The ’89 Ford LTD Crown Victoria was the first classic car I ever bought. Long, square, chrome everywhere, with a hood that seems to go on forever. They don’t make cars like this anymore, and that was exactly the appeal.

Front three-quarter view of the Crown Victoria parked on a tree-lined streetSide profile of the Crown Victoria with chrome moon capsCrown Victoria parked in front of a brick houseRear three-quarter view on the streetStraight-on rear view with the chrome bumperRear three-quarter view in front of a houseClose-up of the rear corner and taillightTrees reflected in the buffed paint along the roofline

Rides like a boat

There’s no other way to describe it. The Crown Vic doesn’t drive so much as float. Soft suspension, a V8 up front, and a bench seat you sink into. You don’t take corners so much as drift through them. It isn’t fast and it isn’t sporty, but it’s incredibly relaxing. Every drive felt like a Sunday cruise, even when I was just running errands.

The inside is pure late ’80s: plush blue velour seats, woodgrain trim across the dash and doors, chrome door handles, and a little analog clock in the middle of the dash. Those details make the car feel like a time capsule.

Front bench seat in blue velourDashboard and steering wheel seen from the back seatAnalog clock set in woodgrain trim on the dashRear door panel and velour back seatDoor panel with woodgrain strip and chrome handle

What I had done

Like most cars this old, it needed some attention. Here’s what went into it while I had it:

  • New head gasket
  • New fuel injectors
  • New muffler and exhaust
  • Chrome wheels with moon caps
  • White headlights
  • LED lights
  • Paint buffing

The head gasket, injectors and exhaust were about keeping it healthy and running smoothly. The rest was about the look. The chrome moon caps were my favorite change. They’re simple and a little retro, and they suit the car’s long, flat sides. The new headlights and LEDs brought the front end up to date, and buffing the paint brought back the deep shine you can see in the reflections.

Crown Victoria in the driveway with the hood upEngine bay with tools on the garage floorNew white LED headlightsChrome grille with the Ford badge

Letting it go

Eventually I had to sell it. It was the right call at the time, but I miss it more than I expected. I miss the way it floated down the road and how it turned an ordinary drive into something I looked forward to. A first classic car sticks with you.

Next up: a Town Car

The next car I’m looking forward to is a black-on-black Lincoln Town Car. It’s built on the same Panther body as the Crown Vic, so it should have that same smooth, boat-like ride, just with a little more luxury. Black paint, black interior, plenty of chrome. Same feeling, one step up.