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1998-2011 Ford Crown VictoriaAero Panther Crown Victoria

1998-2011 60+ on the wall 198 documents ↓

The 1998 model year brought a thorough update of the Ford Crown Victoria, the rear-wheel-drive, body-on-frame Panther sedan shared in platform with the Mercury Grand Marquis and Lincoln Town Car. For 1998 Ford revised the rear suspension to a Watt's-linkage layout, added aluminum front control arms, fitted larger brakes with dual-piston front calipers, and standardized 16-inch wheels. The 4.6L SOHC two-valve modular V8 rose to 200 horsepower with single exhaust and 215 horsepower with the dual-exhaust high-output tune, then to 220 and 235 horsepower for 2001-2002. The most significant chassis change came for 2003, when Ford fitted a fully boxed, partly hydroformed frame and replaced the long-running recirculating-ball steering with rack and pinion, raising civilian output to 224 and 239 horsepower. Two variants defined the run: the LX Sport, offered from 2002 with the dual-exhaust engine, a firmer suspension, a floor-shifted console, and larger wheels, and the Police Interceptor, the P71 fleet car that gained the "Police Interceptor" name and badge for 1999 and reached 250 horsepower for 2004 through 2011. Ford ended United States retail sales after the 2007 model year and built the final Crown Victoria for fleet and export in September 2011.

Other Ford Crown Victoria generations

The 1998-2011 Ford Crown Victoria at a glance

  • 1998 update: Watt's-linkage rear suspension, aluminum front control arms, larger brakes with dual-piston front calipers, standard 16-inch wheels
  • 2003 update: fully boxed, partly hydroformed frame and rack-and-pinion steering replacing recirculating ball
  • Engine: 4.6L SOHC two-valve modular V8, rising from 200 hp (1998) to 239 hp (2003 on) civilian, and 250 hp for the 2004-2011 Police Interceptor
  • Transmissions: 4R70W four-speed automatic through 2004, 4R70E for 2005, 4R75E from 2006; the 2004 Police Interceptor used the 4R75W
  • Platform: rear-wheel-drive, body-on-frame Panther platform, shared with the Mercury Grand Marquis and Lincoln Town Car
  • LX Sport: offered from 2002 with the dual-exhaust engine, firmer suspension, a floor-shifted console, and larger wheels
  • Police Interceptor: P71 order code; "Police Interceptor" name and badge added for 1999
  • End of the line: US retail sales end after 2007; final car built September 2011 at St. Thomas Assembly, Ontario

Ford Crown Victoria 1998-2011 year by year

YearFord Crown Victoria changesEngine / drivetrain
1998Update brings the Watt's-linkage rear suspension, aluminum front control arms, larger brakes with dual-piston front calipers, and standard 16-inch wheels4.6L SOHC 2V V8 (200 hp single, 215 hp dual HO); 4R70W automatic
1999Ford adds the separate "Police Interceptor" name and trunk badge to the P71 fleet car4.6L SOHC 2V V8; Police Interceptor 215 hp; 4R70W automatic
2000The 1998-2011 Ford Crown Victoria carries over with the updated suspension and the 4.6L V84.6L SOHC 2V V8 (200/215 hp); 4R70W automatic
2001Output of the 4.6L V8 rises across the line4.6L SOHC 2V V8 (220 hp single, 235 hp dual HO); 4R70W automatic
2002The LX Sport arrives with the dual-exhaust engine, firmer suspension, a floor-shifted console, and larger wheels4.6L SOHC 2V V8 (220/235 hp); 4R70W automatic
2003Major re-engineering: a fully boxed, partly hydroformed frame and rack-and-pinion steering replace the recirculating-ball system; output rises4.6L SOHC 2V V8 (224 hp single, 239 hp dual HO); 4R70W automatic
2004The Police Interceptor reaches 250 horsepower with a revised air intake; the civilian 4.6L stays at 224/239 hp4.6L SOHC 2V V8; Police Interceptor 250 hp; 4R70W automatic (4R75W on the Police Interceptor)
2005Ford replaces the 4R70W with the related 4R70E four-speed automatic4.6L SOHC 2V V8 (224/239 hp); 4R70E automatic
2006The 4R75E four-speed automatic becomes standard across the line4.6L SOHC 2V V8 (224/239 hp); 4R75E automatic
2007Final model year of United States retail sales; the Crown Victoria continues with the 4.6L V8 and the 4R75E automatic4.6L SOHC 2V V8 (224/239 hp); 4R75E automatic
2008The Crown Victoria becomes fleet-only in the United States, sold for police, taxi, and export use4.6L SOHC 2V V8 (224/239 hp); 4R75E automatic
2009The Ford Crown Victoria continues for fleet, police, and export only4.6L SOHC 2V V8; Police Interceptor 250 hp; 4R75E automatic
2010Fleet, police, and export production of the Ford Crown Victoria continues4.6L SOHC 2V V8; Police Interceptor 250 hp; 4R75E automatic
2011Final year; the last Ford Crown Victoria is built in September 2011 at St. Thomas Assembly, Ontario4.6L SOHC 2V V8; Police Interceptor 250 hp; 4R75E automatic

