How do I tell if my Crown Vic is a P71?
If you own a Ford Crown Victoria, you may be wondering if your vehicle is a P71 model. The P71 is a specific version of the Crown Victoria that was commonly used by law enforcement agencies. Identifying whether your Crown Vic is a P71 can be important for understanding its capabilities and features. In this article, we'll provide a detailed guide on how to determine if your Crown Victoria is a P71.
What is a P71 Crown Victoria?
The P71 Crown Victoria was a special police-package version of the Ford Crown Victoria that was produced from 1992 to 2011. These vehicles were designed specifically for law enforcement use and featured a number of upgrades and modifications compared to the standard Crown Victoria. Some of the key features of the P71 include a more powerful engine, heavy-duty suspension, and reinforced body structure.
How to Identify a P71 Crown Victoria
There are several ways to determine if your Crown Victoria is a P71 model. Here are the main steps:
- Check the VIN (Vehicle Identification Number): The VIN of a P71 Crown Victoria will typically start with "2FAFP71W" or "2FAHP71W". You can find the VIN on the driver's side dashboard or the driver's side door jamb.
- Look for Police-Specific Features: P71 Crown Victorias often have additional features that distinguish them from standard civilian models, such as a reinforced frame, heavy-duty suspension, and a larger alternator.
- Examine the Exterior: P71 models may have a different grille design, additional exterior lighting, and a "Police Interceptor" badge on the rear of the vehicle.
- Check the Interior: P71 Crown Victorias often have a different interior layout, including features like a column-mounted gear shifter, a reinforced center console, and additional electrical wiring for police equipment.
If your Crown Victoria has a VIN starting with "2FAFP71W" or "2FAHP71W", and it has some of the police-specific features mentioned above, then it is likely a P71 model.
Conclusion
Identifying whether your Crown Victoria is a P71 model can be important for understanding its capabilities and features. By checking the VIN, looking for police-specific features, and examining the exterior and interior, you can determine if your Crown Vic is a P71. This information can be useful for maintenance, modifications, and understanding the vehicle's history.
What is the P71 package?
The P71 package included extra-heavy-duty engine cooling to handle demanding driving (car chases, endless stop-starts, and hours and hours of highway) and the range of climates that police patrolled in.
What makes a Crown Vic a police interceptor?
Its large body and cavernous trunk made it well-suited to carry police equipment. And its performance features, like RWD and a V-8 engine, made its speed and handling perfect for pursuits.
How do I know if I have a P71?
The only completely infallible way to identify a CVPI is to look at the VIN tag. The 5th, 6th and 7th digit of the VIN will be "P71" ("P7B" for 2010 and 2011 model years).
What was the worst year for the Crown Victoria?
The suspension and steering were also less reliable, reducing its appeal among potential buyers. 2008: The worst year for Crown Victoria was arguably 2008. It was marked by a number of common problems that plagued owners, including transmission troubles, blown head gaskets, and failures of the fuel pump.
What does a police interceptor package include?
Police Interceptor Utility
It comes with an all-wheel drive powertrain, larger brake rotors, advanced ABS and traction control systems, a more efficient cooling system, emergency equipment fitments, and other standard equipment.
What's the difference between a police interceptor motor and a regular motor?
Performance Specs
Most retail versions of the civilian Ford Explorer come equipped with a 300-horsepower, 2.3-liter 4-cylinder engine. The Police Interceptor Utility base model, by contrast, has a 285-horsepower, 3.3 liter V6 engine.
How to tell if a Crown Vic is a police interceptor?
The only completely infallible way to identify a CVPI is to look at the VIN tag. The 5th, 6th and 7th digit of the VIN will be "P71" ("P7B" for 2010 and 2011 model years).
What year Crown Vic has the 5.0 engine?
For 1983, the engine line was revised, as Ford ended production of the 4.2 L V8 across all model lines. The 5.0 L effectively became the only engine available, as the 5.8 L carbureted V8 became restricted to fleet sales (particularly police vehicles); in Canada, it remained an option through 1991.
What's the difference between a P71 and a P7B?
“Until recently, I also had a 2007 Crown Victoria P71, the P71 being the serial number for the Ford police package. Apparently they ran out of VINs so adopted the P7B number for later cars.
Is the police interceptor badge illegal?
One of the essential things to know about police decals is, that you are not allowed to have them in your car as a typical citizen. It is illegal to impersonate a police officer, which you would be doing.
