Hundreds of Ford Crown Victoria Police Cars Still in Service 13 Years Later
The Los Angeles Country Sheriff’s Department bought 600 Ford Crown Victoria sedans in 2011, and most of them are still going strong.
As we Blue Oval fans are painfully aware, the Ford Crown Victoria was discontinued following the 2011 model year, but the big, V8-powered sedan still holds a special place in our hearts. This particular segment has sadly gone away almost entirely – given the recent death of the Chrysler 300 as well – a byproduct of America’s obsession with crossovers, SUVs, and pickup trucks. However, it isn’t just we civilians that loved the Ford Crown Victoria – police around the country have a soft spot for that model as well, and a handful of them are still in service at various police departments and taxi services, to boot. We doubt any have quite as many as the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, however, which still employs hundreds of Crown Vics, as The Drive recently discovered.
LASD doesn’t just have a handful of Ford Crown Victoria models in its fleet, but rather a grand total of 429 of them – a shockingly large number for a variety of reasons. It’s worth noting that the department placed an order for 600 Crown Vics back in 2011 just before order banks closed, a strategic decision designed to save money over the long term, and needless to say, that decision has paid off many times over by now.
Roughly 13 years later, of that original 600, 429 cars are still going strong, which is pretty incredible given the abuse police cars are subjected to in general. Of course, serving in a sunny, dry climate like Southern California helps, but it’s also a well-known fact that the Crown Victoria was a tough and reliable vehicle built on the proven Panther platform that’s quite simple in nature – which only aids in its longevity. As such, these cars have won over their fair share of officers over their many years in service.
“The Crown Victoria is a rugged and durable platform that has held up great over the years,” said Sergeant David M. Davis of the LASD Fleet Management Unit. “Tenured deputies who have driven them for the majority of their patrol careers still prefer them to the Ford Police Interceptor Utility, which is also in use by the Department, while newer deputies seem to prefer the Police Interceptor Utility.”
It’s no surprise that the veterans of the department prefer the old school Crown Victoria, while the younger ones on duty likely gravitate toward the Explorer-based Police Interceptor Utility given its improved technology and more modern driving characteristics/driving position. Sadly, however, all things must come to an end eventually, and LASD makes it clear that parts for their Crown Vics are already becoming a bit hard to find – meaning that one day, the last big, V8-powered police sedan will inevitably make its way to a retirement home somewhere – and that’ll be a sad day for everyone involved.
“The biggest maintenance challenge we have encountered is the growing obsolescence of some mechanical parts that are needed for repairs,” Davis said. “The cars vary in mileage which makes it hard to predict exactly how long they will remain in service. Parts availability will also be a factor in how much longer they remain in service.”
Photos: Los Angeles County Sherriff’s Department
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