Ford LTD Crown Victoria

The Ford LTD Crown Victoria is a line of full-size cars

that was manufactured and marketed by Ford from the Ford LTD Crown Victoria
1980 to 1991 model years. Deriving its name from the
Ford Fairlane coupe of 1955–1956, the LTD Crown
Victoria served as the flagship of the Ford LTD model
range in North America. Serving as the Ford counterpart
of the Mercury Grand Marquis, the model line was offered
as a two-door and a four-door sedan and a five-door
station wagon (including the woodgrained LTD Country
Squire). Overview
For 1983, Ford revised its full-size and mid-size product Manufacturer Ford
ranges across all three of its divisions; the LTD Crown Also called Ford LTD Landau (1979)
Victoria remained the sole full-size Ford sedan with the
Production 1979–1990
mid-size Granada taking on the LTD name. Following a
minor update for the 1988 model year, the LTD Crown Model years 1980–1991
Victoria was discontinued after the 1991 model year, Assembly Atlanta Assembly
replaced by the redesigned Ford Crown Victoria (dropping
(Hapeville, Georgia)
the station wagon body style and retiring the LTD prefix).
Los Angeles Assembly
Through its production, the LTD Crown Victoria was (Pico Rivera, California)
produced by Ford at several different facilities. At launch, Louisville Assembly Plant
it was built at the Louisville, Los Angeles, Atlanta, and (Louisville, Kentucky)
Oakville plants. By 1982, Oakville was the sole assembly Oakville Assembly (Oakville,
location, and the following year production was added Ontario)
alongside the Mercury Grand Marquis at St. Louis St. Louis Assembly
Assembly in Hazelwood, Missouri. Canadian production (Hazelwood, Missouri)
shifted from Oakville to St. Thomas Assembly in
St. Thomas Assembly
Southwold, Ontario for 1984 models; the facility would
become the exclusive production site a year later, (Southwold, Ontario,
producing the LTD Crown Victoria until 1991. Canada)
Body and chassis
Class Full-size
Contents Body style 2-door sedan
4-door sedan
Name etymology
5-door station wagon
Overview
Platform Ford Panther platform
Chassis
Powertrain Related Mercury Grand Marquis
Body Lincoln Town Car
1988 update Continental Mark VI
Trim Levels Powertrain

Variants Engine 4.2 L (255 cu in) Windsor

Station wagon V8
4.9 L (302 cu in) Windsor
 Fleet use V8
Law enforcement use (Police Package) 5.8 L (351 cu in) Windsor
V8
Production
Notes Transmission 4-speed AOD automatic

References Dimensions

External links Wheelbase 114.3 in (2,903 mm)

(sedan)
Length 211 in (5,359 mm) (sedan)
Name etymology 215.7 in (5,479 mm) (1990–
91 wagon)
Taking its name from the Ford Fairlane Crown Victoria of 216 in (5,486 mm) (1988–
1955-1956, the 1980 LTD Crown Victoria borrowed a 89 wagon)
distinctive styling feature from its Fairlane counterpart: a
targa-style band across the roof atop the B-pillars. For the Width 77.5 in (1,968 mm) (sedan)
Fairlane, the band was bright chrome; to modernize its 79.3 in (2,014 mm) (wagon)
appearance, the LTD Crown Victoria adopted a band of Height 55.6 in (1,412 mm) (sedan)
brushed aluminum. 56.5 in (1,435 mm) (wagon)

In the landaulet-style of the Lincoln Town Car, the LTD Chronology

Crown Victoria was fitted with a half-length padded vinyl Predecessor Ford LTD Brougham, LTD
roof, with the brushed-aluminum band covering the B- Landau (1969 Ford)
pillars (in place of the "coach lamps" of the Mercury
Successor Ford Crown Victoria
Grand Marquis). In the style of the original 1965 Ford
LTD, the LTD Crown Victoria featured a "crested" hood
ornament.

The first time Ford used "Victoria" as a naming convention was 1932, for both Ford Victoria and Lincoln
Victoria 2-door coupes.

Overview
For 1980, Ford introduced the LTD Crown Victoria nameplate to
replace the LTD Landau as its top-level trim for its year-old Ford
LTD. As with the previous generation LTD Landau and LTD
Brougham, the LTD Crown Victoria directly challenged the
Chevrolet Caprice and Pontiac Bonneville (both downsized for
1977) and the Dodge St. Regis (discontinued in 1981).

