Ford Panther platform
|
The Town Car, Lincoln's flagship sedan, uses the Panther platform |
The
Panther platform is
Ford Motor Company's
full-size,
rear-wheel drive sedan automobile platform. It uses traditional
body-on-frame construction, and a live rear axle. It was introduced in
1978 for the
1979 model year as a response to the downsized GM full size offerings. As downsizing continued in the 1980s, Cadillac, Chevrolet as well as AMC and Chrysler dropped out of the traditonal fulls-size segment entirely. During trying periods for Ford it was scheduled for cancellation on several occasions, as early as
1985. It has outlasted its GM counterpart, the
B-[platform which was used for the
Cadillac Fleetwood Brougham and
Buick Roadmaster until its cancellation in 1996. The Ford Corwn Victoria and Mercury Grand Marquis are among the most commonly used fleet vehicles, including police interceptors and taxicabs. The Lincoln Town Car appeals largely to older clients and is the most commonly used limousine in the United States. The Panther platform is still in production
as of 2006 and is currently committed to production until at last 2010.
The first Panthers were the
Ford LTD and
Mercury Marquis. Both were available in coupe, wagon, and sedan bodies. In
1981, the
Lincoln Town Car was introduced on the Panther platform. While Lincoln coupes based on the Panther platform lasted only two years, Ford and Mercury coupes lasted until
1987, and wagons were manufactured until
1991. After that, only
full-size four-door sedans were produced.
The Panther platform is currently produced at Ford's
Wixom Assembly and
St. Thomas Assembly plants in
Canada. Ford says they will continue the platform until least 2010. However, the closure of the former plant in 2007 will likely spell the end for the
Lincoln Town Car, as Ford has announced that it will not move production of that vehicle to St. Thomas
.
Vehicles that have used the Panther platform include:
*
Lincoln Continental Mark VI (1980–1983)
*
Ford Crown Victoria (1992–Present)
*
Ford LTD (1979–1982)
*
Ford LTD Crown Victoria (1983–1991)
*
Mercury Grand Marquis (1983–Present)
*
Mercury Marauder (2003–2004)
*
Mercury Marquis (1979–1982)
*
Lincoln Town Car (1981–Present)
* The
Aston Martin Lagonda Vignale concept of 1995 also used a modified Panther platform.
DaimlerChrysler and
General Motors have begun moving back toward rear wheel drive for their premium models, whereas Ford never changed its Panther-based models. The Charger has not yet replaced the Crown Victoria, but many locations report they are being purchased in small numbers, mostly as unmarked police cars.
While there is no real evidence and conflicting reports on the future of the Panther platform, Ford is rumored to be considering replacing the Panther platform with a derivative of the Australian
Ford Falcon, which never changed from a rear drive platform, in
2008. This would be the replacement for the Crown Victoria and Grand Marquis, while the Town Car would be replaced with an
all-wheel drive sedan based on the
Ford D3 platform. The Ford Five-Hundred is also internal competetion as it also falls in the same internal volume class, though does not offer a V8 or a police package.
*
Panther Platform Enthusiasts*
Jonelle's Crown Vics, etc.
