I write this post in retrospect, realizing that perhaps I should have written it at least two years ago. But, of course, those niggling points like Life tend to get in the way of things you wanted to do and things you actually did.

I make, however, this post in the mirrored reflection of having been a cop for over 40 years and having driven every vehicle known to Copdom, from the 70s to now. And all points in between. Including the CVPI for a number of years in its many iterations.

The Ford Crown Victoria Police Interceptor is dead. Long live the CVPI.

There. I said it.

Because as a cop, and an EVOC instructor, I had a love/hate relationship with the Ford CVPI.

First, please see the video. To me, now, this is a sad time.

A clearly delineated time ends now, the end of an era, the end of a training paradigm, the end of a series of instructors, and an end to a “tool,” if you will, that kept cops safe for years and years and years.

Though it was anemic (via a massive 4.6L V8 engine = to 280 cubic inches), and shallow, and underpowered, it also managed to have absolutely and clearly the worst front seats in the known universe, as well as the worst sound insulation and the loudest and most abrupt transmission. It was the Panther Platform taken to the Nth degree via body-on-frame.

Plus: it only took the CVPI roughly 2,175 years to increase its output from 200 to 250 hp in its final 4.6L form.

What it did have was: interior room, back seat room, and trunk room.

It also had exclusivity. And one other factor that I shall mention later.

For many years, at least in Fornicalia, Dodge and Chrysler ruled the cop car realms.  I drove this first:

What CHP purchased, many other agencies purchased as well.  So a monitoring of CHP purchases also reflected those of the rest of the state.

I also drove this next: http://bloviatingzeppelin.net/archives/363

I also drove:

Two of my favorite cars were the Pontiac LeMans Enforcer for 1976 and 1977, and the Pontiac Catalina in 1978.

The County of Sacramento Sheriff’s Department 600 and the 700 series Pontiacs were essentially the same, but with different cloth seats and colors. The front seats were very deep and you felt as though you were witnessing Life through a lower portion of the windshield.

The 800s included the Pontiac Catalina, which featured the MDT mounted high and right up in your face. The shotguns were mounted horizontally, directly above your head and attached to the cage. The shotguns in the 1978 Catalinas were mounted to the floor, under your legs.

After that, my department purchased a number of Chevrolet products until the first Crown Victorias emerged.  They were large and square and alternated between the 80s and 90s.

The absolute worst vehicle purchased by the Sacramento Sheriff’s Department was the Dodge St Regis or, as I enjoyed calling it, the Dodge St Slow-gis. This reprehensible excuse for a cop car was produced on a large body with an anemic 318 engine producing a whopping 155 HP — less horsepower my 2002 Subaru Outback Sport created. Zero-to-60 speeds were roughly an hour.

Here’s an actual story. I was rolling end of watch from District 4 to the North Station and, impatient as I was, floored my 1980 Dodge St Regis as I entered eastbound I-80 traffic. Just prior to my exit at Madison Avenue in the space of three miles, I had achieved the staggering speed of 79 mph. No. I am not kidding. Floored.

Then there were the early Ford Crown Victorias.

People in Patrol hated to have them on the street, because they drank gas like water, but they also, to the giddiment of cops, had great air conditioners.

They also had the world’s worst and twitchiest steering input; no matter.  Their air conditioners were great.

A 2003 LASD EVOC vehicle here.  Because, whist in charge of my own EVOC course, I took the east and west coast trials seriously.

And all points in between.

And there you go.  Enough of this.

Say goodbye to the Ford CVPI.

It was a clearly simple vehicle.  And the one factor I failed to mention until now?

The Ford CVPI was incredibly forgiving.  It plowed when you wanted and oversteered when you wanted.

It took an amazing and astounding amount of abuse and still kept on track.

And there you have it.

I hated the bastard, and, simultaneously, I loved it.

The Last Crown Victoria, below, in its yard:

BZ