Bradenton police to auction off their fleet’s last classic cruiser — a Crown Victoria
It's the end of an era in BPD history! Our last Crown Vic Police Interceptor is heading to auction. If you've got a hankering for restoring this 2010 gem to her original beauty, or making a low-budget cop show, she'll be available for bidding in the near future. pic.twitter.com/VP9SfARC0Q
— Bradenton Police (@BradentonPD) August 29, 2022
The Bradenton Police Department is retiring its last 2010 Ford Crown Victoria Police Interceptor, also known as the Crown Vic among car enthusiasts.
The department said on Monday that the vehicle, the last of its kind in their police fleet, will be auctioned off.
Meredith Frameli, a police public information officer, told the Bradenton Herald on Tuesday that the car will be auctioned off at Tampa Machinery Auction, but she doesn’t know when.
Before the keys are handed over to the new owner, the car will most likely be stripped of any BPD symbols, including the light bar on top.
For almost 30 years, the Crown Vic has been a dependable duty vehicle. When most drivers notice the car’s grille in their rearview mirror, it draws the same attention as an officer flashing his or her badge. It might also explain why reckless drivers choose to drive more cautiously when they encounter the Vic in traffic.
The Crown Vic is also one of the most well-known vehicles in popular culture. According to the Internet Movie Car Database website, the automobile has appeared in 4,877 movies and television series, the most of any vehicle. The Ford Mustang is the second.
The car has been hailed as “the best muscle automobile that ever wore a uniform” by a New York Times writer in 2013.
Crown Vics have so far been phased out as service cars for most agencies since Ford ended production in 2011.
The Bradenton Police Department’s current fleet consists of Ford Explorers, Chevy Tahoes, Dodge Chargers, Ford Taurus, and a few Chevy Caprices.
Another popular car among police enforcement is the Chevy Caprice. The Caprice has a V-8 engine and can achieve a peak speed of 188 mph.
Frameli, on the other hand, claims that senior officials at the department think the Crown Vic is “the best!”
Moving ahead, the department has chosen to mostly use SUVs for patrol duties because of the extra gear storage, greater water capabilities and passenger space.
This story was originally published August 30, 2022 at 6:06 PM.
CORRECTION: Meredith Frameli is a public information officer for the Bradenton Police Department. An earlier version of this story contained an incorrect spelling.
