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Massachusetts State Police have concluded that Lieutenant Governor Timothy P. Murray was probably asleep at the wheel when he crashed a Ford Crown Victoria while going over 100 mph. Although he was not wearing a seatbelt, he amazingly escaped injury. More »
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In 1967, the first Ford Falcon came off the line at Ford's St. Thomas Assembly in Talbotville, Ontario. Here is video from two weeks ago of the plant's final days — as it builds the very last of Ford's venerable Crown Victoria sedans. More »
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After 32 years in production, the last Ford Crown Victoria will roll off the assembly line today. It's a record that surpasses all other North American vehicles, including the Model T. Its final destination, however, isn't a museum in Detroit or a American collector. It's being sent to Saudi Arabia. More »
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Although it is possible there are two nearly identical custom two door full size Mercurys in the world, it seems a lot more likely this topless Marauder is the same car shown by Ford at the Chicago Auto Show in 2002. There are no details whatsoever included in the Ebay listing for the car you see here, but this custom Marauder appears to be in nearly the same condition as the car shown in 2002. More »
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After finding out about Crown Vic hoarding in the wake of the model's cancellation this week, we got to wondering what vehicle we would have stocked up on as personal fleet vehicles. What car do you wish you had hoarded when it was new? More »
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Benjamin couldn't help but appreciate the irony of getting stopped in a Crown Victoria by three Impalas. Although we don't know what happened next, we assume the Dallas PD savegly beat him for no reason. [Twitpic] More »
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So now that the phones at Murilee Martin Image Consulting, Inc., keep ringing with offers of vast sums from dealmakers who want a piece of this idea, I feel comfortable sharing the Next Big Thing In Racing with y'all. More »
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Three teens in the Maryland suburbs of Washington were trapped by a police officer after carjacking a Ford Escape. So the driver decided to try running over the officer's Crown Victoria in reverse. Physics sides with justice on this one. More »
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The word "miraculous" scarcely describes the survival of a Santa Maria, California police officer who wrapped his Ford Police Interceptor around a tree Sunday morning. It's what the local Police Chief calls the "worst accident he's seen in 35 years." More »
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Ever hit the highway and notice that people drive differently? Some states haul more ass than others. Here's DriverSide.com's list of the ten speediest states based on tickets issued per capita. —Ed. More »
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The 2012 Ford Police Interceptor unveiled today is the latest in a long line of Ford squad cars. Here's why the sight of even a civilian Crown Vic now induces Pavlovian application of brakes in all motorists. More »
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A Mercury Grand Marquis was recently abandoned in a rush-hour lane less than a mile from the White House and directly in front of the Djibouti Embassy. Amazingly, it took a week to tow. Abandonation without representation? More »
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An anonymous tipster snapped this Virginia Beach police cruiser blocking both handicapped spaces at an IHOP while the officer chatted up the staff for over an hour. He didn't even eat. This is why people think some cops are asshats. More »
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Based on anecdotal evidence, we assumed that the P71 Crown Vic would be one of the top five most reliable LeMons cars, because that 4.6 Modular engine never breaks, but in fact it came in 13th place out of 38. More »
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A couple weeks ago, when I debuted the Ghost Ride The Whip Box at the '09 Arse Freeze-a-Palooza LeMons, I decided I needed to roll my Crown Vic's balky driver's window down all the way… and heard a terrible CLUNK! More »
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Two teenagers were killed in Milford, Connecticut on June 13 by a speeding police car. Thanks to the Freedom of Information Act, the video has finally been released to the public. Warning: graphic footage below. More »
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We're so used to seeing donked Gallardos in music videos now, we were convinced the video for Depeche Mode's "Wrong" couldn't be the right one. It is, and it's full of cool cars. More »
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At every 24 Hours Of LeMons race, the teams vote on the car they'd like to see destroyed… and they get their wish! This time it was the manual-trans-equipped Crown Vic of Blues Brothers Racing. More »
