Despite this car being 15 years old now, I still get a lump in my throat when I see one of these old Crown Vics in the rearview mirror, as I’m driving 5 mph under the speed limit in the left lane while texting, making a sandwich, and steering with my knees. I’m kidding, of course, that’s my biggest pet peeve. The seller collects these unique vehicles and they have this beauty listed here on eBay in Corning, New York, the current bid price is $12,100 (!), and the reserve isn’t met.
Mike Stephens showed us a nice ex-FBI cruiser back in January looking stealthy in all-black here on Barn Finds. This Medium Titanium Crown Victoria Police Interceptor (CVPI) has just under 45,000 miles and only 241 hours of idle time, according to the seller. They collect Crown Victorias (you can see a bunch of them in the background in the photos) and this is their last in this color for sale.
There must be a flaw somewhere on or in this car but I don’t see one. For 16 years, between 1997 and 2013, the Ford Crown Victoria was reportedly used by more law enforcement agencies than any other vehicle in North America. This is a second-generation model, made from 1998 through 2011, and in 2010, the designation changed from P71 to P7B. 2011 would be their last year for this use, although thousands are most likely still in reliable service around the country. Sadly, due to inattentive drivers and other factors, these cars are involved in rear crashes more than usual, but this car passes the 75-mph rear-end crash test. There was also an optional fire suppression system for rear-end crashes. Please slow down and change lanes when you see a law enforcement vehicle on the shoulder – or any vehicle on the shoulder. It shows that you’re a careful and caring driver, not to mention being a law in most states.
We don’t know if this car has optional factory-installed ballistic door panels or not, but the front compartment looks like new. Side airbags were standard in 2009 as were upgraded brakes and power pedals. While not the type of vehicle that would normally carry a perp in the back seat as there’s no cage, this back seat looks like new as well.
The engine is Ford’s 4.6-liter SOHC V8 with 250 horsepower and 297 lb-ft of torque. This example was in use in Long Beach, California as a detective’s car and is said to be in amazing condition, both cosmetically and mechanically, with no leaks, rattles, or any other issues. Are there any fans of law enforcement vehicles out there, or those who drove these as law enforcement professionals?
I cant get over the condition of this Crown Vic. Its like new. I am going out on a limb here and say that many police and FbI cars were religiously maintained. They had to be for the officers safety. Charcoal grey is a great color too. This would make a great cruiser, the drivetrains are pretty much bullet proof too.
Thanks Scotty for another fun write-up.
Would be interesting to own. With the dark gray paint and the black wheels, it carries that stealthy, no-nonsense look. If you wear a black suit, white shirt, black tie, and sunglasses when you drive it, you would always be perceived as the guy in charge.
It would be intriguing to visit with the seller. How did he end up collecting ex-police cars as a hobby/business? I see several for sale on ebay. I suspect he picks up non-abused examples on the cheap, refurbishes them, and then sells them for a profit. But the population of workable examples has to be getting thin.
Given their well-earned reputation as a “tank,” this Crown Vic probably has years of service left in it.
Oddly, many didn’t come w the trac-lok rear diff. And some different gearsets ⚙️ were available.
Love the cop car packages. Who doesn’t approve of factory HD.
I bought my first crown vic in 1997. Had a 90, a 96 and a 2003 Gran Marquis. I loved those cars and when I saw a 2008 P71 at an auction in 2015 I had to have it. I hated that rough riding thing tho it was the best handling one of the bunch, it just beat me up to drive it
I had a 92 in 1999, it was the best commuter car I ever had. Quiet, smooth, and good for 100MPH all day long.
So Tim, do you still have it? My late nephew had a 2000 model and he just
loved it. He used to take it to Old Town and cruise it on Friday and Saturday nights there. The last time he cruised it was New Year’s Eve of ’21 almost a month before he passed
away in 2022 at the age of 36. He was in the process of restoring it when he passed. He asked me when
he bought it how he could restore it.
