This claimed one-family ride shows the high end of what many drivers remember as police and taxi fleet vehicles. Luxury features on this 1987 Ford Crown Victoria LX include leather upholstery, twin six-way power seats, automatic climate control, power windows and locks, automatic dimming headlamps with delay, cruise control, and trip computer showing fuel efficiency. The El Sobrante, California classic comes to market for the first time since new, and you’ll find more pictures and details here on Craigslist. The same $15,500 that might buy a used Camry could put this high-rolling Crown Victoria in your driveway. Thanks to reader T.J. for spotting this well-kept Crown Vic.
Despite a “rolled over” odometer showing about 28,000 miles, the blue leather shows well. Shame on the seller if the outer edge of the driver’s seat is worn. Not showing a car’s low points in the listing brands you as a liar the moment a potential buyer spots them. Hopefully the carpeted dash pad is preventative and not hiding cracks in the plastic. Overall, though, what we see looks fantastic.
Tucking the fuel tank above and behind the rear axle gave the Crown Victoria a deep well trunk that readily swallows your family’s luggage for that long-awaited vacation. At 21 cubic feet, this Ford offers 10% more capacity than a 2025 BMW 7 series.
A port-fuel injected 5.0L (302 cid) V8 takes all the go-fast goodies that propelled its contemporary Mustangs to escape velocity in the ’80s and ’90s. A four-speed automatic transmission helps deliver a good compromise of acceleration and highway fuel mileage. At 3700 pounds, this LX weighs less than the bloated 2025 Mustang 5.0. Order up some police and taxi-spec suspension parts and you might build a tidy sleeper. A host of new parts in 2019 setup this well-preserved sedan for a road-going revival, after which it’s accumulated fewer than 3000 miles, according to the listing.
The original vinyl roof looks great, and covering the rear half only pays homage to Victoria styling of the past, typically sheltering a private rear seat from prying eyes. Would you load your family into this LX for a trip to the Grand Canyon?
Thanks Todd. This looks like a well-maintained example which has many recent mechanical updates. It is set up for years of additional service.
Given hindsight, these downsized Panther-platform Ford products are very interesting. Conceived in the 70’s due to world events around oil supply coupled with US fuel economy regs, they arrived when the heart of the “family car” market had already largely moved to smaller-sized cars. Yet the platform lived for over three decades. It developed the reputation as a “tank”, with most of its late-life sales being to fleet customers.
I’ve read that what finally killed the platform was the need to upgrade to current regulations and expectations, which was not simple and could not be financially justified. Ford thought they could shift much of that fleet market to the Explorer, which they have largely accomplished.
For someone who doesn’t need or want an info screen, or a ton of airbags, or adaptive cruise control, or other modern features, this would be a fine family car.
If the buyer was willing, there was about every conceivable option available. By the end you practically had a Lincoln.
Now that’s what I call an exceptional lead photo!
And considering that the ad says: “Many spare body parts available including a complete front end, bumpers and interior parts”. I’m interested in this one!
These were good cars. I had an 86 and it was very dependable and got decent mileage. This one appears well maintained, but $15.5k? There are three of these in decent condition for sale in my area right now for under $6k. If the seller gets an offer over $9k he should take it and run.
He’ll be lucky to get even $9k, similar cars from this era, in this condition are common in the Bay Area.
Steve R
what is with all the Large Tin Drums lately.? was there a rash of old people dying?
Every day in my retirement community of 27,000.Last week a old couple died weeks apart,there was a estate sale.In the garage, a Model A and Jeepster.
Clicked this just to see the girl up closer… Is that wrong?
Does she come with the deal? 😃
For that price, I would hope so!
😛 yummy!
Nice cars. When new they were outclassed and overshadowed by the recently downsized GM B-body’s that, other than engines, were exceptional full-size cars. But Ford kept after it, reffing the Panther into a fully competitive offering. Once GM gave up on full size cars, it was a field day for Ford who owned the market for more than a decade. Given the popularity of full-size trucks and SUVs, I’d say American’s still have a healthy taste for body on frame architecture and torque rich engines.
Attrition is common in this world. Merry Christmas.
Sharp looking Vicky. Great upholstery. Does that go with the car?
Around 2000 I bought a 79 4 door LTD as a parts car. I had a 90 Crown Vic with a 351 W in it that lost oil pressure and I was thinking of putting a 302 in it as I could not find a good cheap 351W. The guy I bought the 79 from said it just quit running when he pulled into his driveway one night and he pulled it into his back yard. The 79 was a clean car with power windows seat and AC so I looked at the motor a little and put a 25 dollar timing chain kit into it and had a good running car for 50 bucks. Drove that thing for a work car for two years, I got tired of changing fuel filters and fuses for the windows that blew everytime it rained so I parked it after I found a motor for my 90
Nice car, but the real attraction is that little cutie. No doubt, many will check out this ad that otherwise might not.
I had a 1987 Mercury Grand Marquis, the most luxurious car ever for over 10 years. When I sold it, it had over 387,000 KM on it. It had a carburetor with a 302 V8 engine. Only problem it was hard on gas. Father-in-law had one just the same but his had fuel injected 351 V8. He could go twice as far on the same amount of gas. Go figure, but I guess fuel injected just came out and all the bugs not out yet, not like now.
where’d you get that seat cover, son?!
>The original vinyl roof looks great
No, no it doesn’t. It doesn’t even look good. Best that can be said is that it’s in good condition.
So many of these crisp-lined cars are ruined by puffy padding and Ford was the worst offender, many years of the box Panther run you couldn’t get one without the toupee unless you went for a wagon or your first name was “Officer”.