Ford Panther platform

The Panther platform utilized the body-on-frame construction with live rear axle suspension. While commonplace during its late-1970s introduction, it is a design found almost exclusively in large SUVs and pickup trucks today. The durability resulting from the body on frame construction (which allows easier repair after minor collisions), and their relatively simple design make the Panther cars appealing as fleet vehicles, including police cars and taxicabs. The Lincoln Town Car appealed largely to livery services, and was the most commonly used limousine in North America, due to its ability to be easily "stretched" by lengthening the frame without compromising chassis strength.[1]

Although introduced in 1978, the Panther platform underwent major changes along the way. Across its design life it was produced in three distinct generations:

• First generation (1979–1991): This generation was the only one to be produced in three body styles: four-door sedan, two-door coupe, and five-door station wagon. This was the only generation to use the Windsor V8 engine.
• Second generation (1990–2002): Extensive redesigns of exterior and interior; introduction of Modular V8 engine; and four-door sedan was only body style.
• Third generation (2003–2012): Frame and suspension redesigns and upgrades to improve handling. 2011 was the last model year for the North American Market and for Lincoln-Mercury models. A limited number of 2012 Crown Victorias were built for the police and overseas market

In total, twelve vehicle nameplates were produced under the Panther platform, with the Ford LTD Crown Victoria, Ford Crown Victoria, Ford Crown Victoria Police Interceptor, Lincoln Town Car, and Continental Mark VI produced exclusively on the architecture.

Model Name	Model Years	Body Styles	Notes
Ford LTD Ford LTD Crown Victoria	LTD: 1979-1982 LTD Crown Victoria: 1983-1991	2-door sedan 4-door sedan 5-door station wagon	LTD Base-trim version sold as Ford Custom 500 in Canada from 1979-1981 (final appearance of nameplate) LTD Landau replaced by LTD Crown Victoria trim in 1980. LTD Crown Victoria Two-door sedan discontinued after 1987
Ford Crown Victoria	1992-2012	4-door sedan	Dropped LTD prefix as part of 1992 redesign Only Panther variant produced as a 2012 model; all were GCC export models.
Ford Crown Victoria Police Interceptor/P71	1993-2011 (see notes)	4-door sedan	Prior to 1993, Panther-based Ford police cars used the same model codes as fleet/taxi models. From 2010 - 2011, P7B replaced P71 as the Police Interceptor VIN code. Equipped with a heavier-duty suspension and brakes than the "civilian" model of the Crown Victoria; all police cars were equipped with dual-exhaust engines.
Ford LTD Country Squire Mercury Colony Park	1979-1991	5-door station wagon	LTD Country Squire Last Ford LTD station wagon; only generation of the Panther platform to be built as one. Most station wagons were woodgrain Country Squire models; non-woodgrain models were largely intended for fleet sales Sold with both fuel-injected 5.0L and carbureted 5.8L V8 engines after 1986. Colony Park Only generation of the Panther-platform Grand Marquis sold as a station wagon; the final full-size Mercury station wagon Sold as part of the Grand Marquis model range; the non-woodgrain Grand Marquis wagon was discontinued after 1983. Sold with both fuel-injected 5.0L and carbureted 5.8L V8 engines after 1986.
Mercury Marquis	1979-1982	2-door sedan 4-door sedan 5-door station wagon	Base-trim version sold as Mercury Marquis Meteor in Canada from 1979-1981 (final appearance of Meteor nameplate) Grand Marquis sold as highest-trim model.
Mercury Grand Marquis	1983-2011	2-door sedan 4-door sedan 5-door station wagon	Grand Marquis station wagon sold only as a 1983 model; subsequent station wagons are all woodgrained Colony Park versions. Two-door sedan discontinued after 1987 model year.
Mercury Marauder	2003-2004	4-door sedan	High-performance variant of the Grand Marquis Monochromatic trim styled similar to 1994-1996 Chevrolet Impala SS Only 11,052 sold; it is the second-rarest Panther variant.
Continental Mark VI	1980-1983	2-door sedan 4-door sedan	Mark VI four-door was based upon Continental/Town Car, with unique front and rear bodywork. Using the shorter wheelbase of the LTD/Marquis sedan, the Mark VI two-door shared its front and rear body panels with the four-door, but used its own roofline and doors. The Mark VI is the last Lincoln to use concealed headlights and (factory-standard) oval opera windows.
Lincoln Continental Lincoln Town Car	Continental: 1980 Town Car: 1981-2011	2-door sedan (see notes) 4-door sedan	Continental Sold only for 1980, as full-size Continental range was consolidated into Mark VI and Town Car nameplates for 1981. Sold with both fuel-injected 5.0L and carbureted 5.8L V8 engines Town Car Town Car replaced Continental as Lincoln full-size range for 1981; the Continental prefix was dropped. Town Car two-door only produced for 1981; it is the rarest and shortest-produced Panther variant (4,935 produced).[4]* Town Car is the only four-door Panther to be produced in a long-wheelbase variant in North America besides the Crown Victoria P70 (2000-2011 Town Car L).

