It appears as though Ford is planning to slowly phase out production of its Panther platform, the architecture that underpins the Ford Crown Victoria, Lincoln Town Car and Mercury Grand Marquis. Ford’s big rear-drive sedans, which are primarily used for fleet, government, taxi or limo use, will see a reduction in volume as well as options for the 2008 model year and beyond.
Fleet sales will continue to rise for the Crown Victoria but dealers will no longer be able to order the car for customers. Lincoln dealers will still be able to order the Town Car for customers, but dealers will have a very limited set of option packages available. The majority of Town Cars will go to limo services. The Mercury Gran Marquis will continue to sell 45/55 private/fleet. Although Ford moved nearly 160,000 of these vehicles in 2006, production should be down to about 100,000 by ‘09. The Panther platform was introduced in 1979.
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08/28, 8:39 AM
posted by:
Got Handling?
I’m glad they will still be around for the fleet market. A trip to the US wouldn’t be the same if you couldn’t rent some ridiculously oversized ill-handling barge with an is-it-plastic-or-leather interior.
08/28, 9:02 AM
posted by:
RicardoHead
Actually not a bad move. Keep selling your old crap that no one wants to the fleets, and put new improved products in the customers’ hands. The customers of new product wont be feeling like they are driving rental crap for at least 7 years.
Amazing that Ford is still selling a platform originally introduced in 1979. Blows my mind …
08/28, 9:13 AM
posted by:
A4
at least youll be able to scope out the cops just a little bit easier
08/28, 9:17 AM
posted by:
Karkat
1979, you could spin that in another direction. Its a estimate to the platform that it has lasted in the market place this long. The simple fact is ppl and organizations still choose to buy them. Im not saying I would, but you have to admit that is impressive.
08/28, 9:38 AM
posted by:
RSPINAJR
although these are huge cash cows for Ford – it is really time they put them to bed – forever. Give Lincoln a true flagship (the MKS does not count), drop the Grand Marquis (put those customers into the new Sable) and give the ford brand the Interceptor and call it a day!
08/28, 10:46 AM
posted by:
1487_GM_SALES
Fleet sales are the only sales Ford ever sees. The average consumer buys GM because they want quality, durability and reliability, obviously three terms that never existed in the Ford organization and never will. Ford sucks, that is a well known fact.
08/28, 11:24 AM
posted by:
inline6
Thing is, the Panther isn’t Ford’s oldest platform. The Econoline vans have been on the same platform since they were all-new in 1975. Ford is still selling the 3 oldest vehicle platforms offered on the American market: Econoline (1975), Panther (1979), and Ranger (1983). And it shows.
It’s NOT impressive that Ford has kept building the old barges with little real development. The new Taurus is more powerful, more economical, roomier, safer, AND better screwed together. It’s not like Ford is getting conquest buyers with the Crown Vic or Grand Marquis. They’re getting rental agencies, taxi and police fleets, and limousine contractors as customers. It’s only really a commercial vehicle now, and it’s been a commercial vehicle for awhile now.
We need not mourn the loss of these vehicles. GM and Chrysler have proven that we need not lose our traditional large rear-drive cars for good…they just need to change with the times and – wonder of wonders – with the tastes of customers!
08/28, 11:43 AM
posted by:
jackjimturkey
I6: If I ever want to do something illegal, I’ll use a white Econoline!
Only two groups buy Crown Vics: cops and those who don’t mind being mistaken for cops.
Oh, and taxi companies.
08/28, 12:21 PM
posted by:
AMGoff
These are vehicles that serve their purpose quite well, it would be a mistake for Ford to just scrap them all together. Of course it’s going to be a bigger mistake when Ford doesn’t come up with a proper Town Car replacement.
08/28, 2:04 PM
posted by:
Commodore
Make a Zeta-style platform…..1979 is a LOOONG time. It’s like W-body for GM. And GM is phasing it out and so should you
08/28, 5:30 PM
posted by:
0GSharK6
These cars certainly have their place, but I agree that they should slowly be phased out for some better models, even if a newer better “Crown Vic” type of model would be a fleet-only vehicle.
08/28, 7:50 PM
posted by:
global_lightning
One of my neighbors has a white Econoline with black-tinted window. We call it the ‘UNIBOMBER’. He’s got 6 kids so it’s the only thing that will carry his entire family.
On the Crown Vic: As long as Ford keeps making a profit on these, so be it. At this point, the cost of production is probably just scrap metal + labor. I’d bet the real reason for decrease output is the tools and dies are reaching EOL after 25 years of production.
09/01, 12:16 AM
posted by:
tripleonefive
Holy **** I actually agree with GM Sales! He just forgot to add Chrysler and GM to the end of that Ford sucks sentence