Originally slated for replacement by the Ford Taurus in the early

1981 Ford LTD Crown Victoria two-
door sedan
1980s, the model line saw relatively little change throughout its
production. As the decade progressed, fuel prices stabilized,
leading to increased demand and further development of the model
line. For 1988 and 1990, the LTD Crown Victoria underwent
multiple revisions and updates.

In early 1991, Ford introduced the Ford Crown Victoria as a 1992 model. Dropping the LTD prefix, the
Crown Victoria underwent extensive body, chassis, and powertrain upgrades over its predecessor,
remaining in production through 2011.
Chassis

The Ford LTD Crown Victoria uses the rear-wheel drive Ford Panther platform architecture. As part of a
major downsizing over the 1973-1978 LTD Brougham/Landau, the LTD Crown Victoria shed 18 inches of
length and nearly 1000 pounds of curb weight. While the Panther chassis was all-new, the basic suspension
layout was carried over, adopting a double wishbone independent front suspension and a coil-sprung live
rear axle. The front brakes were vented discs with rear drums.

Powertrain

For its 1980 introduction, Ford produced the LTD Crown Victoria with two engines (both of them V8s). In
place of six-cylinder engines as standard equipment, a 130hp 4.9L V8 (the previous 302, rounded up to
5.0L by Ford) was standard, with a 140hp 5.8L V8 (351) as an option.[1] The Ford C4 3-speed automatic
transmission was paired to both V8 engines.[2]

For 1981, Ford took additional steps to increase the fuel efficiency of its full-size vehicles. A smaller-
displacement V8 became the standard engine, with Ford adding a 120 hp 4.2L V8. Following its
introduction on the Lincoln Town Car and Continental Mark VI, the LTD Crown Victoria received throttle-
body "electronic central fuel injection" for the 4.9L V8, replacing the carburetor. From Lincoln, the AOD
overdrive 4-speed automatic transmission was paired with the 4.2L V8 and was an option with the two
larger V8s.[2] For 1982, the AOD replaced the 3-speed automatic entirely.[2]

For 1983, the engine line was revised, as Ford ended production of the 4.2L V8 across all model lines. The
5.0L effectively became the only engine available, as the 5.8L carbureted V8 became restricted to fleet
sales (particularly police vehicles); in Canada, the 5.8L V8 remained an option through 1991. For 1984, the
engine received an OBD-1 compliant Ford EEC-IV computer, raising output to 140 hp (155 hp
optional).[1][2]

For 1986, the 5.0L V8 underwent further revision, replacing the throttle-body fuel injection intake with a
redesigned multiport "Sequential-Fire" system (distinguished by its large cast-aluminum air intake
manifold), raising output to 150 hp.[1] A dual-exhaust system was introduced for 1990 as an option (adding
10 hp).[1]

For 1991, the 150 hp 5.0L V8 remained standard with the 180 hp 5.8L V8 offered for fleet sales (subject to
gas-guzzler taxes) and in Canada; the final American-assembled vehicles sold with a carbureted engine, the
latter V8 included the Motorcraft 7200 variable-venturi carburetor in use since 1979.[2]

Body

When introduced for the

1984 Ford LTD Crown Victoria four-
door sedan
1980 model year, the LTD
Crown Victoria was offered
in two-door sedan and four-
door sedan body styles; a
five-door station wagon
was offered as the wood- 1987 Ford LTD Crown Victoria two-
paneled LTD Country door sedan
Squire. The body
underwent a minor roofline
revision over the 1979 LTD Landau, distinguished by a brushed-aluminum band covering the B-pillars. A
half-length vinyl roof was standard; on fleet vehicles (such as police cars), the vinyl roof was a delete
option.[1]

For 1981, the sideview mirrors were remounted and relocated rearward. For 1982, Ford phased out FORD
lettering on both the grille and trunklid, phasing in the Ford Blue Oval emblem (the grille emblem was
offset to the drivers' side).[2] For 1983, the exterior received a revised grille design; the taillamp lenses were
also redesigned (distinguished by the deletion of the LTD script).