The 1998 suspension and brake update

The 1998 Ford Crown Victoria revised the chassis hardware while keeping the rear-wheel-drive, body-on-frame Panther layout. Ford replaced the earlier three-link rear suspension with a four-link arrangement using a Watt's linkage to locate the live rear axle, added aluminum front lower control arms, fitted larger brake rotors with dual-piston front calipers, and standardized 16-inch wheels across the line. The 4.6L SOHC modular V8 rose to 200 horsepower with single exhaust and 215 horsepower with the dual-exhaust high-output tune. The 1998 update did not change the steering, which remained recirculating ball until the 2003 re-engineering.

The 2003 frame and steering re-engineering

The 2003 Ford Crown Victoria received the most significant chassis change of its life while staying on the Panther platform. Ford fitted a fully boxed frame using partly hydroformed front rails for better crash performance, revised the front suspension, and, for the first time, replaced the long-running recirculating-ball steering with a rack-and-pinion system. Civilian output rose to 224 horsepower with single exhaust and 239 horsepower with the dual-exhaust high-output tune. These changes carried through to the end of production and also benefited the Police Interceptor built on the same frame.

Engines and transmissions of the 1998-2011 Ford Crown Victoria

The 1998-2011 Ford Crown Victoria used the 4.6L SOHC two-valve modular V8 throughout, in a standard single-exhaust tune and a dual-exhaust high-output tune. Output climbed in steps: 200 and 215 horsepower from 1998, 220 and 235 horsepower for 2001-2002, and 224 and 239 horsepower from 2003. The Police Interceptor used the dual-exhaust engine and reached 250 horsepower for 2004 through 2011 with a revised air intake. The transmission was the 4R70W four-speed automatic through 2004, then the related 4R70E for 2005 and the 4R75E from 2006; the 2004 Police Interceptor used the 4R75W. No manual transmission was offered.

The LX Sport

The LX Sport was the enthusiast civilian Crown Victoria, offered from the 2002 model year. It paired the dual-exhaust high-output 4.6L V8 with a firmer handling-and-performance suspension, larger wheels, a floor-mounted shifter with a center console and bucket seats, and a monochrome exterior. It gave retail buyers most of the chassis hardware of the Police Interceptor in a street car. The LX Sport ran through 2008, its label later folded into a handling and performance package as the retail line narrowed.

The Police Interceptor and the end of production

The 1998-2011 Ford Crown Victoria Police Interceptor, built to the P71 order code, was the dominant North American police cruiser of its era. Ford added the separate "Police Interceptor" name and trunk badge for 1999. The P71 used the dual-exhaust 4.6L V8, a heavy-duty cooling system with external power-steering, transmission, and engine-oil coolers, a heavy-duty alternator, a stiffer suspension, and calibrated rear-axle ratios; the 2004-2011 cars produced 250 horsepower. Ford ended United States retail sales of the Crown Victoria after the 2007 model year and continued building it for fleet, police, and export. The last Ford Crown Victoria was built in September 2011 at the St. Thomas Assembly plant in Ontario, ending production ahead of the federal electronic-stability-control requirement that took effect for the 2012 model year.

Frequently asked questions

What changed on the 1998 Ford Crown Victoria?

The 1998 Ford Crown Victoria gained a four-link rear suspension with a Watt's linkage, aluminum front control arms, larger brakes with dual-piston front calipers, and standard 16-inch wheels. The 4.6L modular V8 rose to 200 horsepower single exhaust and 215 horsepower with the dual-exhaust high-output tune. Steering stayed recirculating ball until 2003.

