In August 2026, Bring a Trailer offered a single-family-owned 1986 Ford LTD Crown Victoria sedan for auction. So, for this Labor Day in the United States, here’s a sedan a reasonably successful working man of a certain age might have bought forty years ago.
“There aren’t many cars like them around today.”
For the 1986 model year, Ford’s LTD Crown Victoria sedan was little changed. A high-mount brake lamp was standard, though it had been introduced as a running change late in the 1985 model year. The major news was likely the introduction of an upmarket LX package, which took 1985’s Interior Luxury Group and added other features.
The LTD Crown Victoria name had debuted in 1980 and become a distinct model line in 1983, when Ford released the LTD as a separate mid-sized offering. Each of the components of the name were—of course—much older: LTD dated from 1965 and Crown Victoria first appeared in 1955.
The standard engine in 1986 was Ford’s Windsor 150 bhp 4.9 liter/302 ci V8 with sequential fuel injection paired to a four-speed automatic. These were not fast cars—with a curb weight slightly over 3,700 pounds, 0-60 came in about 11 seconds. Mileage with the standard powertrain was 18 city/26 highway by the day’s standards (16/24 by today’s measures). With the 18-gallon fuel tank, LTD Crown Victoria drivers could expect a range of 325 to 355 miles with a 10% fuel reserve.
Standard exterior and mechanical equipment on the $12,562 LTD Crown Victoria sedan (about $38,600 in today’s dollars) included quad rectangular halogen headlamps, a padded rear half vinyl roof, power brakes (front disc and rear drum), power steering, and P205/75R15 steel-belted radial white sidewall tires on 15-inch wheels. Inside, a cloth flight bench seat with dual front seat recliners, 18-ounce Luxury floor carpet, a 4-spoke Luxury steering wheel, a quartz electric clock, and an AM/FM stereo radio with four speakers were included. Standard items that Ford proudly listed that do not impress in 2026 included power ventilation and Deluxe carpeted lower door trim panels.
Sub-models, Preferred Equipment Packages, Options, & Production Numbers
Unadvertised in the 22-page brochure, the S version of the LTD Crown Victoria was intended for fleet sales, and at $12,188 was slightly cheaper (3% less) than the putative base sedan. As such, it had a vinyl bench seat, an AM radio, and lower-grade carpeting. The padded rear half vinyl roof, several of the courtesy lights, and some other items were deleted.
Two preferred equipment packages were available for the base sedan:
- 110A (about $1,165) added “complete” tinted glass, rocker panel moldings, a right hand remote control mirror, speed control, manual temperature control air conditioning, and Light Group.
- 111A (about $2,307) included everything in 110A and added front and rear bumper rub strips, Power Lock Group, power side windows, a 6-way power driver’s seat, a tilt steering wheel, an electronic digital clock, and either a rear window defroster or the Premium Sound System.
Upgrading to the $13,784 LX added split bench front seats with recliners, Luxury door trim with pull straps and full length armrests (the LTD Crown Victoria brochure mentioned luxury a lot), power side windows, an electronic digital clock, and Light Group. Two preferred equipment packages were available for the LX:
- 112A (about $2,467) added “complete” tinted glass, cornering lamps, rocker panel moldings, P215/70R15 steel-belted radial white sidewall tires, locking wire-wheel style covers, dual electric remote control mirrors, pivoting front vent windows, Power Lock Group, a 6-way power driver’s seat, a leather-wrapped tilt steering wheel, color-keyed carpeted floor mats, interval windshield wipers, speed control, manual temperature control air conditioning, and either a rear window defroster or the Premium Sound System.
- 113A (about $3,444) included everything in 112A and added an autolamp system, an illuminated entry system, a Tripminder computer, and an electronic AM/FM stereo with a seek/scan radio, a cassette player, and a power antenna. The air conditioning was upgraded to automatic climate control, and both the rear window defroster and the Premium Sound System were included.
Unadvertised in the 22-page brochure, the S version of the LTD Crown Victoria was intended for fleet sales, although it could be ordered by budget-conscious private customers. At $12,188, it was slightly cheaper (3% less) than the putative base sedan. The S came with a vinyl bench seat, an AM radio, and lower-grade carpeting. The padded rear half vinyl roof, several of the courtesy lights, and some other items were deleted.
Ford wanted customers to buy using the preferred equipment packages, but options could still be individually purchased. Notable exterior and mechanical options included two-tone paint ($117), a Brougham vinyl roof ($793!), the Traction-Lok axle ($100), and cast aluminum wheels ($390). Leather seat trim ($433) was late arriving and was only available on the LX.
Sales of the LTD Crown Victoria were substantially down in the 1986 model year. Ford sold 97, 314 sedans, 6,550 coupes, and 20,164 wagons. The average Ford dealer moved greater numbers of the Escort, the Mustang, the Tempo, the new-fangled Taurus, and the Thunderbird.
The View From 2026
Folks are saving these cars, and examples of the LTD Crown Victoria sometimes show up for sale in the Hemmings Motor News classifieds, on eBay Motors, and on Bring a Trailer. BaT has sold twenty of these eighties Crown Vics over the last seven years, including two wagons modified to resemble the “Family Truckster” from National Lampoon’s Vacation.
Make mine Midnight Canyon Red Metallic, I think.
Other mid-eighties Fords I have written about include the 1984 Mustang SVO hatchback coupe, the 1984 Tempo sedan, the 1985 Eddie Bauer Bronco SUV, and the 1985 LTD LX sedan.
Eighties Cars 