For 1984, a station wagon without woodgrain paneling was introduced, joining the Country Squire.[3] For
four door sedans, a "Brougham" full-length vinyl roof with a more formal roofline profile (including a
"frenched" rear window) was introduced as an option.[4]

For 1985, the dashboard underwent multiple updates. The climate and audio controls were redesigned (the
latter, to fit a single-DIN slot); the change led to the retirement of the 8-track cassette and CB radio options.
In a major functional upgrade, the controls for the horn were relocated from the turn-signal stalk to the
steering-wheel hub.[2] As a running change by the end of the model year, a center brake light was added
(on the rear parcel shelf of sedans, below the rear window of station wagons).[2] For 1987, Ford
standardized an electronic dashboard clock, tinted glass, and air conditioning (the latter remained offered as
a delete option on fleet vehicles).[2]

Following the 1987 model year, the two-door LTD Crown Victoria sedan was discontinued (only 5,527
were sold in comparison to 105,789 four-door sedans in 1987, down from 6,291 in 1986[5][6]). Demand for
two-door vehicles had shifted towards sportier designs (such as the Thunderbird and the Mustang), leaving
the compact Tempo as the only 1988 Ford model line sold as both a two-door and a four-door sedan.

1988 update

After nine years in the

marketplace, the LTD
Crown Victoria underwent
its first mid-cycle revision
for 1988. To (nominally)
improve the aerodynamics
1989 Ford LTD Crown Victoria LX of the exterior, the front and 1989 Ford LTD Crown Victoria LX,
rear fascias were restyled, rear
rounding the edges of the
fenders slightly; while still protruding outward substantially, the
bumpers were better integrated within the body. While the roofline and doors were carried over, other
changes sought to modernize the design. Coinciding with enlarged taillamps (wrapping into the fenders),
the trunklid was changed in shape (with a larger license-plate opening). The grille was lowered in height
and widened, integrating the headlamps and turn signal lenses into a single assembly (the Ford Blue Oval
emblem was enlarged and centered). The interior underwent a separate revision; the interior received an
increase of wood trim (on LX-trim models), redesigned seats, and a more legible speedometer.[2]

For 1990, the model line received further interior updates, necessitated by passive-safety regulations. For
the first time since 1979, the dashboard and steering wheel underwent a complete redesign (reversing the
placement of the audio and climate controls); a driver-side airbag was introduced as standard equipment
(for all versions). To comply with federal safety regulations, three-point seatbelts were added to the
outboard rear seats.[2] Ford standardized many previously optional features to streamline production costs
and increase the market appeal of the decade-old model line, including power windows and locks, tilt
steering, and automatic headlights (AutoLamp); air conditioning was no longer a delete option. To further
reduce production costs, the LTD Crown Victoria and Mercury Grand Marquis shared a nearly identical
interior (with only detail changes distinguishing the two).

For its final year, relatively few changes were made to the LTD Crown Victoria for 1991. Ford changed the
parking light lenses in color from amber to clear, last seen on the 1979 base-trim Ford LTD.

Trim Levels

From 1980 to 1982, Ford marketed the LTD Crown Victoria name
as the highest-trim version of the Ford LTD. For 1983, Ford
enacted an extensive revision of its full-size and mid-size vehicles,
affecting both Ford and Lincoln-Mercury in North America. The
Ford brand split the LTD nameplate into two product ranges, with
the 1979-1982 full-size LTD renamed the LTD Crown Victoria and
the LTD nameplate adopted for its mid-size sedan, replacing the
1986 Ford LTD Crown Victoria S four-
Granada (updated and renamed for 1983).
door sedan
The standard-trim LTD Crown Victoria was intended for retail
markets, coming with the 5.0L V8 engine as standard. In addition
to the landau-style vinyl padded roof with targa-style trim and wire wheel covers, the model featured full
carpeting, reclining cloth bench seat, and AM/FM radio.

Inheriting the trim range from the 1979-1982 LTD, the LTD Crown Victoria was initially sold in a single
trim level, with the previous LTD Crown Victoria repackaged as an Interior Luxury Group option,
including upgraded seats, door panels, and upgraded interior features.[7][8] For 1986, the option package
was reintroduced as the LTD Crown Victoria LX.[9] Effectively serving as a direct Ford counterpart of the
Grand Marquis, the LX offered split-bench seats (cloth or leather), upgraded interior carpet, additional
sound insulation and power-operated features, and upgraded stereo systems.[10] The exterior of the LX
offered cornering lamps, two-tone paint, and standard aluminum-alloy wheels.

While the model had previously been sold for fleet sales, the S model returned for 1987 as a dedicated fleet-
sales model.[2] Sold primarily for police and taxi sales, the S trim was externally distinguished by its vinyl
roof delete, steel wheels and partial wheel covers, and the lack of a hood ornament and aluminum B-pillar
trim. The interior of S trim vehicles were spartan, including vinyl full bench seats, manual windows/locks,
AM radios; features such as AM/FM radios and air conditioning were options. Alongside fleet sales, the S
trim was the standard trim of the LTD Crown Victoria station wagon; it is the only version sold directly to
the general public (without woodgrain sides; also offered in standard and LX trim).

