Ford LTD Crown Victoria

The full-size Ford LTD became the LTD Crown Victoria in 1983 to differentiate it from the smaller mid-size Fox-body LTD that replaced the Granada that same year. The "Crown Victoria" became a top-of-the-line option package on the LTD in 1980, and the Crown Victoria name was used by Ford in the 1950s on its top-of-the-line models, lastly in 1956. The "Crown Vic", as it became known, had one minor restyle in 1988 and was redesigned completely in 1992, when it became simply known as the Crown Victoria, dropping the LTD initials.

Here's a quick rundown:

1983-1991
The 1983 LTD Crown Victoria, aside from the name change, sported a different eggcrate grille than the year prior when it was just the "LTD", but otherwise differed very little. The old LTD 'S' dual headlight front fascia was dropped, leaving only the former high-end quad-headlight fascia. The underpowered 4.2L (255 cid) V8 was dropped, making the 5.0L (302 cid) V8, now with electronic fuel injection, the standard engine again - and the only engine, as the larger 5.8L (351 cid) V8 was reserved strictly for police and taxi fleet use. Bodystyles continued as before, with the 2-door coupe, 4-door sedan and 5-door wagon, which was still available in Country Squire trim with requisite woodgrain paneling. Sole transmission choice continued to be the 4-speed overdrive automatic.

A highly modified (if you can call it that) "metallic pea" 1983 LTD Crown Victoria station wagon, dubbed the "Wagon Queen Family Truckster", was prominently featured in the 1983 summer hit movie National Lampoon's Vacation.

1984 models differed very little, other than a very slightly revised dashboard that unfortunately eliminated the "oil" and "water" warning lights, to be replaced by a single "engine" light, causing the driver to guess which one was the problem if activated. There weren't many changes in store for 1985 models, which were largely a carryover from 1984. In 1986, all models got the new Center High Mounted Stop Lamp, and the fuel injection system was revised to the new sequential-fire fuel injection system, boosting hp to 150. A new top of the line LX model debuted. Changes to the 1987 model were nil also (other than making air conditioning, tinted glass and digital clock standard), but by this time, Buick, Oldsmobile and Pontiac had all redesigned their full-size entries to front wheel drive designs with smaller V6 engines (Chrysler got out of the full-size game entirely after 1981), leaving the full-size LTD Crown Victoria, its Mercury-twin the Grand Marquis, and its Chevrolet arch-nemesis, the Caprice, as the only 3 full-size V8/rear-drive full-perimeter frame cars left for sale in the U.S., to which the LTD Crown Vic (and Grand Marquis) still managed to hold their own.

1988 models saw the line's first real restyle with a new front clip with a new grille and a redesigned tail with all-new rear quarters, decklid and taillights. Some automotive critics thought the restyle made the car look too much like a Buick or an Oldsmobile, but Ford fans didn't seem to mind as sales remained as strong as ever. The wagon would get the new front clip, but was otherwise unchanged. Whitewall tires and delay wipers were now standard issue. The restyle unfortunately brought the demise of the 2-door coupe model, which didn't survive into 1988. Sole engine choice remained the good ol' 302 V8 with the 4-speed overdrive automatic transmission. There were no changes in 1989 to speak of.

1990 models got a standard driver's side airbag and a slightly revised dashboard, and the rear seats gained outboard shoulder seat belts. 1991s would gain clear front parking lights, replacing the old amber ones, and that would be about it. Chevrolet redesigned its rival Caprice this year (for better or worse), briefly making the 1991 Crown Vic the only full-size car from the 1970s that was still around (unless one counts the luxury Cadillac Brougham). That would change when the sleek all-new redesigned Crown Victoria would debut in early 1991 as an early 1992 model, which would drop the "LTD" initials altogether, being known as simply "Crown Victoria".

Competition

 * Buick LeSabre
 * Chevrolet Caprice/Impala
 * Oldsmobile Delta 88
 * Pontiac Parisienne