Exceptional condition for a former fleet car-no spotlights, no rear area barriers, no plastic back seat, no holes in the floor for a radio console or shotgun rack..
Hmm..
No damage or accident “reports”which I guess means an accident wasn’t reported? The back end looks totally out of whack, gaps in the trunk lid, the bumper cover, bent tailpipes…
Probably a staff car or Chiefs car or Detective vehicle.
Department head or used for road trips, training, extraditions locally etc
There does seem to be a lot of wonkiness at the rear. A PPI is definitely in order for this one. It is remarkably clean though, and must be close to unique as a nearly unused example.
Had spotlight at one time check the Fleebay pics.
These cars don’t die easy, production ended in 2012, and there’s many still on the job in law enforcement, awaiting their second lease in life as taxi cabs, which thousands have already succumbed to through the years. They’ve also become popular with rodders, given their powertrain configuration, and performance parts availability for the 4.6. Somebody could have some fun with this one.
Check the rearend code. Oddly these interceptors didn’t come std w a trac-lok
I owned a 1992 CVic when I lived in San Francisco. I used to drive it to LA to visit family ever month or so. It would cruise all day at 100 up and down I-5. Comfortable, quiet, and stable, it did exactly what you’d expect, and very well. One trip I took my girlfriend’s Saab 900 and sold the CVic two weeks later – I suddenly got a renewed lesson in what driving could be with that Saab.
I’m Saaby to tell you, but I think that you may have commented on the incorrect posting…
05, only year with a whip antenna.
Reminder, the mileage doe not really tell the story … most had an engne hours meter in the dash. Once an officer gets into the vehicle … it is rarely (if ever) turned off until the end of his 12 hour shift. That is his mobile office (ie air con, heating, radio etc) and all the electronics, (the CAD, the Motorola etc) require the engine running.
Sadly, a K-9 dog died the other day (I forget where) because the engine of the police vehicle that it was in shut off while its handler was elsewhere. The article said that the vehicle was equipped with a system that sends a notification to the officer, rolls down the windows and turns on fans in the event of unintended engine shutoff. The system failed in this case, and they are checking all of the K-9 protection systems in their other units.
Hands down one of the best cars ever built, take that Japan. I worked with police from 1983 to 2017. They had the stupid Dodge Diplomats, then came the Chevy Impala, a good one, but not as good as the P71. I have owned a sister car, a 2003 Mercury Grand Marquis, since 2008. Bought it with 7,700 actual miles from the original old lady owner. Now has 141,000 miles. I will sell my 50 year old Corvette before I would sell the GM. Comfort, reliability and gets 25 mpg on highway because I don’t drive 99 mph like every other jackass.
The best handling a performance for my real job experience 1979 Plymouth Volare 360cu police package. Solid cornering excellent acceleration and most important breaking. Had 0n post 2yr 120,000mi in metro NY.
It also could have been a package buy car and this unit was one the mechanic’s used as a “take this until we finish services” or as others have stated, an undercover car that never got all the “dressing’s” BUT was never shut off during a shift. — Eyes wide open before you put money down. CYA !
Vic’s are not under cover cars. Plains clothed say for detectives etc. you would never recognize a true “undercover car”. May be a micro bud or even had a Hudson in the 70’s. Lol.
Just sold a 2005 crown vic police interceptor,very clean everything works on it,cold a/c for only $2900 cash.had just over 120k miles on the odometer,with the 3.23 gear which means it was probably highway patrol or county sheriff.city cars usually had the 3.55 gear.top speed was 128 mph with 3.23 or 119mph with 3.55.it was taken as a trade in(only $1000)
A 12 gallon gas tank? That’s what my buddy’s cruiser had back in 2015. I couldn’t believe it ! His was a 2003 model and still had the push bars mounted on the front and YES it had a 12 gallon gas tank! Just like this one, it had the same suspension package and higher horsepower. Ran like a tank! The police have all kinds of reasons why they order their cars the way they do. BUT – that 12 gallon gas tank still leaves me scratching my head…. Nice article !
Robert: These P71’s and (I think) all Panthers of this gen have 19 gallon tanks.
Maybe your buddy’s 2003 had an after-market replacement tank.
So, here is the thing. The mileage on CVPI’s is only part of the equation. You need to look at the number of hours the engine has been idling. For every hour the engine has been idling, Ford states that it is approximately 33 miles of use on the engine.
You can look at the idle hours easily on these models. I would definitely ask about this before putting any bids on the block.
If I had to guess, it was either some sort of command car or could even have been a fire department vehicle. In Illinois at least, municipalities can buy through a state program where the cars are all spec’d out identically to cut the costs considerably then the municipality can add their own radio equipment, spotlight, etc. I know our city buys other city vehicles through the same program if they can adapt something. I remember them selling a Crown Vic that had actually been assigned to the fire chief. It had a much easier life and was in much better shape than a patrol car but once they took the badging and equipment off, you wouldn’t necessarily know it was using by the police department.
Ok admit it how many of you still hit the brakes when you see one in traffic? Its a nice older car that you actually have to drive without the distraction of the infotainment system.
Why would Ford put a distracting civilian radio in an officer’s “place of business”?
Someone stole the special chromed police “hubcaps”? lol
When we wrote specs, the correct language for a AM FM CD was: CIVIL DEFENSE MULTI CHANNEL MONITOR AND TRAINING DISC PLAYER.
It looks to me that this entire car has been painted! Check the lines between the fenders to doors side to side. Overstay on pillar posts and along rockers. I would want to see it in person!
Remarkably these are STILL in service at some of the smaller LEO agencies, despite the newest models being twelve years old by now. Some of the more affluent agencies have long since cycled these out for Ford Taurus’s, Impala PPVs, Dodge Chargers as well as Ford Explorers and Chevy Tahoes and Suburbans. GLWA.
My wife had an 03 Grand Marqui. The tranny was always wonky but we only got rid of it due to the plastic intake cracking and it had 130k.
On ir
T. Not as comfortable as my F-250 but not much is. (I miss my f’d 250 seats as I called it). Tundra is almost as comfy but not quite. It doesn’t shoot spark plugs or have electronic gremlims like the Ford, so it wins, and would blow its doors off.
Little off topic, but gave me a smile, maybe for you, too. Rolling up to a red light last week, noticed a last gen Town Car. Healthy exhaust, then noticed the license plate. DOHC TC. Custom wheels, tires about 12″ wide. MK. 8 engine transplant? Light turns green, he’s gone.
Why would they take it out of state for service?
we sold these to the kids deccde ago wanted to play cop while drivin out there. Now they get stripped & stuff goes into the grey thing (fox, right top corner) for way more’n the ‘big car’. Is all ways “follow the age cohort” in these kinda things~