When did the Ford Crown Victoria get rack-and-pinion steering?

The Ford Crown Victoria switched from recirculating-ball steering to rack and pinion for the 2003 model year, as part of the same re-engineering that added a fully boxed, partly hydroformed frame and raised civilian output to 224 horsepower single exhaust and 239 horsepower with the dual-exhaust tune.

What was the Crown Victoria LX Sport?

The Ford Crown Victoria LX Sport was the enthusiast civilian model offered from 2002. It paired the dual-exhaust high-output 4.6L V8 with a firmer suspension, larger wheels, a floor-mounted shifter with a center console and bucket seats, and a monochrome exterior, giving retail buyers much of the Police Interceptor's chassis hardware. It ran through 2008.

How much horsepower does the Crown Victoria Police Interceptor have?

The Ford Crown Victoria Police Interceptor used the dual-exhaust 4.6L V8, rated 215 horsepower for 1998-2000, 235 horsepower for 2001-2002, 239 horsepower for 2003, and 250 horsepower for 2004 through 2011 with a revised air intake.

When did the Ford Crown Victoria stop being sold?

Ford ended United States retail sales of the Crown Victoria after the 2007 model year and continued building it for fleet, police, and export. The final Ford Crown Victoria was built in September 2011 at the St. Thomas Assembly plant in Ontario, ahead of the 2012 federal electronic-stability-control requirement.

Sources

  • Ford factory specification sheets and shop manuals for the 1998-2011 Crown Victoria
  • Wikipedia, Ford Crown Victoria; Ford Crown Victoria Police Interceptor; Ford Panther platform
  • Ford Police Interceptor fleet literature (P71)
  • VIN and data-plate decoding for engine, transmission, and axle identification

Asked all the time

What changed on the 1998 Ford Crown Victoria?

The 1998 Ford Crown Victoria gained a four-link rear suspension with a Watt's linkage, aluminum front control arms, larger brakes with dual-piston front calipers, and standard 16-inch wheels. The 4.6L modular V8 rose to 200 horsepower single exhaust and 215 horsepower with the dual-exhaust high-output tune. Steering stayed recirculating ball until 2003.

When did the Ford Crown Victoria get rack-and-pinion steering?

The Ford Crown Victoria switched from recirculating-ball steering to rack and pinion for the 2003 model year, as part of the same re-engineering that added a fully boxed, partly hydroformed frame and raised civilian output to 224 horsepower single exhaust and 239 horsepower with the dual-exhaust tune.

What was the Crown Victoria LX Sport?

The Ford Crown Victoria LX Sport was the enthusiast civilian model offered from 2002. It paired the dual-exhaust high-output 4.6L V8 with a firmer suspension, larger wheels, a floor-mounted shifter with a center console and bucket seats, and a monochrome exterior, giving retail buyers much of the Police Interceptor's chassis hardware. It ran through 2008.

How much horsepower does the Crown Victoria Police Interceptor have?

The Ford Crown Victoria Police Interceptor used the dual-exhaust 4.6L V8, rated 215 horsepower for 1998-2000, 235 horsepower for 2001-2002, 239 horsepower for 2003, and 250 horsepower for 2004 through 2011 with a revised air intake.

When did the Ford Crown Victoria stop being sold?

Ford ended United States retail sales of the Crown Victoria after the 2007 model year and continued building it for fleet, police, and export. The final Ford Crown Victoria was built in September 2011 at the St. Thomas Assembly plant in Ontario, ahead of the 2012 federal electronic-stability-control requirement.

Technical Reference

Member-uploaded diagrams & documents for this generation. AI-classified; community-verified where badged.

Data/Spec Plates (58)

Manual Pages (14)

Wiring Diagrams (21)

Brochures & Literature (62)

Vacuum Routing (3)

Service Procedures (8)

Exploded Parts (6)

Blueprints (5)

Schematics (11)

Torque Specs (4)

Fuse & Relay Charts (6)

The wall · registered 1998-2011 Crown Victorias

Sorted by depth of documentation. Click any vehicle to open its permanent record.