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The Fox-based '84 Ford LTD really did handle pretty well… if you checked the boxes for all the suspension options that came on the cop version when you bought one, that is, and for some reason that bit of info doesn't get much play in this ad. This ad would have been far more entertaining had Mr. Bondurant taken the base version out for some door-handle-scraping racetrack action. Why, some madmen even autocross the Fox LTD! More »
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When was the last time you saw a car ad with some geeky intellectual explaining how the styling builds the "feeling of motion" into the shape of the car? It's impossible to imagine a present-day Ford being pitched with the line "When the design of a car expresses its function forcefully and imaginatively, of course we derive more pleasure from owning and using it!" The '55 Ford really was a good-looking car, and it sold in greater numbers than its Chevrolet rival... but which one starred in Two Lane Blacktop? More »
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We all thought transplanting the drivetrain from a Lightning F-150 into a 2000 Ford Crown Vic was pretty cool, but some Panther owners might want to take on a less ambitious project that still makes our cars a lot more fun to drive. Say, grabbing the T-45 transmission out of a Mustang and installing it in a Panther, for example. Ford never saw fit to put a manual in the Panther, so it's not a straight bolt-in; that's why it's great to have the scoop from someone who's already solved all the problems involved with such a project. We've seen a very good how-to for those wishing to de-slushbox-ize their GM G-bodies, and now dRock96Marquis has put together a comprehensively documented and illustrated guide to doing the same with a 2003 Crown Victoria. [CrownVic.net] More »
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Justin D. Grill, 19, was just minding his own business, taking his '87 Crown Vic out for a little spin in Chippewa Falls. Oh sure, he had a sandwich in one hand and a cellphone in the other (no doubt delivering one of those riveting monologues that goes like "And so I MFFGP SMOFF told that sumbitch GLOOMPH NARF GLRMPH he could kiss my SPLRMPH GRUNCH..." and makes you wonder whether the unseen spirit of Miss Manners had a hand in subsequent events) when he sideswiped an oncoming police car on a bridge, but you really couldn't say that was his fault, right? His reaction? "I'm getting a ticket? For what?" [Chippewa.com] More »
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Jim Hunt has channeled the power of the beard for good. Miffed at speeding motorists in front of his home in Summerville, South Carolina, Jim decided to build what has come to be known as the "Tric-Vic", a fake-out cop car which he says works to slow down the speeders. The clever lawn ornament is constructed of expanded metal and reflectors in such a way as to mimic the iconic look of a Ford Police Interceptor parked roadside. Why do we have the sinking feeling this is going to be the next "lady bending over showing her bloomers while working in the garden"?[via Youtube] More »
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Now, we can't say for sure what sort of transaction was captured on film by the Google Street View photography vehicle; perhaps the Illinois gentleman with the roll of bills is negotiating for the purchase of an 80s Ford LTD. Whatever it is, we're seeing free enterprise in glorious effect here. Take that, Commies! Thanks to LTDScott aka Porcubimmer_4_Lyfe for the tip! [Google Maps] More »
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Even though an 80s Ford Crown Victoria with a 302 under the hood probably doesn't stand much of a chance of beating the nimbler cars, we're still rooting for Team Sin City LeMons. That's because they've got North Las Vegas Barbie riding on the bumper, a fur-covered roll cage, and some other nice features... More »
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This series got its start- and continues to be so much fun for me- as a result of my own search for just the right personal Project Car Hell; I came close to buying the 20R-powered Austin Healey Sprite in the very first PCH, and I've been searching ever since. I considered and rejected the '65 Falcon wagon, and now it looks like my cousin might take on the '68 Torino GT himself. But then I realize that I have two machines with Super Sleeper Potential right under my nose: my daily-driver 1992 Honda Civic DX and 1997 Ford Crown Victoria P71! Why, I could turn either one into a ragin' dragstrip monster with easily-obtained hop-up gear right off the shelf! Gadzooks! More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=337174&view=rss&microfeed=true What if you were to turn on your TV in 1997 to find that every facet of reality had been changed to have some connection with the Mercury Grand Marquis? We're a little puzzled about the cops pulling over a Grand Marquis so they could drive it- do the Mercury badges really make it differ that much from the Crown Vic? More »