I told him that since it ran well he should redo all the major mechanical
systems to make the car more reliable to drive while he took care of
the cosmetics. He only had the new
brakes to go when he passed away in
January of ’22. RIP Andrew, we miss
you.
Still have it sitting in my driveway, I let my daughter drive it for a few years until it started having some overheating issues. The electric fans are not coming on so when its sitting idling it gets hot, still not showing any moisture on the inside of the oil fill cap so I don’t think the motor is hurt yet. Just don’t like it enough to try to see what’s wrong with it plus I have been working 6 days a week for the last 5 years so not much free time. So far no one has stopped by wanting it more than I do yet
Six day weeks for 5 years ain’t easy.
Hope you’re being compensated accordingly. Also hope you have a good support system at home. Salute bro.
I am sorry.
To the winner, congrats on this cruiser. The only downfall would be some thug trying to make his mark by putting a target on this ride.
Seems odd there is no console for storage & for the officer to rest his right arm who’s on the road for many hours.
Considering the beautiful tailights on many Fords of the ’70s (even with 5 mph bumpers) & earlier, i sure scratch my head looking at the ones here.
The reason that there is no center console is because that is where the rack goes that would hold the Police radios, scanner, lights and siren control boxes.
Spent years driving Crown Vics from low speed patrol to high speed pursuits. This was a great car for Law Enforcement
The Crown Vics were great for spending hours & hours either stationary or driving. Our consoles put the radio & lights/siren a little forward & had an open area right under our elbows for small clipsboards or other small stuff. I found a small padded rest that I screwed into the side of the console that was perfect to rest right arm on. My last Crown Vic was a 2008 which I kept until given a 2013 Ford Taurus Interceptor.
Scotty gets a lump, I start to sweat. I can say without reservation, I’ve been stopped by more Crown Vic s than any other cop car. Compliance or vehicle violations mostly. I kept my trucks in tip top shape, just to avoid those encounters, but sometimes, a bored trooper, looking to kill his last hour on the shift, would stop me, and others for no apparent reason. Part of the job.
This car was driven by a modern day “Captain Colwell” ( Art Gilmore) who was Joe Fridays boss on Dragnet. Most of the miles here are how far it was to Winchells Donuts, but never saw’r a perp, I bet. Still gives me the creeps.
Good to see it doesn’t have the hard plastic back seats.
Still have it sitting in my driveway, I let my daughter drive it for a few years until it started having some overheating issues. The electric fans are not coming on so when its sitting idling it gets hot, still not showing any moisture on the inside of the oil fill cap so I don’t think the motor is hurt yet. Just don’t like it enough to try to see what’s wrong with it plus I have been working 6 days a week for the last 5 years so not much free time. So far no one has stopped by wanting it more than I do yet
Nice one, Scotty. Longevity and use by law enforcement and taxi companies bred reliability with these, dare I say Toyota-like and probably superior to some Toyota models. I’ve thought about buying one like this or finding a loaded LX with the nice interior and digital dash and throwing the cop suspension underneath. They already have AOD so spice it up with 3.73 gears and a Kenne-Bell blower. It would serve the same function as my big BMW but with 1/20th the effort and cost to keep everything working. Owning a 7-series is like dating a supermodel who smiles and kicks you in the gut at least once a year for no apparent reason. If this Ford kept rainwater on the outside of the vehicle, it’s already got the BMW beat.
Nice idea Fitch. Seen a manual conversion on these Panthers too. Really slick.
Where located and how much? I had a ’89 County Sheriff’s car. Had a 100K on it, but all highway or pursuit miles. I put another 120K on it until I loaned it to an employee (soon after ex-employee) and she totaled it. Always wanted another one.
Personally I think at $12k its a little over priced, for me I would drive it because of the comfortable ride and it doesn’t have all that computer crap in newer cars
I had a 96 white HPD (Honolulu Police Department) and it was a police chaplains vehicle in good condition also but not as nice as this example . The only trouble I had with these is that when you step on it and then hit the brakes it would lock up and you are on a collision course with whatever is in your path, and intake was not metal so it would crack and leak coolant and other than that I had no problems with it but this one pictured here is a beauty and the best one I’ve seen yet!