Blue 2003 Ford Crown Victoria parked near a body of water2003 Crown Victoria2003 Crown Victoria · GaryinVT41 photos 2003 Ford Crown Victoria front view. Grille has horizontal bars and Ford emblem. License plate frame reads 'LOOK OUT WORLD HERR COMES FORD'2003 Crown Victoria2003 Crown Victoria · stevooo41 photos Dark red four-door sedan, rear 3/4 view, parked in driveway by brick house“Sport”2003 Crown Victoria · junktony40 photos 2003 Ford Crown Victoria LX sedan, 3/4 front view“GoldCrown”2003 Crown Victoria · Jeremy Millrood40 photos 1998 Ford Crown Victoria, two-tone paint, 3q-front view“P-71”1998 Crown Victoria · P-71PINHEAD39 photos White Ford Crown Victoria sedan front three-quarter view with palm trees behind2001 Crown Victoria2001 Crown Victoria · Lars39 photos Silver 2003 Ford Crown Victoria sedan parked on a concrete driveway, front passenger side visible“The Vic”2003 Crown Victoria · pkariher38 photos Front view of a dark blue 2002 Ford Crown Victoria with a Washington license plate2002 Crown Victoria2002 Crown Victoria · straycat20738 photos Light blue 2003 Ford Crown Victoria parked in front of a metal building“TheVic”2003 Crown Victoria · cstxc1637 photos Black-and-white ex-police Ford Crown Victoria with push bumper on a dirt lot2003 Crown Victoria2003 Crown Victoria · Keir97337 photos Black 2003 Ford Crown Victoria sedan parked on driveway2003 Crown Victoria2003 Crown Victoria · DetroitMuscle11737 photos Maroon 2004 Ford Crown Victoria parked on a suburban street in front of a house2004 Crown Victoria2004 Crown Victoria · ocsoofficer37 photos Light blue sedan parked on gravel with snow patches. Front end visible“Rice Patrol”1999 Crown Victoria · bassplayer98736 photos White 2002 Ford Crown Victoria parked on grass, side view2002 Crown Victoria2002 Crown Victoria · Vic_Interceptor_0236 photos Black 1999 Ford Crown Victoria sedan parked on a paved road“big blue2”1999 Crown Victoria · michael cowman36 photos Light blue Ford Crown Victoria sedan parked on driveway, 3/4 front passenger side view“Blue Whale NOT MINE”2004 Crown Victoria · Steve8335 photos Black 2003 Ford Crown Victoria parked on a dirt road with trees in the background2003 Crown Victoria2003 Crown Victoria · metalmania5135 photos White 2000 Ford Crown Victoria sedan parked on grass“Tampon 2000”2000 Crown Victoria · domesttuner35 photos Black full-size sedan with two men standing beside it in a parking lot“LX Sport”2002 Crown Victoria · Cooper34 photos Gray 2003 Ford Crown Victoria, 3/4 front view2003 Crown Victoria2003 Crown Victoria · KRalf33 photos 2005 Ford Crown Victoria police car and yellow Ford F-150 truck parked on a driveway in winter2005 Crown Victoria2005 Crown Victoria · chains35033 photos Gray 2000 Ford Crown Victoria side view with custom chrome wheels2000 Crown Victoria2000 Crown Victoria · outlaw231133 photos Black 2001 Ford Crown Victoria police car front view, grille with Ford logo, Virginia license plate“Batmobile”2001 Crown Victoria · VAP7133 photos 2003 Ford Crown Victoria police car parked on street at night, front grille guard visible2003 Crown Victoria2003 Crown Victoria · Steve00CVPI32 photos Silver 1999 Ford Crown Victoria rear quarter view with custom taillights and spoiler“ProjectVic”1999 Crown Victoria · LoganValley21531 photos Ford Crown Victoria parked on a slight incline. Black grille and steel wheels“The Palamino”2005 Crown Victoria · ThePalomino31 photos Gray-green Ford Crown Victoria sedan, front 3/4 view, parked on gravel by trees.1999 Crown Victoria1999 Crown Victoria · KCSO0531 photos Dark green 2001 Ford Crown Victoria sedan, 3/4 front view2001 Crown Victoria2001 Crown Victoria · rbbassett31 photos Blue 1998 Ford Crown Victoria front grille and headlights“Vida Blue”1998 Crown Victoria · jowhite31 photos White Ford Crown Victoria's open trunk with items inside. Trailer and laundry area in background“the white seal”2003 Crown Victoria · Chister31 photos 1999 