Ford police vehicle timeline

1950: First police package offered by Ford Motor Company. Although Fords were in
use in many police fleets before 1950, this was the first official company police package.

1952: Ford police car offered with the new 125-horsepower Interceptor V-8 engine.

1954: The latest Ford police car is sold under the Interceptor name.

1956: Ford Motor Company produces "State Troopers," a film documenting the
Michigan State Police.

1956: Ford police cars, available in Customline and Mainlane sedans and Country
Sedan and Ranch Wagon station wagons, offer Ford's new lifeguard features
including a recessed steering wheel, safety door latches and optional seatbelts.

1958: The California Highway Patrol orders 325 Mercury Monterey sedans after
rigorous comparison testing.

1961: A survey conducted by Ford Division shows that 58% of the police cars operating
the United States' 50 largest cities are Fords.

1962: Ford offers 26 different police car models.

1971: Mercury and Montego models are offered with law enforcement packages.

1982: The California Highway Patrol purchases 400 Mustangs to use as pursuit cars.

1983: The newly-redesigned LTD Crown Victoria with police package continues the
long history of full-size Fords as police cruisers.

1990: Taurus is offered with a police package for the first time.

1992: Crown Victoria becomes its own model; a police package continues to be
offered.

1992: Explorer begins to be offered with a special service package for law enforcement
use in the 1993 model year.

1998: The newly-redesigned Crown Victoria offers a new Police Interceptor package.
The Crown Victoria accounts for 85% of police pursuit sales in the U.S. and Canada.

2002: A blue ribbon panel appointed by the Arizona State Attorney General and Ford
Motor Company worked together to increase safety for police. Recommendations
implemented by Ford include upgraded fuel tank safety and an optional trunk storage
package to safely store heavy equipment.

2002: The New York International Auto Show sees the debut of the Ford Interceptor
concept featuring dramatic styling and new technologies.

2003: Ford announces a plan to offer a fire-supression system as a factory option on

the 2003 Crown Victoria Police Interceptor. This is an industry first.

2009: Ford Motor Company announces it will produce an all-new purpose-built Police
Interceptor specially designed and engineered to replace the Ford Crown Victoria law
enforcement vehicle.

2011: The 2013 Ford Police Interceptor Sedan and Utility pass stringent Michigan State
Police tests and prove they are ready for law enforcement use. The vehicles will go on
sale in 2012.