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In 1979, the Ford Motor Company introduced its newest full-size sedans: the Ford LTD Crown Victoria, the Mercury Marquis Brougham, and the Lincoln Town Car. These six-passenger models were placed on a newly designed “Panther” platform that was smaller than the cars it replaced, demonstrating Ford’s commitment to downsizing its vehicles.

Three Decade Run

While downsizing enabled customers to see improved fuel mileage, this process as – seen in Ford’s large sedans – was frozen by the automaker for the next three decades, with the original Panther platform left in place for 32 years. In 2010, Ford canceled the Mercury Grand Marquis and in September 2011, the Ford Crown Victoria and Lincoln Town Car was discontinued as well.

Panther has the distinction of being the longest running car platform in North America. Typically, vehicles get a new platform about once every six years. In the case of Ford’s large sedans, the changes made down through the years were more evolutionary, than revolutionary – the same chassis was always used although engines, transmissions, exteriors and cabins were modified or replaced. Lincoln received some differentiation by offering higher trim levels as well as an extended length “L” model that added six inches to the wheelbase, ideal for limousine use.

Cost Driven Approach

Ford’s partiality to Panther had everything to do with cost. As the market changed in the 1980s, it quickly became apparent that consumers were looking for even smaller and lighter vehicles. Given that the Panther family was powered by its rear wheels, that meant that Ford would have to switch to front-wheel-drive to gain the needed size savings without reducing the cabin significantly. It also meant that Ford would lose out on an increasingly lucrative police pursuit market, one that gobbled up Crown Victorias more than any other model. With costs and market considerations at play, it was easy to understand why Panther was continued.

As always, a V-8 engine was found underneath the hood of Panther vehicles. The first models were powered by a 4.9-liter V-8 paired with a 4-speed overdrive transmission. From 1986 to 1991, a 5.8-liter engine was offered optionally, with both replaced by a single 4.6-liter V-8 paired with a new 4-speed automatic overdrive transmission in 1992. That powertrain combination remained in place for 20 years.

Looking Ahead

With Panther gone, Ford has signaled that it is concentrating on newer, more modern vehicles to fill its needs. For police departments, a pair of pursuit vehicles now exist in the Ford Taurus and Ford Explorer. How these models will fare is anyone’s guess, especially since GM and Chrysler have committed to competing in this segment with rear-wheel-drive models versus Ford’s now front- or all-wheel-drive line.

Lincoln is now officially out of the executive sedan business, although with the Navigator SUV still in its line up, an alternate livery vehicle is in place. Look for the Lincoln MKT to also being brought in to replace the Town Car.

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