Recently retired emergency service and law enforcement vehicles can represent an excellent prospect for those seeking a classic to park in their garage. They are typically maintained to an extremely high standard because reliability is essential when the chips are down. That makes this 2009 Ford Crown Victoria Police Interceptor worth a close look. It has 70,000 miles on the clock and has led a sheltered life in a dry climate. It presents exceptionally well and is a turnkey prospect for its new owner. I must say a big thank you to Barn Finder PRA4SNW for spotting the Crown Vic listed here on eBay in Simi Valley, California. The seller set their BIN at $15,450 with the option to make an offer.
This Police Interceptor formed part of the Second Generation Crown Victoria range, released for the 1998 model year. The Crown Vic served law enforcement agencies effectively until Ford stopped taking orders for new vehicles in 2011. This Interceptor was assigned to the State of California Probate Division in 2009, serving as an administrative vehicle. What makes it unusual is the paint shade: this car wears Smokestone Metallic rather than the typical Black or White. The listing indicates that close inspection will reveal minor imperfections, but with the paint holding a deep shine and the panels as straight as an arrow, it makes a positive first impression. Considering the car’s age and location, I would expect it to be rust-free. The seller recently replaced the headlights, the license plate bracket, and the center caps with OEM components. They also installed dark window tint to give this Ford a menacing appearance.
Powering this Crown Victoria is Ford’s 4.6-liter “Modular” V8. In standard form, this motor generated 224hp and 272 ft/lbs of torque, providing pretty respectable performance. However, the V8 received upgrades for law enforcement duties, including blue silicone hoses for improved reliability. The result was a boost in power and torque to 250hp and 297 ft/lbs. The V8’s power is delivered to the rear end via a four-speed automatic transmission and an aluminum driveshaft, a unique Interceptor feature. The seller recently sent the throttle body for servicing and recalibration, and fitted four new 17″ Goodyear Eagle pursuit-rated tires. The Crown Vic has 70,000 miles on the clock, and because law enforcement agencies follow a “money is no object” maintenance philosophy, it should provide years of reliable motoring service. The new owner could fly in and drive this turnkey classic home.
One of the most welcome surprises when assessing this Crown Victoria is its interior presentation. Vehicles of this type often lead hard lives, and interior trim and plastic suffer as a result. However, the inside of this Ford is extremely tidy. The back seat features the typical vinyl upholstery, which is free of wear, while the cloth front buckets are excellent. The heavy-duty vinyl floor mat is amazing, with no rips or other problems. Even the wheel looks remarkable, and this Interceptor retains its original partition between the front and back seats. As you might expect, the interior isn’t lavishly equipped. However, the buyer receives airbags, air conditioning, power windows, power locks, a tilt wheel, and an AM/FM stereo radio.
This 2009 Ford Crown Victoria Police Interceptor presents nicely, and the bulletproof mechanical components should provide the new owner with years of reliable motoring. However, the quality that helps it to stand out for me is the paint shade. With so many of these vehicles finished in White or Black, the Smokestone Metallic exterior is a welcome change. The seller’s BIN figure is above the market average for an Interceptor, but the listing statistics suggest it has grabbed the attention of quite a few people. Would this be a classic that you would consider parking in your garage?
Ford took the silicone hose to infamy lol.
It just increases my paranoia, like seeing a police car in my rear view mirror,,another “donut getter”, or someone higher up than a mere officer,,,to get donuts with, because these led a tough life, even as an unmarked cruiser. Usually the last on the scene with the outlining chalk, thanks Adam, I could have gone the rest of my days without seeing another, it was by far, the most popular police car of my trucking era. The red and blue lights were cleverly concealed behind the grill. Even rode in the back a time or two, oh relax, nothing serious, some silly trucking infraction, oh Lordy help us, he’s over on driving hours,,,sorry, once a trooper asked me on one of my many stops, young kid, doing his job, when the stop as finished, he kiddingly asked me, “is it true you truckers get all the women”? I said,”how many donuts do you guys really eat”? We both had a chuckle proving they are human too.
Great cars, NONE better, and that’s a fact! They had to be to catch those renegade truckers!!
I WANT IT!!! Would be a way to
honor the memory of my late nephew who was restoring a 2000 model at the time of his passing in 2022. And although his wasn’t as nice as this one, it
could’ve been had he lived long
enough to get the job done. I recall going with him to Old Town
for their weekend cruises. He would turn on his red and blue light bars and have the theme from COPS playing on his stereo
as we cruised around the square.
We got him an empty Dunkin Donuts box to use as a prop for
all the crowd to see. He used to
put it on the dashboard just before cruise time. Another time
during the Christmas Parade in ’21, the Winter Haven PD was short a cruiser to direct traffic so
Andrew told them that he had a
retired cruiser in really good shape they could use to block off
part of a side street to help with
traffic control on the parade route. And to his surprise, they
took him up on it. So here comes
Andrew, pulling up in his cruiser.
Lights flashing and smiling ear to
ear! You see, Andrew had a learning disability and that night
meant the world to him. He let the officer position the car where
they needed it to be. And for that
we got the best seats along the
parade route. After the parade, we shook hands with the officers
and thanked them for making
Andrew’s night. A little more than
a month later, he was gone. I am now reminded of Andrew every time I see one of these. I wish I had the money to buy it. RIP
Andrew, you are sorely missed.