That was a regular problem with the intakes from what our city garage mechanics said. They said some of the intakes cracked & others was more of a warped or flexing. Remember they also said that Ford warrantied some.
“…any fans of …” no, but like the ‘current offerings’ most the cheb/ford co.s put out over the decades chosen for larger comfortable fleets (insur co, public service & executives). Nota Sleeper but I’d try to make it one. The “fleet” look all the way (even sound if possible). There is a start on that w/the ‘poverty caps’ seen here. I’d go even smaller w/a chrome dust cap @ axel nut.
“…looking stealthy in all-black…” Never, but I’d do one in white (still wouldnt ‘hide’. When getting out – even their clothes, shoes, haircuts, smell, etc give them away). A bit different than the (Belushi) Blues Brothers round here Bob i TN. I godja tho, same vibe. We gota guy w/this business model round here “Kenny’s Kruzers” or sompin.
Yup, ’s reliable as the Toy but roomier, longer WB (better ride), more carring cap., and possibly cheeper to go (no more manaf’s parts, the crime of the country – we need them to make 20, 30 yrs not the current 10) for prts in the yards. Big smile on my face but for rest0mod/sale. Nota keeper as their fox wagon (my ’85) can still play AND earn me some $ each wk. Thnx Scot, nota “interesting lill one” but plenty of respect~
See these around Houston daily. At one time, all HPD cars were blue/white. Use to see them frequently, but due to their age & use, not anymore. The TX highway patrol drove the Vics as well as Sheriff & Constable departments. Some were drove 24/7/365 & never shut down except for refueling & maintenance. True law enforcement workhorses!
See these around Houston daily. At one time, all HPD cars were blue/white. Use to see them frequently, but due to their age & use, not anymore. The TX highway patrol drove the Vics as well as Sheriff & Constable departments. Some were drove 24/7/365 & never shut down except for refueling & maintenance. True law enforcement workhorses!
This girl is right in my wheelhouse, 1995-2015. The Crown Vic replaced the Caprice Classic in my department. The Chevy was a rocket in a straight line but God help you if the rear end broke loose. You were just along for the ride at that point. The Ford was a very, very good car. Smaller, lighter and much more nimble because of that. Not necessarily a fast car and not as fast as the Caprice, however, at the end of the day, you might outrun Johnny Law but you will never outrun his radio. I’m just glad I retired before I had to drive a Ford Explorer.
Love these Crown Vics but the association with police cars tarnishes its timeless design. They were so common and police colors impressed upon the mind that these beautiful cars were just appliances used by gubmint kill joys and then served in their after life as transports (complete with blue side stripes, dings, dinge and adhesive residue of official badges) for thugs who couldn’t afford Escalades with 22″ spinner rims.
Never put back enough from my illicit activities to bring one home, and don’t think my ex-stripper wife would approve.
Auction update: this one made it to $15,422 and the reserve wasn’t met, so the seller relisted it and has now taken down the listing because it isn’t available anymore. I’d much rather have a newer AWD Ford or Dodge law enforcement vehicle. Whether they’re as good or not, it would make a better winter vehicle for me.
Scotty, I had a 2013 Charger Blacktop model – so it was all black.
It came with 20″ alloys which I would switch off for 18″ winter tires mounted on cop steelies with poverty caps.
If you didn’t notice the rear wing, you would have thought it was a cop car, which came in handy to get all of the left lane dwellers out of my way.
With the winter tires, it made for an awesome car in the snow, even with RWD. I placed sand tubes in the trunk over the rear wheels and kept them in place with a frame made out of 2 x 4.
PRA4SNW, that’s fantastic! That’s why I fantasize about having a former law enforcement vehicle, the roads have been so ridiculous the last few years. It would be nice to be able to part the Red Sea (left lane) for sure.