👉 Ford LTD Crown Victoria: A Brief Overview
The Ford LTD Crown Victoria served as the flagship of the Ford LTD model range in North America. Deriving its name from the Ford Fairlane coupe of 1955–1956, this iconic vehicle was produced from the 1980 to 1991 model years. Here are some key points about this classic car:
➡️Origins and Name Etymology:
- The LTD Crown Victoria borrowed its name from the Ford Fairlane Crown Victoria of the mid-1950s.
- The distinctive styling feature it shared with its Fairlane counterpart was a targa-style band across the roof atop the B-pillars.
➡️Design and Variants:
The LTD Crown Victoria was offered in several body styles:
- Two-door sedan: A sleek and elegant option.
- Four-door sedan: Practical and spacious for family use.
- Five-door station wagon: Including the woodgrained LTD Country Squire, perfect for those who needed extra cargo space.
It served as the Ford counterpart of the Mercury Grand Marquis.
➡️Production and Assembly Locations:
- The LTD Crown Victoria was produced by Ford at several different facilities during its lifetime:
- Initially built at the Louisville, Los Angeles, Atlanta, and Oakville plants.
- By 1982, Oakville became the sole assembly location.
- Production was later added alongside the Mercury Grand Marquis at St. Louis Assembly in Hazelwood, Missouri.
- Canadian production shifted from Oakville to St. Thomas Assembly in Southwold, Ontario.
➡️Downsizing and Legacy:
- For 1983, Ford revised its full-size and mid-size product ranges across all three of its divisions.
- The LTD Crown Victoria remained the sole full-size Ford sedan, while the mid-size Granada took on the LTD name.
- Following a minor update for the 1988 model year, the LTD Crown Victoria was discontinued after the 1991 model year.
- It was replaced by the redesigned Ford Crown Victoria, which dropped the station wagon body style and retired the LTD prefix.
In summary, the Ford LTD Crown Victoria represents an era of classic American automobiles, combining elegance, practicality, and a touch of nostalgia. 🌟