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Now that we've seen a couple of Ford Crown Victorias getting into the 13s with a little nitrous oxide assistance, how about a 2000 civilian-spec Vic with the supercharged Triton 5.4 out of the Ford Lightning truck? Oh yes, and don't forget the Tremec 5-speed and 4.10 rear gears. Make the jump to see some burnout footage. [SuperMotors] More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=316606&view=rss&microfeed=true As the owner of a P71 Crown Vic, I can say it's not exactly a quick car (though I'm still bummed that Ford is axing the civilian version). Oh, sure, the 4.6 has decent torque and moves two tons of steel well enough to get the job done... but what happens when you say "Damn the transmission, full speed ahead!" and jolt your Crown Vic's engine with a healthy shot of En Two Oh? Good stuff, that's what happens. Watch the before-and-after runs of drivers Kellydood and Quickvic to see (and hear) what I mean. Yes, this does give me ideas... More »
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No matter that its dated appearance at Ford's auto show displays made it look like someone's grandfather was visiting — and had parked his car in the living room. The Crown Victoria is the last expression of a construct dating to the Eisenhower administration, and according to Ward's Auto, one soon to be mothballed. Ford's large, rear-drive municipal cruiser — Ward's sources say — will be eliminated from consumer lots the 2008 model year. Word is, it'll still be sold as a fleet car after that, though no word on whether it'll get a rumored style freshening. Send all condolences to The Society for The Preservation of 1979. (Thanks to Dave for the tip.) [Ward's Auto] More »
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The year we spent in Austin, Texas, was our first exposure to a proliferation of law-enforcement vehicles that weren't V8/RWD, unless you count Europe. And we have to say, that German officer who broke up our barbeque in the park didn't seem all that threatening in his Opel. Neither did the ATX PD in their Impalas. The Authority is just not there. Sure, badge, gun, travel, etc. And the fact remains that one doesn't necessarily need a Vic for most patrol duties. But there's something symbolic in such a vehicle. Wayne County, Michigan switched a couple of years ago. Oakland County's doing it now. But Macomb County top cop Mark Hackel has reservations, and the best observation: "It may be the politically correct thing. But it's not just about gas mileage." [Freep] More »
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Leather boots may still be in style for manly footwear in Muskogee, but police officers in Trenton, Florida, will no longer be allowed to wear smooth-soled cowboy boots on the job. Sure, such boots give the wearer added authority, but they tend to slip off the brake pedal of a Crown Vic... which is what happened to Officer Michael Herko when he plowed his Police Interceptor into front doors of al Smokers Express convenience store. [Gainesville.com] More »
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According to some shots procured by Popular Mechanics' Jim Dunne (he's still alive? Really — who knew?), Ford's gone Dave-alicious to the 2008 model of Ford's cop-car. That's right, the three-bar grille that screams "Hi, I'm An American" is the extent to which FoMoCo's changed the exterior of the 2008 Crown Vic. Oh wait, no, they've also dropped a special "Special Edition" chevron on the side of the front quarter panel and an odd little strip of chrome below the Dave look. We're going to go and vomit in our mouths a little bit. [Popular Mechanics] More »
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Yep, it's Bethel, Alaska! With 70 taxis serving a population of 5,900, Bethel's 1:84 cab/resident ratio blows away New York City's miserable 1:149 figure. The reason? Bethel is inaccessible by road, so all vehicles must be flown or barged in; add to that the $5/gallon cost of gas and it just makes sense to call a cab. We just hope the drivers look out for moose. [Seattle Times] More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=279904&view=rss&microfeed=true If you see a Carrollton, TX police car where it shouldn't be, or one that looks suspicious, call this number: 972-466-3333. It very well may be a fully loaded 2007 Crown Vic stolen off a Dallas-Fort Worth dealer lot on Friday. [Fox 4 News] More »
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Here's an interesting article that breaks down the profit-loss tightrope that New York cabbies must balance to have the numbers come out black at the end of the day. Annual gas expense for that yellow Crown Vic? $18,000.00. Most profitable fares? Midday airport runs. Cost of a NYC taxi medallion? Don't ask. And much as we like Crown Vics, it's time to bring back the Checker Marathon! – Murilee Martin More »
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The days of junkyards bursting at the seams with rear-drive cars packing big V8s are long gone, but you can still go into most self-service yards and find a couple of big 80s Fords with complete 351 Windsors... More »
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