From 1988 onward, the LTD Crown Victoria was offered in a namesake standard trim, the LX, and the
fleet-oriented S trims.       

Variants

Station wagon

From 1979 to 1991, a five-door station wagon was offered as part of the LTD/LTD Crown Victoria model
line. Offered in equivalent trim as sedans, the flagship version remained the wood-trimmed LTD Country
Squire, trimmed nearly identically to the LTD Crown Victoria (and the subsequent LTD Crown Victoria
LX). On hiatus for the 1983 model year, a non-woodgrain station wagon returned for 1984 under the LTD
 Crown Victoria nameplate
(the previous LTD station
wagon); this version was
offered in fleet (S) trim,
standard trim, and LX trim.

While smaller than its 1990 Ford LTD Crown Victoria LX,
1970s predecessor, the rear (non-woodgrain trim)
1991 Ford LTD Country Squire LTD Crown
(woodgrain trim) Victoria/Country Squire
wagon returned many of its functional features. The rear door was
dual-hinged, allowing it to function as a tailgate or swing outward;
other features included a standard roof rack and optional side-facing rear seats (expanding capacity from six
to eight). The fleet-oriented S trim lacked the roof rack and the third-row seating (reducing capacity to six).

From the late 1980s into the early 1990s, consumer demand for family vehicles transitioned from large
station wagons to minivans and full-size vans, and to four-door sport-utility vehicles. Within Ford, the role
of the model line was largely overtaken by the Ford Aerostar and the Ford Econoline/Club Wagon; the
Country Squire also struggled to compete with the newer Ford Taurus station wagon (also sold with
optional third-row seating). After the 1991 model year, the station wagon body style was dropped from the
model line, as the 1992 Ford Crown Victoria was introduced only as a four-door sedan.

Fleet use

Marketed primarily for fleet usage, including law enforcement, taxi, and other fleet markets, the LTD
Crown Victoria S was base trim of the model line, slotted below the standard trim sold to retail markets
(under the production code P72). To lower production costs, a number of convenience features were
removed from the S trim, distinguished by its lack of a vinyl roof. Along with most bodyside chrome trim,
other exterior and interior trim was decontented, including lower-grade carpeting, a standard AM radio, and
single-piece front bench seat.[11]

In the United States, the 5.8L V8 was restricted to fleet sale after 1980 (outside of law enforcement sales,
examples were subject to gas-guzzler taxes[11]).

Law enforcement use (Police Package)

Through its entire

production, Ford produced
option packages for the
LTD Crown Victoria,
optimizing it for usage as a
police car. Competing
against the Chevrolet 1980s Ford LTD Crown Victoria in the
Impala/Caprice 9C1 and UK, decaled as a California Highway
1990 Ford LTD Crown Victoria police
the Dodge Patrol cruiser
car (unmarked)
Diplomat/Plymouth Gran
Fury, the LTD Crown
Victoria with the Police Package was upgraded for heavy-duty use,
including a reinforced frame, upgraded suspension and brakes, larger wheels and tires, and improved
engine cooling.[12] Other changes were made to accommodate police equipment, including heavy-duty
interior materials, provisions for additional lights and sirens, and a 140mph speedometer.[12][11][13]
The option package was offered for any sedan trim; while primarily offered on the fleet-oriented S trim,
police cars were also offered in the LX trim (including interior carpeting, cloth seats, full wheel covers, and
whitewall tires).[12][13] Other options allowed for multiple vehicles to share a common key.[13] The
standard engine was the 5.0L V8, with a 5.8L V8 (with up to 180 hp) offered as an option; to avoid "gas
guzzler" taxes, customers who ordered the 5.8L engine option were required to prove to the IRS that the
vehicle was for law enforcement use.[11]

For the 1992 model year, the option became known as the Ford Crown Victoria P71 (later the Crown
Victoria Police Interceptor), with Ford replacing both the 5.0L and 5.8L OHV engines (the latter, its final
carbureted engine in North America) with a single 210 hp 4.6L SOHC V8.   

