Practicality is often a key consideration when an enthusiast assesses a classic to park in their workshop. It takes two forms. The first is whether the car will suit their needs if they have a growing family. The second is whether the project will push them beyond their skill level. That’s where cars like this 1993 Ford Crown Victoria P71 Police Interceptor deserve a close look. It is begging for love, but it is a dry-climate survivor that is a turnkey proposition for its new owner. With room to seat five comfortably, it is ready to transport the whole tribe in style.
Ford introduced its First Generation Crown Victoria in 1991. With the opposition beginning to turn its back on rear-wheel drive technology, the company found itself the preferred supplier for various law enforcement agencies. Civilian buyers could order a relatively lively version of the Crown Victoria, but the P71 Interceptors were more like an iron fist cloaked in a velvet glove. This 1993 model wears the traditional Oxford White paint, and close inspection reveals the marks and imperfections that accumulate on these vehicles through active service. There are also bumps and bruises, but no panel damage justifying steel replacement. The underside shots reveal the type of light surface corrosion typically seen on dry-clime survivors, but there is no evidence of penetrating rust. The trim is in generally good condition, as is the glass. There is little evidence of the role this Ford played in keeping our community safe, although the driver’s side floodlight is a nice touch.
This Crown Victoria’s interior demonstrates how condition is often a matter of interpretation. The seller uses the word “great” when describing its overall condition, although the word serviceable springs to mind when I examine the photos. The car features cloth front seats and the traditional vinyl rear. The driver’s seat has a rip on the outer edge caused by the range of equipment officers sling onto their belts, while the back seat exhibits a few repairs. The dashpad hides below a cover and is as cracked as you might expect after years of exposure to the Arizona sun. The remaining trim is acceptable for a driver-grade vehicle, and the new owner receives a range of welcome creature comforts. These include air conditioning, power windows, power locks, cruise control, a 140mph speedometer, and a Pioneer radio/CD player.
Ford meant business with the Crown Victoria P71 Interceptor. The range-topping 4.6-liter V8 delivered 210hp in civilian form, but careful tweaking and tuning using components like upgraded injectors pushed that figure to 246hp in the P71. Shifting duties fall to a four-speed automatic transmission, with power assistance for the steering and brakes standard fare. The company didn’t focus exclusively on straight-line performance with the Interceptor, adding upgraded suspension, a 100 amp alternator, larger brakes, and oil coolers for the engine, transmission, and power steering. The civilian Crown Victoria ran out of breath at 129mph, but this car can bend the needle against the stop at 140mph. The news for potential buyers is positive, with the Ford in excellent mechanical heath. The seller drives it regularly, stating that the engine has plenty of power, the transmission shifts smoothly, and there are no apparent mechanical issues.
The seller listed this 1993 Ford Crown Victoria P71 Police Interceptor here on eBay in Tucson, Arizona. It has generated interest, receiving seventeen bids at the time of writing. However, the action has only pushed the price to $2,025, which is below the reserve. There is time left for interested parties to join the bidding war as they attempt to park a straightforward project candidate in their garage. How much would you be willing to pay for this classic?
Still gives me the heebie-jeebies seeing these. Seeing one make a U-turn behind me late at night, oh, oh, better try and do some scratching in the logbook,,,For most LEOs, it was either these or Dodge/Plymouth for most applications. While there’s no question this is what it is, I sat in a LOT of police cars, and never remember any of them being this fancy, for a patrol car, anyway. A detectives or captains car however, which I believe this car was, saw much less active duty. More trips to Winchells than anything. The zing to have an old police car has waned considerably, most of the cop wannabes are driving walkers now, and I doubt a young person wants to be seen in an old police car, despite the fact, probably the best car one could possibly have.
I owned a ’92, which had been an active duty patrol car (no cruise, the quarter-wave antenna hole welded up in the trunk, but fresh paint). It was a nice cruising car, I drove it back and forth between San Francisco and LA for several years as well as used it daily for a 30 mile commute from San Rafael to Petaluma in No. CA. Adding cruise was as easy as changing the steering wheel and adding an actuator, all the wiring was there for it. I had not other issues with the car besides replacing a few pieces of trim that had been cut for a safety cage behind the front seat. I remember pulling parts in the junkyards and regularly seeing these cars with 300k and 400k on them, usually wrecked. I sold the car after my girlfriend at the time left me her Saab 900 Turbo for a week – there was no comparison with the “fun” factor between the two cars, but for a comfortable cruiser the P71 was great. Loath as I am to admit it, it was a much better car then my ’87 Gran Fury police cruiser.
anyone that buys the crown vic could buy the mercury meruder body kit and have a sweet car
What’s the ” title issue” they seller has on the Ebay listing ?
The seller explains the title issue at the bottom of the listing.
Saw these everywhere in the USA
Smokeys driving em, with that big hat 👒 🚨
Even though in the semi, we’d move over and slow down, sometimes we’d still blow their hats off while on a traffic stop. We got a big kick out of that.
This one still has the silicone hoses on it too.
I hate to pop bubbles but these Panther CVPI’s would only hit 140 with a bucket of nitrous or falling off a cliff. One with a light bar would struggle to reach 120. Slick tops, depending on gears, would get into the high 120’s. Still fast for a big old sedan with seats for 5-6 folks. I honestly would have to go dig out papers to tell y’all exactly how many I’ve owned. My best guess will be 10 or so. I want to find one more. Convert it to a stick shift and enjoy my fat American M5 ( M4.6 maybe lol ) until I can’t. Y’all have fun. 🤟🏻👍🏻🖖
Fastest speed recorded for a Crown Vic was “limited” to 129 mph. One officer claimed 128 downhill. It was the Mustang that did 146mph.
Back in the early 90’s, these Crown Vics, no matter what their top end was, had no problem taking my LTL9000 from 75-0. That’s a fact, Jack.