Ford Crown Victoria parked on driveway1999 Crown Victoria1999 Crown Victoria · emsc3231 photos Black Ford Crown Victoria parked in a lot, front quarter view2003 Crown Victoria2003 Crown Victoria · 03CrownVictoriaPI30 photos Orange Ford Crown Victoria, front view, with a hood scoop and California plates“Sneaky Snake”2002 Crown Victoria · page11usmc29 photos White 2005 Ford Crown Victoria sedan parked on grass with trees in background“The Panther”2005 Crown Victoria · Ric2729 photos Alpine CDA-7897 CD receiver in a gray car dashboard with blue display, flanked by air vents1999 Crown Victoria1999 Crown Victoria · PWNDLOL29 photos Dark blue 1998 Ford Crown Victoria parked outdoors“Big Bertha”1998 Crown Victoria · GlocksterJames29 photos White 2000 Ford Crown Victoria sedan parked on a street, front 3/4 view2000 Crown Victoria2000 Crown Victoria · TGB29 photos Dark red Ford Crown Victoria sedan, three-quarter front view, on a landscaped campus drive“Vicki”2002 Crown Victoria · Terry S.28 photos Dark green 1998 Ford Crown Victoria sedan, front 3/4 view, wet pavement, snow in background1998 Crown Victoria1998 Crown Victoria · GreenVic27 photos White 2003 Ford Crown Victoria sedan parked on asphalt, front quarter view. Black grille and steel wheels2003 Crown Victoria2003 Crown Victoria · Markilla27 photos White 1999 Ford Escort parked curbside in front of houses1999 Crown Victoria1999 Crown Victoria · smokey14827 photos Black 1999 Ford Crown Victoria police car, 3q front view1999 Crown Victoria1999 Crown Victoria · kd7ctv27 photos 1998 Ford Crown Victoria“Smokey”1998 Crown Victoria · Jaime Bunn27 photos White Ford Crown Victoria sedan parked next to St. Thomas Assembly Plant Ford sign1998 Crown Victoria1998 Crown Victoria · Erin Ward27 photos 1998 Ford Crown Victoria with black aftermarket wheels and a license plate reading PDS-267“The Vic”1998 Crown Victoria · mustang_zulu26 photos Blue 2003 Ford Crown Victoria sedan parked on asphalt with snow in background2003 Crown Victoria2003 Crown Victoria · Adam H26 photos Gray 2000 Ford Crown Victoria sedan, rear quarter view“spruce goose”2000 Crown Victoria · sprucegoose26 photos Green Crown Victoria sedan with push bar, camo hood graphics, and 'Liberty and Justice for All' stripe in a parking lot“The Laws of Justice”2006 Crown Victoria · murdog8025 photos German Shepherd puppy with wide eyes and pink collar2005 Crown Victoria2005 Crown Victoria · Bill Mort25 photos Tan 2005 Ford Crown Victoria sedan parked on asphalt driveway, front 3/4 view2005 Crown Victoria2005 Crown Victoria · 121ak25 photos Front corner of a white 2002 Ford Crown Victoria parked on a dirt road2002 Crown Victoria2002 Crown Victoria · Ravang25 photos Silver Ford Crown Victoria sedan at night, headlights on, front 3/4 view under a lit canopy1999 Crown Victoria1999 Crown Victoria · David Brook25 photos Black 1998 Ford Crown Victoria police car with gold stripe, front quarter view, showing damage to front fender“The Ford”1998 Crown Victoria · altopass25 photos 2003 Ford Crown Victoria front view with black honeycomb grille and New York license plate2003 Crown Victoria2003 Crown Victoria · romak24 photos Dark burgundy Ford Crown Victoria head-on with lights on, parked on grass in a carport“Vicky”2001 Crown Victoria · Yoshi8624 photos Black 2006 Ford Crown Victoria front grille and headlights2006 Crown Victoria2006 Crown Victoria · shap35724 photos White 2003 Ford Crown Victoria rear view parked on driveway2003 Crown Victoria2003 Crown Victoria · bremlami24 photos White 1999 Ford Crown Victoria police car front view with 'WHELEN' text on hood1999 Crown Victoria1999 Crown Victoria · Kwikvic24 photos 2002 Ford Crown Victoria on cinder blocks with fuel filler hose attached2002 Crown Victoria2002 Crown Victoria · Smokeybear24 photos White four-door sedan side view at night with pillar-mounted spotlight, parked by a brick house.“01 or Bust”2001 Crown Victoria · noblunts24 photos