Production
Year Production Total[14]

1979 356,535 (116,913)[a]

1980 141,292 (29,687 LTD Crown Victoria)
1981 132,363 (50,200 LTD Crown Victoria)
1982 128,053 (50,692 LTD Crown Victoria)

1983 113,616[b]
1984 173,489
1985 185,437
1986 124,037
1987 128,878
1988 125,189
1989 134,103
1990 77,395
1991 82,433
Total 1,902,820

Notes
a. Production numbers are for predecessor LTD Landau
b. All Ford full-size production numbers after 1983 are grouped by bodystyle (sedan/wagon),
not nameplate/trim

References
1. "Ford/Lincoln/Mercury Box Panther Horsepower/Torque Figures" (http://www.grandmarq.net/
tiggie/Box%20Panther%20Horsepower.htm). www.grandmarq.net. Retrieved 2021-02-14.
2. "The Official Box Panther History of GMN" (http://www.grandmarq.net/tiggie/Box%20History/
History.htm). www.grandmarq.net. Retrieved 2021-02-14.
3. "1984 Ford LTD Crown Victoria Brochure" (http://www.oldcarbrochures.com/static/NA/Ford/1
984_Ford/1984%20Ford%20LTD%20Crown%20Victoria%20Brochure/image6.html).
www.oldcarbrochures.com. Retrieved 2021-02-14.
 4. "1984 Ford LTD Crown Victoria Brochure" (http://www.oldcarbrochures.com/static/NA/Ford/1
984_Ford/1984%20Ford%20LTD%20Crown%20Victoria%20Brochure/image5.html).
www.oldcarbrochures.com. Retrieved 2021-02-15.
5. The Auto Editors of Consumer Guide (2006), Encyclopedia of American Cars (2006 ed.),
Publications International, Ltd., ISBN 978-1412713542 {{citation}}: |author= has
generic name (help)
6. Stark, Harry A., ed. (1987). Ward's Automotive Yearbook 1987. Vol. 49. Detroit, MI: Ward's
Communications, Inc. p. 51. ISBN 0910589007.
7. "Directory Index: Ford/1983_Ford/1983_Ford_LTD_Crown_Victoria_Brochure" (http://www.o
ldcarbrochures.com/static/NA/Ford/1983_Ford/1983_Ford_LTD_Crown_Victoria_Brochure/
1983%20Ford%20LTD%20Crown%20Victoria-08-09.html). www.oldcarbrochures.com.
Retrieved 2021-02-15.
8. "1984 Ford LTD Crown Victoria Brochure" (http://www.oldcarbrochures.com/static/NA/Ford/1
984_Ford/1984%20Ford%20LTD%20Crown%20Victoria%20Brochure/image4.html).
www.oldcarbrochures.com. Retrieved 2021-02-15.
9. "Directory Index: Ford/1986_Ford/1986_Ford_LTD_Crown_Victoria_Brochure" (http://www.o
ldcarbrochures.com/static/NA/Ford/1986_Ford/1986_Ford_LTD_Crown_Victoria_Brochure/
1986%20Ford%20LTD%20Crown%20Victoria-08-09.html). www.oldcarbrochures.com.
Retrieved 2021-02-15.
10. 1987 Ford Buyer's Guide
11. "1989 Ford LTD Police Package Brochure" (http://www.oldcarbrochures.com/static/NA/Ford/
1989%20Ford/1989%20Ford%20LTD%20Police%20Package%20Brochure/image3.html).
www.oldcarbrochures.com. Retrieved 2021-02-22.
12. "1989 Ford LTD Police Package Brochure" (http://www.oldcarbrochures.com/static/NA/Ford/
1989%20Ford/1989%20Ford%20LTD%20Police%20Package%20Brochure/image2.html).
www.oldcarbrochures.com. Retrieved 2021-02-22.
13. "1989 Ford LTD Police Package Brochure" (http://www.oldcarbrochures.com/static/NA/Ford/
1989%20Ford/1989%20Ford%20LTD%20Police%20Package%20Brochure/image4.html).
www.oldcarbrochures.com. Retrieved 2021-02-22.
14. "Box Panther Production Numbers" (http://www.grandmarq.net/tiggie/Box%20Panther%20Pr
oduction%20Numbers.htm). Retrieved 14 April 2014.

External links
LTD World (https://web.archive.org/web/20161227084018/http://www.flee.com/ltd/)
Ford LTD Crown Victoria in television and film (http://www.imcdb.org/vehicles.php?resultsSt
yle=asImages&sortBy=4&make=Ford&model=LTD+Crown+Victoria&modelMatch=1&model
InclModel=on)

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