Ford Panther platform

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Ford Panther platform

Manufacturer	Ford Motor Company
Production	1979-present
Predecessor	1973-1978 Full-size Ford
Successor	Ford D3 platform (in retail markets)
Class	Full-size car
Layout	front-engine, rear-wheel drive body on frame
Body style(s)	2-door sedan (1979-1987) 4-door sedan (1979-present) 4-door station wagon (1979-1991)
Engine(s)	V8

The Ford Panther platform is one of Ford Motor Company's full-size, rear-wheel drive sedan automobile platforms; the other is the "E8" platform used for the Ford Falcon in Australia. It was introduced for the 1979 model year and has been significantly upgraded since then.

[edit] Overview

As of the 2010 model year, the Panther platform is the oldest one in current use by any automaker that sells cars in North America. It was introduced in 1978 for the 1979 model year as the response to downsizing of full-size cars from AMC, Chrysler, and GM. As the 1980s continued, Pontiac, Oldsmobile, and Buick all would downsize further, switching to front-wheel drive. For a time, Chrysler stopped producing large cars of any kind. It has outlasted its GM counterpart, the B-platform which was used for the Chevrolet Caprice and Buick Roadmaster, along with its extended-wheelbase version the D-platform used for Cadillac Fleetwood, until their cancellation in 1996. During trying periods for Ford it was scheduled for cancellation and replacement on several occasions, as early as 1985.

It uses the body-on-frame construction with live rear axle suspension common when it was introduced, but now almost exclusively found in heavy SUVs and trucks. The durability resulting from the body on frame construction (which allows easier repair after minor collisions), the cars' low price, and their relatively simple design make the Panther cars appealing as fleet vehicles, including police interceptors and taxicabs. The Lincoln Town Car appeals largely to chauffeur services, and is the most commonly used limousine in North America, due to its ability to be easily "stretched" by lengthening the frame, without compromising chassis strength.

The Panther platform is currently produced at Ford's St. Thomas Assembly plant in Canada. Prior to its closure on 31 May 2007, the Wixom Assembly Plant was also a Panther assembly site (Lincoln Town Car). Assembly of the Town Car was moved to the St. Thomas plant in January 2008 following paint shop and other upgrades. Ford says they will continue the platform until at least 2011.

[edit] Vehicles

Although it has remained in production since 1979, the Panther platform has undergone major changes along the way. There are 3 basic generations: the initial downsized versions, the restyled versions of the 1990s, and the current versions, which date from 2003, when the frame received a redesign.

[edit] First generation (1979-1991)

The first cars introduced on the Panther platform were the downsized 1979 Ford LTD and Mercury Marquis. Both were available in coupe, wagon, and sedan bodystyles. For 1980, the Lincoln Continental and the Continental Town Car were downsized onto the Panther platform. The following year the Town Car became a model line of its own as the Continental name was applied to the Mark VI for 1981. While Lincoln coupes based on the Panther platform were discontinued in 1983, Ford and Mercury coupes lasted until 1987, and wagons were manufactured until 1991.

Model Name	Photo	Years in Production	Notes
Ford versions
Ford LTD		1979-1982	The LTD name was moved to the Fox platform for 1983, replaced with the name used for the top trim level, LTD Crown Victoria.
Ford LTD Crown Victoria		1983-1991	Production of 2-door sedan model ended in 1987
Ford Country Squire		1979-1991	The Country Squire was not redesigned for 1992 and was largely replaced by the Aerostar in the Ford lineup.
Mercury versions
Mercury Marquis		1979-1982	The Marquis name was moved to the Fox platform for 1983, replaced with the name used for the top trim level, Grand Marquis.
Mercury Grand Marquis		1983-1991	The Grand Marquis was an optional trim package from 1975-1982 and became a separate line to differentiate itself when the Marquis was downsized to the Fox platform.
Mercury Colony Park		1979-1991	The Colony Park was not redesigned for 1992 and was largely replaced by the Aerostar and Villager minivans.
Lincoln versions
Lincoln Town Car		1982-1989	Formerly an optional trim package for the Continental, the Town Car became a model in its own right after the 1981 model year.
Lincoln Continental		1980-1982	The Continental was downsized further when it was moved to the Fox platform for 1983.
Lincoln Town Coupe		1980-1981	The Town Coupe was a short-lived 2-door sedan variant of the Town Car; most 2-door Lincolns were Mark VI Continentals.
Lincoln Continental Mark VI		1980-1983	The Continental Mark VI was replaced by the Fox-platform Mark VII in 1984

[edit] Second generation (1990-2002)

Going against industry trends, Ford chose not to downsize it any further or to move to front-wheel drive, instead opting for a more aerodynamic body on the the same platform. In 1990, Lincoln introduced the second-generation Town Car. For 1992, the Crown Victoria (dropping its LTD prefix) and Grand Marquis received total redesigns of their bodies; the Ford was restyled to have more of a family resemblence to the Ford Taurus, while the Mercury was styled as a more contemporary version of its predecessor (a formal family sedan). As a result of changing market trends towards minivans and sport-utility vehicles, Ford chose not to include the Country Squire and Colony Park station wagons in the redesign; at the time, their de facto replacement was the Ford Aerostar.

