Ford Crown Victoria Rolls Into History
Yesterday in Canada the last Ford Crown Victoria rolled off the line in the St.Thomas, Ontario plant. The plant where both the Crown Victoria and the Lincoln Town Car were made is officially closing its doors for good. The Town Car ceased production within the past few weeks and the Mercury Grand Marquis ceased production in January with the wound down of Mercury.
Like the last generation Ford Taurus, the Crown Victoria was allowed to die a slow and unloved death by not updating it over time. They however were selling it relatively strong numbers right up until the plug was pulled on the assembly line. The Crown Victoria in the past year or so was only made available to fleets such as taxi cab operators, police departments, government agencies and rental car companies.
Even given the fact that the car had seen few upgrades, face lifts or significant feature changes in well over a decade, the Crown Victoria still sold a somewhat strong 4879 units just last month. Just like the last generation Taurus which had become the kicking boy in Ford’s lineup, fleets kept sales stronger than even some of Ford’s more popular models.
To compare, Ford sold only 4991 of the all new and top flite Taurus that is set to replace the Crown Victoria at the top of the sedan line. They only sold 2823 of the Ford Flex SUV which isn’t planned for a production end anytime soon. And they sold more Crown Victorias than any single car that Lincoln offers.
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The reality however for the Crown Victoria is that it rides on the oldest chassis platform in the Ford lineup, the Panther. The same body on frame platform has underpinned the Crown Victoria, Lincoln Town Car and Grand Marquis since 1991. And it was little changed from the platform that dates back to 1979.
But while antiquated by today’s manufacturing standards, the chassis was tough and proven. It was the backbone of police and taxi cabs for the last 30+ years. The engine that powers the last Crown Victoria is however one of the last 4.6 liter 2V applications, an engine that is also headed for the history books as soon as the current Econoline vans drop it or go out of production themselves.
One wonders what becomes of the future for rear wheel drive at Ford. While the all new 2015 Mustang in the works is still to be rear-wheel drive, rumors persist that Ford will have to find other places to put that expensive new platform to make it all pencil. And with GM and Chrysler selling rear-wheel drive quite well, someone at Ford has to be looking at competing.
Police departments have been shown the new Taurus and Explorer Police Interceptors. News on the street however is that they are still miffed about losing rear-wheel drive and likely headed to Dodge and Chevrolet, who will continue to offer it to them. Lincoln has also tried to convince Limousine and Livery coach builders that their MKT crossover is a suitable replacement for the Town Car to little avail.
Regardless of whether we get to see another big rear-wheel sedan from Ford, the St.Thomas, Ontario plant is now closed for good.