What was the last car made in the Panther platform?
The last Panther-platform vehicle to roll off the line was the Ford Crown Victoria Police Interceptor in 2011, marking the end of Ford's long-running rear-wheel-drive, body-on-frame Panther platform that underpinned the Crown Victoria, Grand Marquis, and Lincoln Town Car.
What is the Panther platform?
The Panther platform, known colloquially as the P-platform, was Ford's full-size, rear-wheel-drive, body-on-frame chassis family used by the brand's largest sedans for several decades. It underpinned Ford's Crown Victoria and Mercury Grand Marquis in particular, and later the Lincoln Town Car, creating a shared architecture for police, taxi, and luxury fleet versions.
Models that used the Panther platform
Below are the best-known passenger and fleet models built on the Panther platform, plus notes on their status and usage today.
- Ford Crown Victoria
- Mercury Grand Marquis
- Lincoln Town Car
These three were the main lineup on the Panther platform across Ford, Mercury, and Lincoln brands. Police and fleet variants expanded the Crown Victoria's and Grand Marquis's roles, while the Town Car served as Lincoln's flagship sedan on the same underpinnings. Production of all Panther-platform cars ended in 2011, with the Crown Victoria Police Interceptor representing the final example built on this chassis.
Why did production end?
Ford shifted away from body-on-frame, rear-drive sedans in favor of more modern unibody platforms and a broader lineup of SUVs and crossovers. The aging Panther architecture, stricter crash standards, and the cost of updating three related models to current technology contributed to the decision to discontinue the platform after more than three decades of service. The end of Panther-era vehicles also reflected broader changes in police fleets and taxi operations, which increasingly adopted new-generation police vehicles and alternative powertrains.
Impact on fleets and collectors
Fleets and rental organizations gradually replaced Panther-platform vehicles with newer designs, while enthusiasts and collectors often seek out the last-generation Town Car and Crown Victoria Police Interceptors for their iconic status and distinct driving character. The Panther platform remains a notable chapter in Ford's history of large, durable sedans.
Bottom line
The Ford Panther platform reached the end of its road in 2011, with the Ford Crown Victoria Police Interceptor commonly cited as the last car produced on that chassis. The line—Crown Victoria, Grand Marquis, and Town Car—left a lasting imprint on American fleets and car culture.
Summary: The last Panther-platform car was the Crown Victoria Police Interceptor, produced in 2011, signaling the end of an era for Ford's large, rear-wheel-drive sedans shared across three brands. The platform's legacy lives on in how police fleets and fleets historically operated in the United States.
Are Panther platform cars good?
They are pretty solid, reliable cars, the Panther platform. Since your commute isn't far, the gas mileage shouldn't be an issue. They don't get the best fuel mileage. The ride and reliability should make up for that though. I'd say go for a Town Car if you can find one in your price range.
What was the last year of the Ford Panther platform?
2011
After a short production run of 2012 vehicles for export, St. Thomas Assembly produced the final Ford Crown Victoria on 15 September 2011, the final vehicle produced by the facility and the final vehicle of the Panther platform.
What was the last station wagon made?
The last station wagon made by an American automaker was the 2020 Buick Regal Tour X. However, the last full-size, rear-wheel-drive American station wagons were the Chevrolet Caprice and Buick Roadmaster, both discontinued after the 1996 model year.
- Last American-made station wagon: The 2020 Buick Regal Tour X was the final station wagon produced by an American brand before being discontinued.
- Last classic American station wagons: The final, large, rear-wheel-drive station wagons from American manufacturers were the 1996 Chevrolet Caprice, Buick Roadmaster, and Oldsmobile Custom Cruiser.
What was Carroll Shelby's last car?
Carroll Shelby's last car is a 2011 Shelby GT500 Super Snake he custom-built, which was later featured on the cover of the video game "Need for Speed: The Run". This car was completed shortly before he passed away in 2012 and was later sold at auction.
- The car: A 2011 Shelby GT500 Super Snake.
- Its purpose: It was a promotional car, featured on the cover of the video game "Need for Speed: The Run" and was also digitally available in the game.
- Its history: It was one of the last specialty cars that Carroll Shelby built himself before his death in May 2012.
- Its sale: The car was eventually sold at auction in 2015, though the auction was not as successful as expected. In 2017, a different 2011 Shelby GT500 Super Snake was sold at auction for $72,000.
