The Crown Victoria is one of Ford’s most iconic nameplates. Introduced in 1991, it soldiered on through 2012 as one of America’s most popular full-size cars. It was also the vehicle of choice for most police departments from 1998 to 2011 and highly sought-after by fleet operators.
Photo: WD Detailing/YouTube
But Ford used the Crown Victoria name long before the four-door sedan arrived in showrooms as a stand-alone nameplate. The badge can be traced back to 1955. That’s when FoMoCo used it on the flagship version of the Fairlane line.
The company also offered a Crown Victoria Skyliner version with a standard two-tone roof and a fixed sunroof, both fancy features for the era. Ford dropped the Crown Victoria name after the 1956 model year.
The badge returned for the 1980 model year after a 23-year hiatus. The Fairlane was no longer around at the time, so Ford used it on its spiritual successor, the LTD. Introduced as a replacement for the LTD Landau, the Crown Victoria was once again the premium offering in the company’s full-size range.
In 1983, the LTD Crown Victoria became a stand-alone model line as Ford relegated the regular LTD to midsize duty. The model remained in production until 1991, when Ford debuted the first-generation Crown Victoria.
Why am I talking about an LTD that not many people remember nowadays? Well, it was one of Ford’s highest-selling full-size cars at nearly two million units, and it’s a classic we rarely see on the road today. Because these rigs don’t get the love they deserve, you’re more likely to see one in a junkyard than being driven on the street nowadays.
Fortunately enough, though, some do get rescued and offered a second chance from time to time. Like this 1982 example saved from a backyard by the folks at “WD Detailing.” Parked next to a house since the early 1990s, this Crown Vic has been neglected for about 30 years. And all those decades of sitting fully exposed to the elements have left a significant mark on the two-door sedan.
Our host recovered the full-size, all covered in moss and grime, with all four tires as flat as pancakes and a saggy headliner. And as you might have already guessed, the Windsor V8 engine had no intentions of running without a major overhaul.
All told, it was the kind of vehicle that many would abandon in the nearest junkyard. But our host chose to give it a thorough makeover inside and out. And the result was spectacular, to say the least, turning a disgusting and undesirable Ford into a classic that’s worth saving.
Sure, not many people are actually into early 1980s LTDs, but this Crown Vic now has a better chance of finding an owner that will put it back on the road. Check out the transformation in the video below