Ford says it’s going to stop making the car that is the heart of hundreds of police fleets in the country, including Missouri’s Highway Patrol.
Ford says it will keep making its Crown Victoria for police agencies through the 20-11 model year. After that it will build new police vehicles on the new Taurus platform.
The Highway Patrol has 720 to 750 Crown Vics that its road troopers use. They like the size, weight, and the rear-wheel drive, especially when they have to take one through a median on a divided highway.
Patrol Captain Tim Hull says there are alternatives–Dodge has the Charger, Chevrolet is making the Tahoe and the Impala but its rear-wheel drive police sedan is made in Australia. Hull says the Patrol tries to restrict itself to vehicles made in the United States or its North American Free Trade partners.
Another company, Carbon Motors, hopes soon to start producing its turbo-diesel police cars in Indiana. .
Hull says the Patrol soon will begin developing specifications for bidding to replace the Crown Victorias. But it’s waiting to learn the particulars about the vehicles that will be available after 20-11 before writing them.
Bob Priddy’s story  :62  mp3  crownva
Capt. Tim Hull talks it over with Bob Priddy 15:07 mp3Â crown14
