HMC WBOD news

[dome]

That looks ace!

[Spiny Norman]

My heart sank when I saw the "gets smashed" edit, but despite wanting to see what damage that tank had done to the other car I was relieved it was just the window.

[stuboy]

does it fit in normal parking spaces

[Rust Collector]

Thoughts and prayers for the other customer who must not have received the ‘do not remove keys from ignition’ message @HMC got. He’s probably still on a forecourt somewhere, with keys in his hands and a car that won’t start.

Well bought mate, that looks mega.

[Schaefft]

2 hours ago, stuboy said:

does it fit in normal parking spaces

If a transit or lwb Range Rover fits this will too.

[wuvvum]

6 hours ago, HMC said:

Well, this ex US govt police interceptor arrived yesterday….

 

On a definitely not* overweight Crafter beavertail.

[PhilA]

That's a remarkably tidy car for being from Jersey.

Check the suspension though, Jersey has some terrible roads that like to destroy rubber bushings.

[mintwth]

13 hours ago, HMC said:

It cuts a suitably menacing presence in and around Tavistock….

Would fitting some push bars make it even more menacing? 

[Rustybullethole]

7 minutes ago, mintwth said:

Would fitting some push bars make it even more menacing? 

And ease parking.

Was down your neck of the woods at the weekend and looked out for one of your fine vehicles. In the lanes around my mum and dads I encountered precisely no one. Mind you the transit scrapes both sides of most of them so taking a clean crown Vic down there would be foolish. 

[Dave_Q]

10 hours ago, stuboy said:

does it fit in normal parking spaces

I was gonna say it'll be fine as I can park everywhere in my xlwb Vito but actually, for a fun fact, the Crown Vic is actually about 300mm/a foot longer than the xlong van!

Me van does just about fit in supermarket spaces whilst sticking out the back a few inches so this beast will be good couple of foot out into the aisle in Tescos.

[HMC]

 Focus service bits: 

Genuine ford oil filter £6

correct spec oil (5ltr container) £16

 

Gotta love the cheap cost of parts for these cars. Cashback.

[HMC]

Bit of a size contrast with these 2;

 

 

And a contrast in wheels/ tyres…

 

Been flicking through the owners books…

 

Which has some info about the p71 chassis differences…

And some practical advice I thought I’d never read in a car owners handbook….

[sutty2006]

I LOVE CROWN VICS. 
 

 

 

 

 

 

Just thought I’d get that out in the open, while we are all here. 

[RoadworkUK]

This is a good read:

https://xr793.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/1996-Ford-Crown-Victoria-Interceptor-Police-Packages.pdf

Also: I can't imagine owning a Crown Vic without constantly giggling, even when I'm nowhere near the car.

[Rusty Pelican]

Theres a whole race series in the States using Crown Vics 
Watch this guy - hes ace 

 

[sutty2006]

36 minutes ago, Rusty Pelican said:

Theres a whole race series in the States using Crown Vics 
Watch this guy - hes ace 

 

It’s like the Mondeo. Banger racers love them because they’re ten a penny. Time to own one is now before there aren’t many left. 

[djoptix]

I'm sure I saw a Crown Vic in Bristol the other day, was it you?

[CreepingJesus]

There's the Panther chassis spec racing series too. 

 

[jon.k]

I was reading a CAR magazine from 2000 yesterday, and there was an article on the state of the american car industry. I think it said that in the US the "sub-sub-compact" Focus cost the same as a Crown Vic, so everyone bought a Crown Vic.

[uk_senator]

4 hours ago, HMC said:

 

Am I the only one looking at this pic imagining the 7 on a custom roof rack atop the Vic, with some drop down folding/extending ramps... 😕

[Spiny Norman]

3 hours ago, uk_senator said:

Am I the only one looking at this pic imagining the 7 on a custom roof rack atop the Vic, with some drop down folding/extending ramps... 😕

Or slung out the back on davits like a dingy hanging off a luxury yacht? 😛

[Schaefft]

10 hours ago, jon.k said:

I was reading a CAR magazine from 2000 yesterday, and there was an article on the state of the american car industry. I think it said that in the US the "sub-sub-compact" Focus cost the same as a Crown Vic, so everyone bought a Crown Vic.

Probably not too far from the truth. And why would anyone in their right mind if you don't use it as a urban commuter?

[Three Speed]

In 2000 we moved to the states and needed 2 cars which turned out to be a Crown Vic and a Focus. 
The Focus was the first Focus “Wagon” in California - made an interesting comparison to the Focus estate I had been driving in the UK. The Crown Vic delivered 88k miles of easy trouble free motoring over the following 4 years. Fantastic car. Should have brought it back here.

[PhilA]

Well, they were built to be utilitarian.

Grandpa's choice of wheels.

Police choice of wheels. Once the police have finished wringing the life out of them, taxi driver's chariot. They're big, simple, over engineered vehicles. Good long distance cruisers, not so great around town but if all you're going to do is get stuck in bumper to bumper traffic it might as well be comfy.

[GregZX]

On 3/6/2023 at 6:01 PM, HMC said:

Well, this ex US govt police interceptor arrived yesterday….

 

I was told by the transport guy, in broken English, that I should not remove the key from the ignition. I was a bit suprised as I wasn’t told about this by the vendor, but decided to go along with it anyway until I could contact the vendor for clarification.

I duely sent a text, and drove off for some fuel…

 

Just after this was taken, the car either locked itself ( with the keys in) or a little person pressed the locking and then shut the door.

So a spectacle developed for passers by of me trying to use string, coat hangers and cable ties to avoid having to break a windows to get back in. To break into my own former US government car. After an hour I gave up and broke a rear quarter light (“vent window” as I was later to learn searching for a replacment) 

Anyway, after that was sorted I recieved a text…. The Driver was mistaken, there’s no need or purpose for leaving the keys in the ignition. Oh , right. Brilliant.

Anyway it’s a really nice car, very clean and tidy and unworn. I’m not sure what it’s previous  life entailed but it’s not been lived in and hammered around. 
 

Seems to have been in or around New Jersey… (I’m picturing Tony  Soprano being tailed)

 

It cuts a suitably menacing presence in and around Tavistock…..

 

 

Magnificent. I once considered importing a Police interceptor Crown Vic when they were about £10k. Now....

[Dave_Q]

Just now, GregZX said:

Magnificent. I once considered importing a Police interceptor Crown Vic when they were about £10k. Now....

There's a guy on a forum selling one you know

 

[Schaefft]

Crown Vic's are still dirt cheap in the US, or at the very least some of the better deals you can get for your money. Getting it over here isn't getting any cheaper though.

[HMC]

Ever since I was a kid, I’ve wanted a bmc 1100/1300. I even rang Derek Bayliss of the 1100 club when I was 15 to ask about buying one.  27 years later I’ve got one incoming- currently being loaded onto a polish registered  beavertail in central london….

[High Jetter]

Noice. Had several, m8 & I swopped engines, carbs, all sorts. Best we had was a 2-dr MG, got it to fly in the end.

[wuvvum]

I've had two of those (basic though rather than Plah) and they are a pretty decent steer.  One of them wasn't even all that rusty.