A 1989 Lincoln Town Car modified into a Presidential State Car for George H.W. Bush.

Chinese Hongqi CA7460 (derelict condition)

• The Presidential State Car built for President George H. W. Bush is based upon a 1989 Lincoln Town Car.
  • In line with predecessors, the vehicle is equipped with armor plating, bulletproof glass, and undisclosed security modifications.
  • To accommodate its higher weight, the vehicle was fitted with a 7.5L V8 (and E4OD transmission) from a F-250 ¾-ton pickup truck.
• The 1993 Aston Martin Lagonda Vignale concept car used a modified Lincoln Town Car chassis and 4.6L V8.
• Two license-built variants of the Lincoln Town Car were assembled by the Chinese automaker Hongqi.
  • During the mid-1990s, the Hongqi CA 7465 was a stretch limousine derived from the 1990-1997 Town Car; the front fascia was styled in line to the 1970s CA770. Approximately 100 were built.
  • The 1998-2005 Hongqi CA7460(红旗CA7460) and Hongqi Qijian(红旗旗舰) (flagship) were luxury sedans produced primarily for government and military officials. After initial assembly by Ford in the United States, the cars were shipped to China for final bodywork.
• In 2002, Mercury introduced a Mercury Marauder concept car, serving as a preview of the 2003 production vehicle. While the production Marauder was a 4-door sedan, the concept car was a 2-door (topless) convertible. Beginning life as a 1999 Ford Crown Victoria, the concept car was the first full-size convertible from Ford Motor Company since 1971.

Following the 2003 chassis redesign of the Panther platform, during most of the 2000s, Ford Motor Company began consideration of design efforts towards a rear-wheel drive successor to the chassis architecture. Intended for release by the end of the 2000s, an all-new platform would be the first truly new rear-wheel drive full-size chassis from Ford in three decades; another key objective was to consolidate the Panther chassis and the slightly smaller EA169 platform of Ford Australia (underpinning the Ford Falcon sedan and Ford Territory wagon, with the long-wheelbase Ford Fairlane/LTD nearly matching the Crown Victoria/Grand Marquis in wheelbase). During the mid-2000s, Ford debuted several concept vehicles (Ford 427, Lincoln MKR, and Ford Interceptor), previewing potential designs of rear-wheel drive Ford and Lincoln-Mercury full-size sedans. While none of the concept vehicles reached production in their entirety, design elements of each vehicle appeared in multiple Ford and Lincoln sedans.

For the 2005 model year, Ford introduced its first front-wheel drive full-size chassis, the Ford D3 platform. Derived from a Volvo chassis architecture, the D3 chassis underpinned the Ford Five Hundred and Mercury Montego. While the latter was sold alongside the larger Grand Marquis, the Five Hundred was phased in as a replacement for both the Ford Taurus and Crown Victoria. By 2007, the Crown Victoria was supported nearly entirely by fleet sales, outselling only the Ford GT in retail sales.

After the 2007 model year, Ford ended retail sales of the Crown Victoria, with the Five Hundred renamed as the Ford Taurus; further retail sales were adopted by Lincoln-Mercury. As part of The Way Forward, Lincoln Town Car production shifted from Wixom Assembly and was consolidated with Ford and Mercury at St. Thomas Assembly in Canada.

In January 2009, Ford announced that design efforts towards its global rear-wheel drive platform were canceled.[5] The same year, Ford announced that 2011 marked the final year of the Crown Victoria Police Interceptor, with production of a successor to follow for 2012.[6] 2011 would slowly mark the phaseout of both Panther-platform production and of vehicle production at St. Thomas Assembly. On January 4, the final Grand Marquis rolled off the assembly line, becoming the final Mercury vehicle ever produced. During August, the final Lincoln Town Car rolled off the assembly line.[7]

For the 2012 model year, all Crown Victorias were produced for export; as the vehicle was not produced with stability control, it was no longer legal for sale in the United States or Canada. A short run of Crown Victorias were produced for GCC export (Middle East); intended for export to Saudi Arabia, the final Ford Crown Victoria rolled off the assembly line on September 15, 2011, ending production at St. Thomas Assembly.[8]

While the closure of the Mercury division would leave the Grand Marquis without a direct successor, by the end of production, Ford introduced functional replacements for the Crown Victoria/Police Interceptor and Lincoln Town Car (in the sixth-generation Ford Taurus/Police Interceptor Sedan and Lincoln MKS, respectively). With the exception of the Police Interceptor Sedan, sales of the Taurus and MKS shifted from a high dependence on fleet customers to a higher proportion of retail sales. The Lincoln Town Car name made its return for livery customers, with Lincoln developing a livery/limousine variant of the Lincoln MKT with the MKT Town Car name.[7]

As of current production, the Ford division no longer produces full-size sedans, with the Ford Fusion (Mondeo) serving as the largest Ford-brand sedan; the Lincoln Continental is now the sole full-size sedan produced by Ford Motor Company in North America.