A Brief Summary of the Long History of Ford Police Vehicles

You’ve seen them on television, whether it was driven by Andy of Mayberry, anyone in the classic F.B.I. series, or countless other police-centered shows. And that is police officers driving Ford vehicles. Ford’s association with police departments goes back over 100 years, so history from Dick Smith Ford of Columbia covers the highlights. 

We can start with 1915. Like most police departments, the Oakland, California Police Force had been building its motor vehicle fleet with various vehicles. But in 1915, they were so impressed with Ford vehicles for police work that they decided to buy all their patrol vehicles from Ford. Other departments took notice and did the same. 

It wasn’t until 1950 that Ford became the first manufacturer to offer a special Police Package. In addition to being available with either a 100-hp V8 or a 95-hp inline-6, the models featured several engineering and design modifications to enhance speed, safety, durability, and even comfort required for police work. They were a popular choice for police departments nationwide, with the New York Police Department acquiring 430 such vehicles in a single order. 

The “Interceptor” name has long been associated with Ford vehicles used for police work. It originated with the 125-hp V8, which was introduced in 1952 and was a popular choice for police vehicles. By 1954, the name came to represent the complete police vehicle package, including the engine, chassis upgrades, and other police work-specific modifications. In 1961, a survey conducted by Ford Division revealed that Ford vehicles accounted for 58% of police cars operating in the 50 largest cities in the United States. 

Most of these vehicles were mid- and full-size sedans, but in 1982, an unusual vehicle appeared in police car livery. It was a Mustang, equipped with a 5.0-liter high-output V8, and specified for highway use to catch highway speeders and other people who ran afoul of the law in high-performance vehicles.  

Possibly the best-known police cruiser was the LTD Crown Victoria (later just Crown Victoria), which debuted in 1983. This large and eventually the last of Ford rear-drive V8 sedans was available with either a 302 or 351-cubic high-output V8. By 1998, the Crown Victoria police package accounted for 85% of police pursuit sales in the U.S. and Canada and lasted almost 30 years until 2012. 

American Police strongly prefer the dynamics of rear-wheel drive over front-wheel drive, so after the Crown Victoria was retired, departments began switching to the Ford Police Interceptor Utility in 2013, built from the 5th generation Explorer. Through the Explorer, police have started adopting hybrid vehicles into their fleets. 

Interceptors aren’t the only Ford Police models. Ford regularly supplies vehicles known as Police Responders. These vehicles are not expected to participate in pursuits but rather perform pedestrian tasks such as transporting personnel and responding to non-emergency requests. Crown Victorias and Explorers, in addition to the Taurus, Fusion, and even F-150 models, were also used as responders. 

Police like Ford vehicles because of their performance, durability, and reliability. These are traits average car shoppers appreciate as well, and they will find them at Dick Smith Ford of Columbia.