4.6-liter "Modular" V8

Under the hood, the 4.6 L Modular V8 replaced both the 302 cubic-inch and 351 cubic-inch V8s; first used in the 1991 Town Car, the Modular V8 is still currently the only (as of the 2010 model year) overhead-cam V8 used in an American family sedan. Although the torque peak for the Modular V8 was 1,200 rpm higher than for the 302 V8, it came with up to 60 more hp (with optional dual exhaust).

1998 upgrades

In 1998, Ford significantly upgraded the exterior designs of all three Panther platform cars. The Town Car received the most extensive changes with its entire body being restyled. To increase parts commonality between the two, the Crown Victoria was redesigned to share the rear roofline (and much of the exterior sheetmetal) with the Grand Marquis, which saw minor cosmetic changes itself. Underneath the sheetmetal, a Watt's linkage was added to the rear suspension (still a live rear axle) in an effort to improve handling.

Model Name	Photo	Years in Production	Notes
Ford versions
Ford Crown Victoria		1992-2002	Minor updates in 1993 and 1995. Exterior redesign in 1998 to increase parts commonality with the Mercury Grand Marquis.
Ford Police Interceptor		1992-2002
Mercury versions
Mercury Grand Marquis		1992-2002	Minor update in 1995; major update in 1998 to sheetmetal and rear suspsension.
Lincoln versions
Lincoln Town Car		1990-2002	The Town Car was the first Panther to be redesigned (1990) and the first to receive the Modular V8. (1991) Minor update in 1995; complete exterior redesign in 1998. Long-wheelbase model (mainly for livery fleets) introduced in 1999.

[edit] Third generation (2003-current)

For 2003, Ford completely redesigned the frame of the Panther platform, using a design with hydroformed steel. The front and rear suspension were also completely overhauled in an effort to improve handling; rack and pinion steering replaced the recirculating-ball design.

In 2003, Mercury introduced the Marauder, a high-performance variant of the Grand Marquis that was supposed to appeal to buyers who liked the 1994-1996 Chevrolet Impala SS. It sold poorly and was dropped after 2004. Due to very low demand, Ford ended non-fleet sales of the Crown Victoria after the 2007 model year.

Model Name	Photo	Years in Production	Notes
Ford versions
Ford Crown Victoria		2003-2007 (retail) 2003-current (fleet)	Ford ended retail sales of the Crown Victoria after 2007. Still produced for fleet sales. Long-wheelbase version produced for taxi market.
Ford Police Interceptor		2003-2011	The Police Interceptor represents over 80% of new police car sales. The Police Interceptor will be replaced by a new design after the the 2011 model year[1]
Mercury versions
Mercury Grand Marquis		2003-present	The Grand Marquis is the flagship of the Mercury lineup and has also filled in as the current replacement for the 5th-generation Sable (Montego).
Mercury Marauder		2003-2004	Short-lived high-performance version of the Grand Marquis/Crown Victoria. Similar to 1994-1996 Chevrolet Impala SS.
Lincoln versions
Lincoln Town Car		2003-present	The Town Car is the flagship of the Lincoln lineup and is currently the largest car sold by Ford Motor Company worldwide. Long-wheelbase and armored versions available.

Variants

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

• The Aston Martin Lagonda Vignale concept of 1995 also used a modified Panther platform.
• United States President George H.W. Bush's Presidential State Car was a modified Panther platform, or more correctly, a modified 1989 Lincoln Town Car with a 460 cubic inch V8 shoehorned into the vehicle during the modification.

[edit] Future beyond 2011

For most of the 2000s, Ford had considered a new global rear wheel drive platform that could replace both the Panther and Ford of Australia's Falcon/Territory. In January 2009, Ford announced such efforts were canceled,^[2] leaving the Panther platform with no direct replacement. The 2007 Mustang-derived Ford Interceptor concept was speculated to be a Crown Victoria replacement but nothing has been announced.

Since 2007, Ford's full-size retail presence has shifted from Panther-based sedans to those based on the Volvo-derived D3 platform. The Ford Taurus and Lincoln MKS have mostly taken the place of the Crown Victoria and Town Car. The Grand Marquis and Town Car are still available for retail sale but have been de-emphasized in Lincoln-Mercury's marketing plans in an effort to steer buyers to their newer models. After 2007, the Crown Victoria has been available exclusively through fleet, police, and taxi sales.

In 2009, Ford announced the end of Police Interceptor production in 2011 in favor of an all-new model, but no formal announcements have been made concerning the future of the Mercury Grand Marquis or the Lincoln Town Car. Currently, the St. Thomas Assembly facility is slated to close in 2011.

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• CrownVic.net
• CrownVic.us
• GrandMarq.net
• MercuryMarauder.net